Dave Nevison: My Saturday horse racing tips and Sandown picks

We have a really good afternoon’s viewing on the channel, featuring the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown where two Classic winners take on top-class older horses. Hopefully a couple of these run well at prices.

2.25 Sandown: Checkandchallenge

He is taking a very unusual route to this handicap having won a Listed race in good style and then finishing 14th of 15 in the 2000 Guineas. He was an outsider in the Classic and had a far from trouble-free race and I believe a line can safely put through that one.

Checkandchallenge has looked a real improver in his two other starts and, although he is pitched in here against older and vastly more experienced handicappers, it does not look as though any of them have any secrets left. Also, the majority have not been in the best of form recently so this may not be as competitive as it might have been.

William Buick taking the ride is the final clincher for me.

4.10 Sandown: Sweet Reward

This consistent type will be amongst the outsiders here but it is difficult to seem him running a bad race judged on his recent efforts.

Sweet Reward is returning to the track he won twice at last season and might well even improve a little. He ran very well when fourth at Epsom last time and a to me a drop of 2lbs is generous, while Rhys Clutterbuck taking off another 3lbs will also help him.

Trip and ground are ideal and Jonathan Portman has done me more than the odd favour when pitching in high class-handicaps.

I will be very disappointed if Sweet Reward doesn’t run very well, and I will be looking for any extra place each-way terms that are offered.

4.40 Beverley: Under Fox

Under Fox was a steady improver from this time last season - including a good run at this meeting - and his attitude also seemed to take a turn for the better.

It very much looked as though his improvement had continued through to this season with a fine effort on his reappearance at Thirsk when a ¾-length runner-up in a similar race to this one.

His latest effort saw the progress stall, but given his overall recent momentum I am prepared to forgive a modest run and risk him getting back on track here.

5.20 Sandown: Fantasy Master