ITV Racing Tips: Saturday Picks for Every Race in the ITV7 on Jump Finale Day

The competition starts with the bet365 Novices' Championship Final Handicap Hurdle (Race 1), and I like the claims of Ben Pauling’s FIERCELY PROUD. A dual bumper and hurdle winner, this five-year-old has run very well to make the frame in a pair of graded races the last two times, and an opening mark of 130 could prove exploitable on his handicap debut. His team is in excellent form still, and I think he will run a huge race in the opener. 

Gary Moore’s MAGIC MEMORIES should make his presence felt in the Madri Excepcional King Richard III Cup Handicap (Race 2). He shaped nicely when he finished fifth of 18 in the Spring Mile at Doncaster on his seasonal reappearance and will be a lot fitter now. With his rider's claim taken into account, he gets into this race with no weight on his back and must merit consideration. I’ll be disappointed if he’s not in the first three.

The TrustATrader Fully Vetted Tradespeople Handicap (Race 3) has a wide-open look to it, but a chance is taken on the top-weight COLD STARE. David O’Meara’s charge is a former course and distance winner and returned as a comfortable winner at Thirsk last week. He is back up 6Ib in the handicap, but he likes it here and should make a bold bid to follow up.

HITMAN should take a bit of stopping in the bet365 Oaksey Chase (Race 4). Paul Nicholls’ charge has hit the woodwork multiple times at the highest level, but this presents him with a fine opportunity to ensure Paul Nicholls has a nice Saturday winner. His penultimate second to Shishkin is good form, and he comes out very well at the weights, so he can gain an overdue success. 

The top two in the weights make the most appeal to me in the trustatrader.com Handicap (Race 5). However, we can only pick one, so I’ll side with TACARIB BAY. He’s twice succeeded at this course and is back on his last winning mark, with conditions to suit. He has the advantage of fitness after a couple of outings on the all-weather and should be firmly in the mix here. 

We have the rematch between EL FABIOLO and Jonbon in the Bet365 Celebration Chase (Race 6). The vote goes to the former, despite fluffing his lines in the Champion Chase last month. He will have to jump with pinpoint accuracy if he’s to navigate his way around this course, but he didn’t have much of a race last time out, whereas Jonbon had a gruelling battle at Aintree just over two weeks ago. Willie Mullins’ top-class seven-year-old can get back on track by sealing victory under Paul Townend. 

The feature race at Sandown is the Bet365 Gold Cup Handicap Chase (Race 7), and this can go to MINELLA COCOONER. Willie Mullins’ former Grade 1 winner ran a monster race to finish third in the Irish Grand National, and he remains completely unexposed over marathon trips. He fits the mould as a potential winner of this contest, so hopefully his class can carry him to success under Danny Mullins.