This Saturday’s ITV Racing serves up action from Tingle Creek Day at Sandown and Aintree’s Becher Chase meeting as we bid to follow up 11/10 and 8/1 advised winners in last weekend’s column.
A wet end to the week on Merseyside suggests mud lovers should take prominence in punters’ calculations, while at Sandown Paul Nicholls is taken to advance his strong record in the London Grand National.
ITV Racing Tips Saturday December 7
1.32 Aintree – Richmond Lake @ 3/1 (NAP)
2.07 Aintree – Percussion @ 16/1 (each-way)
3.35 Sandown – Broken Halo @ 6/1
Bet on the latest horse racing odds at Betzone
Rotten weather right on time for Richmond Lake repeat bid
At the time of writing 16 mm of rain is expected before the runners go to post for the BoyleSports Home Of The Early Payout Handicap Chase (1.32). The upshot of all that precipitation is almost inevitably going to be heavy ground and that’s absolutely ideal for RICHMOND LAKE.
In 2023 Donald McCain’s eight-year-old won this race by 14 lengths on heavy ground off a mark of 142, carrying 11st 11lbs. A year on he’s been allotted the same weight, runs off the same mark and gets his ideal conditions again.
The selection’s proven ability to handle this test in the likely heavy conditions stands in stark contrast to a significant number of his potential opponents – giving him every chance of winning this for the second season in succession.
Tip: 1.32 Aintree – Richmond Lake @ 3/1 (NAP)
Becher standing dish is weighted for best ever victory chance
The unique challenge of the Becher Chase (2.07), the sole 3m2f Aintree handicap contested over the Grand National fences and almost always on soft or heavy ground means it attracts a cast of regulars for whom the test is thought to be ideal.
Last year’s first four, the winner Chambard, Coko Beach, PERCUSSION and Celebre D’Allen are all back for more and while the first named is 6lb higher and the second is lumbered with top weight, the selection returns on the lowest mark from which he’s ever attacked the race.
Third off 130 in 2022, Luca Morgan’s nine-year-old defied a mark of 136 to land another bronze medal in last year’s running. At a chunky each-way price of 18/1, there has to be every chance he can equal, if not surpass those placings in the 2024 edition, where he’ll run off a BHA rating of 125.
Tip: 2.07 Aintree – Percussion @ 18/1 (each-way)
Halo could be ready to shine again on first run post wind op
Paul Nicholls has won four of the last 11 London Grand Nationals courtesy of There’s No Panic (2013), Rocky Creek (2016), Highland Hunter (2021) and Truckers Lodge (2023), so it stands to reason that the yard’s BROKEN HALO is of interest in a typically competitive renewal.
Pulled up in the Scottish Grand National on his last run, the nine-year-old has had a wind operation since and should be more than capable of putting in a big performance here, having been in contention four out when a faller in last year’s running of this contest.
Broken Halo runs off the same mark this time around. Reunited with champion jockey Harry Cobden for the first time since the pair took out a 3m4f handicap chase at Taunton last term, he has to go close.
