ITV Racing Tips: Two Saturday Selections From Aintree & Wincanton

It's another packed Saturday for ITV Racing viewers this weekend, with flat fans satiated at Doncaster but the crux of the action taking place at Aintree and Wincanton respectively over obstacles. Billy Grimshaw has a couple of best bets in big races and he makes the case for them here...

14:40 Aintree

I absolutely love the Grand Sefton and it's another one of those races that watching it, you really feel affirmed that the jumps is properly back. The ground is always a key factor and while it's not been as dry in the north compared to Wincanton, there may still be the word good in the going description which would be a rarity for this race. This is not Venetia Williams weather despite it being her time of year, and with that I am willing to put a line through Frero Banbou for all he has finished 3rd and 7th in the last two renewals.

The horse four places ahead of him last season Gaboriot fell off a cliff formwise after that good effort in this contest and is another I don't fancy here, for all the trainers G&G do often revive horse's fortunes off a break. He'd need it much softer to be effective, and while that's not a stick you can beat last season's winner King Turgeon with, his last two runs in the 2024/25 season ended up with PU and PU so I'd tread carefully supporting him again here at around 6/1. I do fear at a similar price Johnnywho for the O'Neill team off the back of his second in the Kim Muir, with these fences and the drop in trip looking sure to suit, but he could well have the big race in April here in mind as his main target and that puts me off a touch.

For the same team as Gaboriot, White Rhino is the favourite for the race as I pen this piece and while I respect his chance, I do think there's a bit of Bowen bias in his price compared to some others in the field considering he flopped when last seen all the way back in March. He is handicapped to be involved and does run well fresh, but at double his price I'd much rather have OUR POWER for the red hot Sam Thomas onside.

He is ten now and seems to have done his best work over further than this, however with potentially good ground to run on and with Thomas operating at over 50%, I'd be amazed if he isn't tuned to the minute for this and it looks tailormade for him.  Last season he was forever the bridesmaid when racing prominently in staying contests and just weaking, and as a consequence his mark looks ripe for the picking now. If he's sent to the front I am hopeful on this ground he can get into a rhythm and if he does, he won't be out of the frame.

15:30 Wincanton

The unseasonably dry weather has put paid to a real bumper card down at Wincanton this weekend, which is a shame for all concerned. The Badger Beers often has a big field to contest the title but this year just seven will line up, which changes the challenge for punters in finding the winner considerably. While I am a bit cautious in saying exactly how the ground will ride up at Aintree, I have no concerns in saying it'll be very quick at Wincanton and as such you want a horse with proven firm ground (or as close to it as we can get over jumps) form running for you.

Threeunderthrufive looks the class horse in the field but with the ground this quick, I would think something will be able to do him for a bit of tactical speed in the finishing stages of the race. He is an admirable animal but a slow boat who is best seen when the race becomes a real slog and with no guaranteed pace in here and the potential nothing wants to make it with the ground so quick, I don't think stamina will be the forte.

Art Of Diplomacy was 12/1 earlier in the week and is now 5/2 favourite, so the price is definitely gone, and the case for him is obvious. He should be hunting a six timer were it not for a fall at Chepstow last time when leading and with the race at his mercy, and he is the probable pace angle in here. My worry would be that this is the best race he has run in and if he does blast off as he has in the past, he may be a sitting duck.

If that comes to pass, the horse in here with the most speed is undoubtedly SOUL ICON and at 15/2 I'm willing to take a chance on his stamina holding out here now a year older and with ground in his favour. Should the race become a bit messy and a lot have a chance in the final strides, he has the pace from his days running over two and two & a half miles to put them all to the sword and given we know he likes it quick, he is a couple of points too big to be ignored.