Horse racing tips for Saturday: three best bets for Sandown

Best odds: 12-1 (general).

It would be a surprise if Dan Skelton hasn't had the bet365 Novices' Championship Final Handicap Hurdle in mind for Be Aware for some time and this lightly-raced youngster looks to hold decent each-way claims here. 

The five-year-old pulled nicely clear with the runner-up to score on debut over two miles in January, and his connections said "he's probably one of the nicer novice hurdlers we've got" afterwards.

It was a shade disappointing he wasn't able to justify favouritism when finishing a narrow second under a penalty on his next start (where he was also conceding 19lb to the winner), but again impressed with the way he travelled and jumped.

His latest effort, when second behind the 130-rated Kamsinas, looks decent form, too, as that rival has produced some good efforts in graded company this season, and Be Aware stuck to his task well under pressure on his first start over 2m5f. 

Although the selection lacks experience, he certainly hasn't shaped like that's going to hinder him in this 20-runner field, and he's also a full brother to Lac De Constance who is rated 134 over hurdles and fences (he also reached a higher rating over the larger obstacles last season) which suggests a mark of 124 probably underestimates Be Aware.

With just three starts under his belt, there should be further improvement on the horizon, and at the general 12-1 on offer, he'll do for me. 

Best odds: 8-1 (general).

A few you can make a case for here, including at decent prices, but the one I keep coming back to is Amirite who looks to have plenty in his favour.

The Irish raider showed some useful form as a novice chaser last season and was sent off the 11-2 favourite for last year's Irish Grand National. Although he has run well on soft, connections believe he is best suited by better ground, and I expect the testing conditions was the reason for his poor run in the Fairyhouse showpiece. 

Henry de Bromhead's charge has run two decent races in defeat this season, including at Cheltenham in October where he raced exuberantly and travelled nicely into contention before his saddle started to slip, and he gradually weakened before the second last. 

He then ran well in the Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas where he plugged on to finish fifth on ground that wouldn't have been ideal for him, and connections decided to rule him out of the Cheltenham Festival due to unsuitable conditions. 

The ground looks set to be good as Sandown on Saturday, so there'll be no excuses this time, and although his past two outings wouldn't be good enough to score here, he looks sure to improve now he has his ideal conditions.

If there's one horse in the field who could be well ahead of the handicapper, then I think it's Amirite as he hasn't fulfilled his potential just yet, and has always been held in high regard by the de Bromhead team. 

He's also attracted some support this week and arrives here fresher than most. 

Best odds: 25-1 (Bet365).

A wide-open contest on paper, with Sa Majeste chalked up as the 6-1 favourite at the time of writing. Willie Mullins' six-year-old could be the handicap blot here off a rating of 138, but disappointed at the Cheltenham Festival, and needs to bounce back.

A few of the others towards the top of the market appear high enough in the handicap, so the one who looks worth siding with each-way is Kamaxos who is chalked up at a standout 25-1 with Bet365 (paying five places).

Roger Teal's gelding showed some decent form in handicaps, including when second in this race, a couple of seasons ago before enduring a 663-day absence.

However, he returned on a rating of 117 in February and bolted up at this track under Lilly Pinchin, who is on board again on Saturday. 

You'll need to forgive his effort at Newbury a month later where he could only manage fourth off an 8lb higher mark, but I expect the bounce factor may have hindered him there, and an improved performance should be on the horizon now.

The seven-year-old ought to have more to offer, and is only 3lb higher than his effort in this contest two years ago (which was also on good ground), so there are enough positives to take a chance on him at double-figure odds.