Horse Racing | Friday, December 8, 2023 6:30 PM

Saturday’s Horse Racing Tips: Sandown, Aintree, December 9th

MARTIN DALTON / Alamy Stock Photo Fingal Bay ridden by Richard Johnson jumps the last and goes on to win the Neptune Investment Management Novices´ Hurdle at Sandown Park Racecourse.

Stephen Harris

Horse Racing Expert

Today’s Racing Tips – December 9th

Saturday’s ITV action covers the best of the jumping action from Aintree and Sandown, with the rescheduled Grade 1 Fighting Fifth hurdle a welcome addition to the schedule (switched from Newcastle last Saturday). Underfoot conditions seem sure to be extremely testing at both tracks, with a very wet week of weather across the country. There is the spectacle of the Grand National fences to enjoy at Aintree in the 2.05pm, with the Becher chase sure to attract a big field and provide a proper test of stamina on the deep ground.

In this article:

Today’s Daily Nap

Impose Toi

Sandown 2:25 (UK time)

Nicky Henderson’s rapidly improving young hurdler looked miles ahead of the handicapper when landing an almighty touch at Cheltenham last time out, barely off the bridle under a confident ride from Nico de Boinville. He now has a 10lb higher mark to contend with on much deeper ground, but there is loads more to come as he settles down and gathers more racing experience (potentially a graded performer in the making).

Odds: NA

Today’s Value Angle

Lounge Lizard

Aintree 2:05 (UK time)

Henry Daly’s stayer remains open to improvement over fences after just six career starts (two wins), and shaped really well when third in a strong Exeter handicap last time out. He races with plenty of enthusiasm up on the pace, tactics which are never a bad plan of attack over the National fences, and the expected deep ground conditions should be no issue at all (with Charlie Deutsch an excellent booking).

Odds: NA

Odds are best odds available as at 9am December 9th 2023. Odds may now differ.

ITV Racing Tips – Saturday December 9th

Time (UK)	Track	Horse	Analysis
1:15	Sandown	Constitution Hill	Nicky Henderson’s top class performer is staying over hurdles this winter, and is likely to start at prohibitive prices on his way to defending his crown at the Cheltenham festival in March. He has won all seven of his starts so far over timber, and will have no bother at all with this sapping course and distance after the contest was rerouted from last Saturday’s abandoned Newcastle fixture.
1:50	Sandown	Iceo	Paul Nicholls young chaser perhaps found his second run of the season coming too quickly when disappointing at Newton Abbot last time out (form franked by the winner JPR One next time), and he is worth chancing to bounce back to his best at Sandown on Saturday. He revelled in heavy ground here last season in March when winning a red hot 16 runner handicap hurdle, and his jumping over fences has looked a real asset on both runs so far this winter.
2:05	Aintree	Lounge Lizard	Henry Daly’s stayer remains open to improvement over fences after just six career starts (two wins), and shaped really well when third in a strong Exeter handicap last time out. He races with plenty of enthusiasm up on the pace, tactics which are never a bad plan of attack over the National fences, and the expected deep ground conditions should be no issue at all (with Charlie Deutsch an excellent booking).
2:25	Sandown	Impose Toi	Nicky Henderson’s rapidly improving young hurdler looked miles ahead of the handicapper when landing an almighty touch at Cheltenham last time out, barely off the bridle under a confident ride from Nico de Boinville. He now has a 10lb higher mark to contend with on much deeper ground, but there is loads more to come as he settles down and gathers more racing experience (potentially a graded performer in the making).
2:40	Aintree	Liari	Paul Nicholls has his team in typically blistering form at the moment (12 winners in the last fortnight at a 30pc strike rate), and his juvenile created a deep impression when readily landing hefty market support on his UK debut at Wincanton at the end of October. His French flat background suggests this deep ground should be no issue at all under Harry Cobden, and there will be loads more to come as his jumping sharpens up with experience.
3:00	Sandown	Jonbon	Nicky Henderson’s Arkle runner-up returned to the fray with a devastating display at Cheltenham last month, in command after halfway to land the Grade 2 Schloer Chase with the minimum of fuss. He has now won 6 of his 7 starts over fences so far, including two over this sapping course and distance, and looks a class apart from these rivals on all known form.
3:15	Aintree	Prince Zaltar	Phillip Rothwell’s Irish raider is owned by some of the shrewdest people in the game, and he caught the eye when sixth in a huge field at Cheltenham last month behind American Sniper (finishing with running left in the tank from a poor position). The flat galloping nature of Aintree on testing ground should be ideal, and he has plenty of battle-hardened experience from racing in ultra competitive company at home over the last couple of seasons.
3:35	Sandown	Cyclop	David Dennis’s veteran 12-y-o sluggard has seemingly bottomless reserves of stamina, and this 3m4f test on deep ground should be ideal. He is ultra consistent, with three cracking runs under his belt already this season, and showed Sandown suited when a creditable third over three miles here last time out.