ITV Racing Tips Today: Two Picks From Sandown

There's something for everyone today on ITV Racing, with the main event being the jumps finale at Sandown but a few decent flat contests at Leicester and Haydock thrown in for good measure. Billy Grimshaw has scoured the cards and has two recommended bets, both from Sandown...

14:20 Sandown - Oaksey Chase

I would wager a fair amount of money that the winner of this year's Oaksey will not emulate Gaelic Warrior and win the Gold Cup the next season, if anyone would be daft enough to lay me that bet, but this is still a decent contest to get stuck into. Skelton and Nicholls collide with Doyen Quest for the former and Matterhorn for the latter but they are both playing second fiddle in the market to the Moores' BLOW YOUR WAD, who has been a revelation this season and deserves a big success to cap off a memorable campaign.

When 2026 began he was switched to Gary & Josh from Tom Lacey's yard and immediately ran a career best for third, travelling well for a long way before being seen off by elite rivals in Jonbon and Pic D'Orhy in the Ascot Chase. Next up he ran to that same level for second in the Greatwood Gold Cup and followed that with a respectable fourth place in the Ultma at Cheltenham. He has found a new level which, simply, is better than anything else in this field and he showed that when bagging a deserved win at Chepstow last time out.

He has had a busier campaign than some rivals which would be my main worry, but providing he is close to the form he has been showing on all starts since moving to the Moores, he is the standout pick here and I actually would price him nearer 6/4 than the 2/1 which is readily available as I pen this piece. This meeting is notorious for funny results with horses being over the top, but given the Moore team's phenomenal Sandown record I will trust them and kick us off with a strong NAP selection in the Oaksey.

14:55 Sandown - Celebration Chase

Undoubtedly a legend of a racehorse, it would be cruel were Jonbon to lose his record of always finishing first or second over obstacles here, in what could well be the ten year old's final race. Nevertheless, father time waits for no man or beast and despite being burnt more times than I care to remember opposing this winning machine over the years, I do worry for him in this race. Nicky Henderson's stalwart claimed this prize in both 2023 and 2024 but was easily dismissed by eventual Champion Chaser Il Etait Temps in 2025. That drubbing prompted introspection from the team at Seven Barrows and he has been tried over a range of trips this season, to varying success.

I think he has almost certainly lost some of his speed over two miles now - there's no disgrace in that for the veteran he is - and although skipping Aintree means he comes here fresher than he has in the past, that has not always been a help for Jonbon. THISTLE ASK is a horse I've loved to watch this season and given he has had a break since Ascot, when beaten 3L into second by Jonbon on soft ground up the punishing Ascot straight, I fancy him to reverse that form. Sandown is more a test of jumping than stamina compared to Ascot, which will suit the spring-heeled Skelton youngster, and on the back of his demoralising Ryanair defeat I think Jonbon could be in trouble here trying to chase this frontrunner who has hardly mistimed a jump all season. I expect the money to come for the more popular Jonbon, but Thistle Ask is my idea of the winner.

I would be in no rush to back Jonbon to win even if Thistle Ask were not here, as Solness overcame his travel sickness in style to run a stormer for second in the Melling at Aitnree last time out, a definite career best outside of Leopardstown. This is a multiple Grade 1 winner for a master trainer in Joseph O'Brien and if he has figured out how to get the horse to Britain on his A Game, he is another who could jump Jonbon silly.

I will stick with Thistle Ask as the bet as although I think Solness has the ability, a ding-dong battle with Grey Dawning over the intermediate trip at Aintree could well have taken its toll.