ITV Racing Tips: Best Saturday Bets For Sandown and Newmarket

With temperatures mercifully cooler than they were this time last Saturday, the action on track is as hot as ever with the Coral Eclipse taking centre stage at Sandown. Billy Grimshaw has made his pick in the big one, which you can read here, but has two supporting bets - one at Newmarket and one at Sandown on the ITV slate.

14:25 Sandown - Coral Challenge

A mile handicap around Sandown is almost always a competitive affair and this Coral Challenge certainly fits that description. Indalo just shades favouritism from Tribal Chief at the time of writing, and Roger Varian's gelding probably deserves to head the market given he can be marked up a great deal for "winning" his side of the draw in a Royal Ascot handicap, a meeting that quickly became a bit of a non event for those drawn low. It will only be clear in the fullness of time how much we need to mark up those low drawn runners in the fullness of time, but this grey son of Phoenix Of Spain is clearly in rude health and perhaps is in career best form. He could be a tough nut to crack.

The second favourite is also one who ran well at Ascot last time out, albeit his run was in the Victoria Cup not at the royal meeting. My slight preference would be for Roger Varian's charge if forced into a match bet between the pair, but both are consistent performers and if they were to come home in front here no one would be too surprised. At the prices, however, I am drawn to RIVER KING for Richard Hannon - the trainer who won this race last season. 

He hardly broke a sweat to win at Newbury last time out and has eight more pounds on his back to try stop him in this contest, but the manner of his facile victory indicated to me that this is a horse on the rapid upgrade. His mark still looks workable and given his best work was done late last time out, this step up in trip could in fact bring out even more improvement. He was an all the way winner last time out and I hope Sean Levey attempts the same tactics, because if he gets the lead early doors I don't think he'll be easy to catch. Back him each-way in case the draw bias really did skewer the favourite and he's a group horse in here, but I am quietly confident with this first tip of the day.

15:15 Newmarket - Old Newton Cup

With Haydock still having to cancel all race meetings due to the holes in the track fiasco, both the Lancashire Oaks before this and the Old Newton Cup are moved south to Newmarket. I have no strong opinion on the fillies' race but will be backing one in the big handicap who looks primed for a race like this. He has, sadly, not been missed in the market, but William Haggas' KLASSLEADER looks the outstanding runner in this field and I'd expect Tom Marquand to get this done a shade cosily.

He won tanking at York last time out over a similar trip and on similar going, sitting pretty at the back of the field before cutting through his rivals like a hot knife through butter to score by two lengths. He has plenty more weight to contend with here, but that shouldn't be too much of a concern given his progressive profile and the limitations of plenty in this field. Burdett Road should ensure it is run at a good clip which will suit the favourite and this looks a perfect next step on his road to the Ebor.

He had Plage De Havre well beaten at York last time out but Andrew Balding will be hoping the weight swing in his runner's favour pays dividend. I am not too sure it'll matter a great deal, and think the main danger is in the shape of hat trick hunting Elsass for Charlie Johnston. He beat a well fancied one of the Gosdens at Southwell two starts ago - albeit that horse has let the form down since - and bolted up at Hamilton when we last saw him in taking style. That race was not in the same league as this one, but he is clearly on the improve and warrants respect.