| Friday, February 2, 2024 6:30 PM

Saturday’s Horse Racing Tips: Sandown, Musselburgh, February 3rd

Stephen Harris

Today’s Racing Tips – February 3rd

Saturday’s ITV coverage provides a real bonanza for armchair punters, with the best of the action from Leopardstown, Musselburgh and Sandown. There are 9 races covered in total across the three tracks, with Grade 1 action at 2.35pm and 3.35pm sure to provide some Cheltenham Festival clues for March. Galopin des Champs is sure to be the shortest priced favourite of the afternoon in Ireland, and he is likely to land the odds before heading straight to Prestbury Park (where has has the look of one of the bankers of the week for Willie Mullins).

In this article:

Today’s Daily Nap
Today’s Value Angle
Saturday’s ITV Racing Tips

Today’s Daily Nap

In Excelsis

Sandown 2:00 (UK time)

Harry Fry’s handicapper is far less exposed than all of these rivals after just six runs over fences, and he has shaped as though building up to a bigger effort on both runs this winter. He arguably did too much too soon when finishing second at Cheltenham last time out, and a more patient ride is on the cards here from Jonathan Burke.

Odds: NA

Today’s Value Angle

Ed Keeper

Sandown 3:10 (UK time)

Sam Thomas has a cracking team of young horses in the yard this season, and his progressive handicapper will relish the decent ground and likely strong pace in this big field. He found the heavy ground sapping his finishing effort at Cheltenham last time out in a creditable third behind Butch (very heavily backed 5/2f) , but travelled like one still well ahead of the game there and can gain compensation here under the excellent Sam Twiston-Davies.

Odds: NA

Odds are best odds available as at 9am February 3rd 2023. Odds may now differ.

ITV Racing Tips – Saturday February 3rd

Time (UK)	Track	Horse	Analysis
1:25	Sandown	Magical King	Stuart Edmunds does very well with limited resources every winter, and his unexposed novice should relish the drying ground conditions expected at Sandown on Saturday. He remains a maiden after just four runs so far over hurdles, and the emphasis on stamina up the Sandown hill will help this former pointer pick these rivals off late under Ciaran Gethings.
1:40	Musselburgh	General Officer	Donald McCain has returned to top form in recent weeks, with 3 winners in the last 14 days, and his consistent chaser will relish the emphasis on speed at Musselburgh over this 2m4f trip. Brian Hughes is sure to be positive in this small field on drying ground, and his sound jumping should be a real asset if able to dominate from the tape.
2:00	Sandown	In Excelsis Deo	Harry Fry’s handicapper is far less exposed than all of these rivals after just six runs over fences, and he has shaped as though building up to a bigger effort on both runs this winter. He arguably did too much too soon when finishing second at Cheltenham last time out, and a more patient ride is on the cards here from Jonathan Burke.
2:15	Musselburgh	Inis Oirr	Lucinda Russell’s chaser has long looked as though a thorough test of stamina might unlock further improvement, and this near four mile slog should suit ideally. The booking of Derek Fox is certainly a positive to his chance, with his patient run style ideal in a contest where they are sure to get racing for home a long way out (with a couple of confirmed frontrunners in the line up).
2:35	Sandown	Colonel Harry	Jamie Snowden’s classy chaser made a few mistakes when slightly below par in winning at Wetherby last time out, but he remains with loads of potential over fences after just three runs in this sphere. The better ground likely at Sandown should suit given how strongly he travels, and he can swoop up the hill to land this prestigious Grade 1 prize under Gavin Sheehan (before heading to the Festival where he could be a lively outsider in the Turners).
2:50	Musselburgh	Parisencore	Nicky Richard’s consistent hurdler has run two creditable races in defeat already this winter, and should relish the drying ground conditions expected at Musselburgh on Saturday. He has won 3 of his 12 career starts over hurdles so far, all on ground no worse than good to soft, and the strong pace likely over this sharp two miles can see him swoop late under regular rider Danny McMenamin.
3:10	Sandown	Ed Keeper	Sam Thomas has a cracking team of young horses in the yard this season, and his progressive handicapper will relish the decent ground and likely strong pace in this big field. He found the heavy ground sapping his finishing effort at Cheltenham last time out in a creditable third behind Butch (very heavily backed 5/2f) , but travelled like one still well ahead of the game there and can gain compensation here under the excellent Sam Twiston-Davies.
3:35	Leopardstown	Galopin Des Champs	Willie Mullins top class chaser returned to his very best form with a run under his belt over Christmas, storming clear on the bridle from labouring rivals with Paul Townend motionless. He is confidently expected to land the odds here, before heading straight to the Cheltenham festival in March (where he will surely be one of the bankers of the week to defend his Gold Cup crown).
3:45	Sandown	Blackjack Magic	Anthony Honeyball’s tough and durable stayer looked one to follow up the weights when winning gamely at Wincanton in November, and he should take plenty of passing here if gunned from the tape by the excellent Rex Dingle. He has won 3 of his 6 career starts over fences so far, always giving his running once played in, and can prove too resolute for some rivals who mainly have plenty to prove at the moment.