Saturday racing tips
SANDOWN
1.50: L’Eau du Sud 10/11 (2pts)
3.00: Jonbon 1/2 (2pts) 4/7 (AP)
AINTREE
1.32: Springwell Bay 7/2 (1pt
L’Eau du Sud
Only six runners remain for the Grade 1 Novices’ Chase on Saturday afternoon, and among them is the promising grey from Dan Skelton’s yard, L’Eau du Sud.
He impressed with a dominant victory at 13/8 during Cheltenham’s November Meeting, storming clear to secure the win.
L’Eau du Sud could face a challenge from chase debutant Rubaud, trained by Paul Nicholls.
However, asking the six-year-old to win first time out over fences in a race of this caliber might be a tall order.
Another contender, Soul Icon, shows promise as a top-class chaser.
Despite placing second in five of his eight starts over fences, these performances came in challenging contests, steadily climbing in class.
However, stepping back down to 2m might be a significant hurdle for him to overcome.
Down Memory Lane could be the dark horse of the race. Trained by Gordon Elliott, this horse remains relatively unexposed, both over fences and hurdles.
After a winning hurdle debut in November 2023, he disappointed in the Grade 1 Future Champions at Leopardstown but bounced back in November with a strong first-time fences win at Navan.
At 7/1, he convincingly defeated well-regarded rivals, including Nurburgring and stablemate King Of Kingsfield.
Jordans is another to consider, though he may need more improvement.
Despite winning the Grade 3 Novice Chase at Punchestown in October, he unseated Danny Mullins in the Grade 2 Craddockstown Chase soon after.
L’Eau du Sud, with his impressive form and speed over 2m, stands out as a strong contender.
His comfortable Cheltenham win, coupled with his hurdling record, suggests the Skeltons may have a star in the making.
Sandown’s uphill finish could prove a challenge for less experienced rivals like Rubaud and Down Memory Lane.
Jonbon
Backing Jonbon seems logical if he makes the quick turnaround following his seasonal debut victory at Cheltenham’s November Meeting.
Despite winning by only a length and a half, he had plenty left in the tank and displayed much-improved jumping, a long-standing area of needed development.
Even with occasional mistakes, Jonbon has consistently delivered, winning major Grade 1 races, including this event last year against Edwardstone as the 30/100 favorite.
His performance at Sandown has been stellar, boasting an unbeaten record of four wins, including the Henry VIII in 2022 and consecutive victories in the Celebration Chase and Tingle Creek.
Having returned swiftly from his Shloer Chase win to claim last year’s Tingle Creek, Jonbon’s current odds of 4/7 could represent good value.
Springwell Bay
In the Class 2 Handicap Chase at Aintree, Springwell Bay stands out as the clear favorite.
Top-rated and relatively unexposed, he faces competition from the likes of Richmond Lake, last year’s winner, who could pose a threat despite struggling in subsequent races.
Springwell Bay was well-beaten by Hyland at Cheltenham in his last outing, but he returns quickly, stepping down in trip. With only two chase starts, he remains a significant threat to the field.
Despite finishing third in a four-runner race, his close showing behind Hyland over a longer trip offers encouraging form.
His strong strike rate at this distance adds further appeal. Although Sure Touch’s withdrawal has left the field wide open, Springwell Bay has the potential to capitalize on this opportunity, especially with his yard seeking wins in high-profile events.
