Saturday ITV Racing Tips: Best free bets for Sandown, Musselburgh and Leopardstown on February 1

The Grade 1 Scilly Isles' Novices' Chase (1435) at Sandown is the feature race of Saturday's action, there's also a Grade 3 and three other intriguing contests from the Surrey track.

Up in Scotland it's day one of the Scottish Cheltenham Trials raceday at Musselburgh, and the ITV cameras will be showing three big races from there.

Finally we can't forget the Grade 1 Irish Gold Cup (1530) over in Leopardstown which features some big hiitters on day one of the famous Dublin Racing Festival.

If you want a full set of tips from the Leopardstown meeting, which includes four Grade 1 races, then go here.

Let's begin with a quick run through of our ITV tips, with the reasons why we've picked them further down the page.

If you fancy a punt or two, check out the Planet Sport race centre which will show you all the live odds, racecards and results.

Good luck and please gamble responsibly.

(Please be aware selections could become non-runners after article's latest update)

 

Saturday's ITV tips

13:25 (Sandown) De Kingpin

13:42 (Musselburgh) Nardaran

14:00 (Sandown) Martator

14:17 (Musselburgh) Afadil

14:35 (Sandown) Jango Baie

14:50 (Musselburgh) The Kalooki Kid

15:07 (Sandown) Shoot First

15:30 (Leopardstown) Galopin Des Champs

15:42 (Sandown) In D'Or

 

13:25 (Sandown) De Kingpin

De Kingpin holds course placed form. Ran well again six weeks ago posting a close second over 2m5f at Newbury and open to further progress and rates a leading chance in the Virgin Bet Daily Price Boosts Novices' Handicap Hurdle.

Paul Nicholls' Just Lucky Sivola scored narrowly a 2m4f Hereford novices hurdle before a decent 3m novices handicap hurdle third at Ascot and will be in the mix, along with Sole Solution who found success by 3.25L contesting a 2m4f novices hurdle at Hereford two weeks ago.

 

13:42 (Musselburgh) Nardaran

Trainer Paul Nicholls maintains an excellent record in the Scottish Triumph Hurdle and Nardaran may ensure he adds to the tally. Looked in need of the experience when a promising fourth on hurdling debut at Kempton and could take a sizeable step forward for the application of first-time cheekpieces.

Maitre En Science holds sound claims as a two-time winner in France making his stable debut for an up-and-coming young trainer, while Static will find this easier than the G2 Finale Juvenile Hurdle at Chepstow over Christmas, so should be thereabouts down in class.

 

14:00 (Sandown) Martator

The Venetia Williams-trained Martator does especially well when the going is heavy. This eight-year-old was impressive here last April and produced a smart third tackling the 2m G2 Desert Orchid Handicap Chase at Kempton two runs ago.

Course and distance winner Etalon fell two weeks ago at Windsor but finds ideal opportunity to bounce back and makes for appeal among the places.

 

14:17 (Musselburgh) Afadil

Afadil won the Scottish County Handicap Hurdle twelve months ago and can repeat the feat. Shaped nicely when fourth at Ascot during November and looks well-treated racing off 4lb lower than when winning this last year.

Florida Dreams finished fifth behind Burdett Road in the Greatwood Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham earlier in the .season and is capable of better than he showed when below-par at Aintree on Boxing Day.

Maghlaak managed to win two of his last three hurdle outings under this young rider. Consider wearing first-time cheekpieces, while Norman Fletcher is worth noting from an each-way perspective.

 

14:35 (Sandown) Jango Baie

Jango Baie was a G1 winning hurdler and made a successful start to chasing scoring by 6.5L a 2m5f novices chase during December at Cheltenham. The Nicky Henderson six-year-old has a top chance in the Scilly Isles Novices' Chase.

Kalif Du Berlais looks promising with fences securing a Newbury victory prior to a 9.5L success New Years Day at Cheltenham and should be respected up in grade and trip.

Handstands holds every chance bidding for a hat-trick with a 3.5L victory attempting the 3m G2 Esher Novices Chase here preceding an easy win contesting the 2m3f G2 Towton Novices Chase at Ffos Las.

 

14:50 (Musselburgh) The Kalooki Kid

The Kalooki Kid created a strong impression tackling a similar trip during November. Possibly saved for the Scottish Champion Chase and may defy a 8lb higher mark up in grade.

Marble Sands holds obvious claims racing 1lb lower than when runner-up to an impressive winner in a competitive handicap chase at Cheltenham a month ago.

Impressive wide-margin Newbury winner Saint Segal may relish conditions and provide bold showing off this 9lb increased rating, while talented top-weight Minella Drama cannot be left out down in grade.

 

15:07 (Sandown) Shoot First

Irish runner Shoot First posted a 2.75L victory in a hurdle over a similar distance during November at Haydock before a downfield result tackling the 3m1/2f G1 Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot. Respect dropping in level for the Virgin Bet Heroes Handicap Hurdle.

The main threat will come from Henri The Second ticks plenty of boxes after succeeding by 18L in December attempting a course and distance handicap hurdle.

 

15:30 (Leopardstown) Galopin Des Champs

Dual Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Galopin Des Champs is Willie Mullins' star chaser and the nine-year-old can claim a third straight success in this prestigious Irish Gold Cup Chase and confirm his superiority over Fact To File on their course and distance G1 Savills Chase match-up.

Fact To File beat Galopin Des Champs mentioned tackling a shorter trip in the G1 John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase during November and rates the obvious threat.

Embassy Gardens looked good winning the G3 Savills New Years Day Chase at Tramore upon return to action and could be one to get involved in the placings, while Monty's Star filled the runner-up spot on that occasion and makes for plenty of each-way appeal with that outing under his belt.

 

15:42 (Sandown) In D'Or 

In D'Or posted a 4L victory in a 3m handicap chase a fortnight ago at Ascot and will be a leading player in the Virgin Bet Masters Handicap Chase.

Gustavian ran well on Boxing Day when a neck second in a 3m1f handicap chase at Aintree and makes plenty of appeal, along with O'Connell who is bidding for a hat-trick after a 9.5L success tackling the 3m3 1/2f Lincolnshire National Handicap Chase at Market Rasen.

 

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