ITV Racing Saturday Sandown And Wincanton Preview

The first race of the afternoon on ITV comes from Wincanton and we are siding with the Ryan Potter trained Pittsburg, with the penny seeming to drop last time out.

The gelding had some horrible form ahead of his latest run, being pulled up three times and only ever beating three runners home in his British career.

However, off a mark of 79 and having been extremely well punted on, he headed to Catterick and was a neck winner of a Handicap Hurdle.

Only up 6lb for that win he looks to have more in the offing off his mark of 85 and should keep improving.

Another Handicap event follows and it sees a competitive event over two miles and Numitor for the Heather Main stable makes big appeal.

The eight year old last season started over hurdles performing well but was switched to fences and took to chasing like a dream.

He made his chase debut at Ffos Las in a Novices' Handicap Chase over two miles and won by an eased down 14 lengths and then backed that up next time out at Wincanton when winning again by six lengths.

Looking to land the hat-trick he went to Sandown over course and distance and in a good event off a mark of 128 he finished third.

The gelding rounded off his season in May when finishing third again behind two nice types, in a better Handicap event.

Back down to a mark of 125 to start this term he got off the mark at Wetherby in fine style and then last time out run another valiant race in second to finish behind the extremely taking Il Ridoto for Paul Nicholls.

Up another 2lb for this race he now runs off 132 but with the soft ground in his favour and progressive nature he looks the bet.

Next up is the Class 3 Handicap Chase over two miles and we are giving another chance to the Sam Thomas trained eight year old Grey Diamond.

Making his seasonal debut this term off a mark of 133 he finished a valiant third behind Amoola Gold and Monsieur Lecoq and that form has since been franked.

Off 1lb lower Grey Diamond then went to Newbury last time out in a hot contest behind the likes of Numitor and Il Ridoto, with the latter since going into Grade One company.

He is down another 1lb for this event and although needing to be better has the scope to be.

The feature race of the day at Sandown is the Grade One Tolworth Hurdle over two miles and we can't look past Constitution Hill for Nicky Henderson.

The gelding looks to be a serious animal for Nicky Henderson and owner Michael Buckley, with the £120,000 purchase making an extremely taking rules debut at Sandown in December.

The four year old gelding had been seen once in a point to point before his rules debut, when finishing a head second in what might turn out to be a smart P2P.

Heading to Sandown in a Novices' Hurdle, he cruised next to the favourite Might I for Harry Fry, who is a good horse in his own right, and having jumped the last impeccably he went on to take the event by 14 lengths.

This saw Constitution Hill go from a 40/1 outsider for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle to now the general 4/1 second favourite and he could get shorter if going well in this.

He will need to improve again now in Grade One company but from his first run, he looks a much better animal than these runners.

On a side note, we want to give a mention to Datsalrightgino for Jamie Snowden who looks to be the each way value in the race for us.

The penultimate event from Wincanton on ITV is the Class 3 Handicap Hurdle over 2m5f and the Philip Hobbs trained Crossing The Bar makes big appeal.

The five year old gelding this term has changed spheres and moved over to national hunt racing having been a fair stayer on the flat.

Seen twice this season, the son of Poet's Voice made a bright debut when fourth of 17 over two miles at Lingfield in what looked to be a nice race.

He improved last time out to grab third on heavy ground in another decent Novice Hurdle contest and now handicapping off a mark of 108, he could be well in.

The penultimate event on the card is the Veterans' Handicap Chase over three miles and at the grand old age of 13, Final Nudge still has something to give.

The Fergal O'Brien trained gelding has been a superb staying chaser over the years, being largely consistent when getting softening ground, which he will get on Saturday.

Back in February 2020 he won a Handicap Chase by 18 lengths off 127 and was then next seen again 12 months later off 134 when finishing a fair fifth of 14 in the Dick Hunt Trophy at Wincanton.

He rounded off last season at Uttoxeter in the Midlands Grand National when running a superb race to grab third of 20 behind Time To Get up and Scottish National winner Mighty Thunder.

Back again this term he has been seen once to date when winning a very competitive Handicap Chase at Warwick over three miles.

He races off only 3lb higher for this event and if in the same form looks to be one to enter the frame at an each way price.

The final event from Wincanton on ITV is the Class 2 Handicap Chase over 2m4f and Stolen Silver makes the most appeal off top weight.

Staying solely over fences this season so far, the gelding got off the mark on seasonal debut at Market Rasen in a three runner event.

Looking to back that up at Cheltenham next time out he went down by a neck to the smart Editeur De Gite, who went on to frank the form next time out.

Looking to do the same he was stepped up to Grade One company in the Henry VII Novices' Chase at Sandown and he was put in his place finishing back in fourth.

The form of that race is extremely strong with the winner Edwardstone since landing a Grade Two event and although top weight, he should have too much for this field.

The final event of the afternoon at Sandown Park is the two mile handicap hurdle and the horse that takes the eye is Mack The Man for Evan Williams.

The eight year old is a very smart horse, that although has been up and down at some stages of his career, overall has been very good.

Two terms ago he was seen winning back to back races at Warwick and Sandown (over C&D) before heading into Betfair Hurdle in 2020 where he had a huge chance to land the spoils but was unfortunately bought down.

Last season he started his term over fences and in both his runs at Ffos Las and Ascot he showed a lack of enthusiasm for the bigger fences.

Williams then sent him back over the smaller obstacles where he got back to winning ways and on his second try in the Betfair Hurdle it did not go to plan again.

He rounded off the season in March in the Grade Three Imperial Cup at Sandown and was a good third behind Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle second Langer Dan.

Staying over hurdles this term he was seen for the first time at Exeter in a Class 3 Handicap Hurdle off 127 and won by a neck.

He will improve for that run and off only 3lb higher he looks a nice bet at the odds.