Saturday ITV Racing Tips: Best bets for Sandown, Leicester and Haydock on April 27

Sandown serves up the final day of the jumps season where the trainers' and jockeys' champions will be formally crowned. Barring something amazing happening that should be Willie Mullins and Planet Sport Bet's Harry Cobden.

The two main race highlights of the day are the Grade 1 Celebration Chase (1500) and the bet365 Gold Cup (1535), but there's two more from Sandown and one each from Haydock and Leicester to keep us busy.

We begin with a quick run through our tips, and 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.

Finally, if you want to hear about Planet Sport ambassador Harry Cobden's Sandown rides on Saturday why not visit his blog and watch his video.

Good luck and please gamble responsibly.

(Please be aware selections could become non-runners after article's first publication)

 

Saturday's tips:

13:50 (Sandown) Fire Flyer

14:05 (Leicester) Look Back Smiling

14:25 (Sandown) The Real Whacker

14:45 (Haydock) Earls

15:00 (Sandown) Jonbon

15:35 (Sandown) Minella Cocooner

 

13:50 (Sandown)

Cobden's mount Fire Flyer has a good chance of winning the opening Bet365 Novices' Championship Final Handicap Hurdle on current mark.

Beat the re-opposing Secret Squirrel when taking a Taunton novice hurdle by a neck, before being pulled up in early March on last visit. Can bounce back and round off an excellent season.

Secret Squirrel has since scored again at Taunton, is a former G2 winner and rates as another contender with a reasonable handicap mark.

Top weight Panjari cannot be dismissed after a comfortable win at Ffos Las, so consider for a place.

 

14:05 (Leicester) Look Back Smiling

Look Back Smiling started the new campaign with a success over one mile at Doncaster and will provide a real challenge in the King Richard III Cup Handicap.

Al Mubhir returns from a lengthy lay-off. Last seen racing downfield among Listed company on Kempton's all weather trac. Potentially could be on an advantageous mark.

Raadobarg warrants consideration based on a reappearance third at the Curragh tackling a nineteen runner event. Seventh in the aforementioned Newbury event since.

Miss Cantik holds each-way claims resuming from a five month absence.

 

14:25 (Sandown) The Real Whacker

The Real Whacker has endured a slightly lacklustre campaign but can sign off on a high in the bet365 Oaksey Chase.

Winner of the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase last term, The Real Whacker finished fourth in the King George and second in the Cotswold Chase before being pulled up in the Gold Cup, when the testing ground was a negative.

Trainer Patrick Neville is eager to return to a sounder surface and dropping back to an extended two miles and six furlongs can see him back on winning form.

 

14:45 (Haydock) Earls

Earls did well at the Curragh a week ago when a strong nose second contesting a 1m heavy ground handicap, so will be a leading chance in the Trustatrader.Com Handicap.

Zip produced a smart fourth in a lower level 6f handicap on testing ground at Doncaster. Often runs his race and could go close again.

Gweedore filled the same position at Newcastle last November among similar company when not beaten far attempting six furlongs and should be in the mix.

 

15:00 (Sandown) Jonbon

El Fabiolo is the Willie Mullins representative in the Grade One bet365 Celebration Chase, but Jonbon is fancied to exact revenge for his Cheltenham Festival defeat last year.

Jonbon came out on top when the pair met over hurdles, while El Fabiolo was too good in last season’s Arkle but this year’s planned Cheltenham showdown did not pan out, with Jonbon missing the meeting entirely, while a terrible jumping error in the Champion Chase led to El Fabiolo being pulled up.

The Nicky Henderson-trained Jonbon bounced back to form when stepped up to two and a half miles in the Melling Chase, putting behind him a shock defeat at Cheltenham in January with a solid round of jumping and plenty of determination in the finish.

Dropping back to two miles here, Jonbon can thrive on quicker ground.

 

15:35 (Sandown) Minella Cocooner

Minella Cocooner can likely seal a dream season for Willie Mullins with victory in the bet365 Gold Cup Handicap Chase.

The Closutton handler has enjoyed another epic campaign, with Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Galopin Des Champs, Champion Hurdle hero State Man and Grand National victor I Am Maximus among those to have put him on the verge of a first British trainers’ championship.

The £95,659 first prize on offer in this contest would almost certainly complete the feat and while Mullins mounts a three-strong assault, it is Irish National third Minella Cocooner who makes most appeal.

Minella Cocooner was a Grade One winner over hurdles and has had a mixed season after switching to fences, registering his sole win at Navan in January before posting his best effort so far when beaten four lengths at Fairyhouse on Easter Monday.

Heavy ground was not in his favour that day, when saddled with top weight, and conditions should be more to his liking in Esher, with the excellent Danny Mullins retaining the ride.