Saturday tip: Harry Allwood's Sandown selection

There is a cracking weekend of action to look forward to on Racing TV this week, with the two Grade Ones - the Betfair Henry VIII Novices' Chase and the Betfair Tingle Creek Chase - taking centre stage at Sandown where there are some brilliant support races, too. 

The BoyleSports Becher Handicap Chase is the highlight on the Grand National Course at Aintree on Saturday, and Grade Two action from Navan, as well as a decent card at Wetherby adds further interest to what is set to be a busy afternoon.

There will also be some familiar names in action on Sunday as well, as Huntingdon stages the Grade Two TrustATrader Peterborough Chase, and Energumene is set to return in the Bar One Racing Hilly Way Chase at Cork. Both fixtures will be accompanied by the action from Kelso, featuring the Bruce Farms Scottish Borders National. 

Here are three horses who look to hold decent claims across Saturday's action at Sandown and Aintree - best of luck! 

Best odds: 5-1.

Only three horses finished in this race last year, and it was to his credit that Richmond Lake stayed on best to land the spoils off a rating of 142. 

That gruelling contest probably took its toll on the eight-year-old who failed to sparkle off higher marks afterwards. However, because of those below-par efforts, he returns this year off the same rating and caught the eye in the Grand Sefton on his return to action in November. 

He travelled well throughout that contest and looked set to play a part in the finish before tiring after the last, and should strip much fitter now, especially as he improved bundles for his seasonal return in 2022. Connections also said he needed the run when returning over hurdles last season where he made the most of a good opportunity to score at Wetherby. 

His latest effort hints that he’s been aimed at a repeat bid, and he certainly showed signs he was returning to form following a break last time out. 

He relishes soft and heavy ground and has produced some of his best efforts at this track, while Brian Hughes is also booked to ride which suggests Richmond Lake will be running in this race rather than BoyleSports Becher Handicap Chase he’s also entered in (and is a considerably bigger price for) on the same card. 

If he does return to his best here, which I think he will, then he could prove tough to beat. 

Best odds: 10-1.

Cruz Control progressed nicely over fences last season and there’s every reason to believe he will continue his rise through the ranks now he returns to chasing following a pipe-opener over hurdles. 

Tom Lacey said 12 months ago that his charge has a “big frame” and that he’s needed time to mature, so was always going to improve with age, and it’s unlikely we have seen the best of him yet. 

The seven-year-old produced a career-best effort when successful at Aintree in April where he made all, and jumped well, to defeat a useful field, and on that evidence, he looks the type who will relish the National course. It is also a positive that he’s a prominent racer, and it will be a surprise if he doesn’t stay an extra furlong here. 

He’s now rated 4lb higher, but I expect connections will be disappointed if he isn’t rated higher than 140 by the end of the season, especially with the Grand National a potential target (he’ll need to be rated a few pounds higher to get into that race). It is also best to forgive his final outing last season which came at the end of a long season. 

The selection relished heavy ground when successful at Newcastle last season and conditions looks set to be ideal for him on Saturday, so he ticks plenty of boxes. 

Best odds: 10-1.

The fact Willmount was sent off at 9-4 for a Grade One when last seen suggests a rating of 130 could prove rather lenient here. He was almost the selection at 4-1, but the potential of testing ground and an absence of almost a year was enough to make me look elsewhere. 

One contender who will benefit from any further rainfall is Knickerbockerglory, and he appeals each-way at double-figure odds. 

His record following a 108-plus day break reads 4121, and he produced a career-best effort to score with plenty to spare on his return to action at Ascot last season off a rating of 130 in a similar contest to this. 

Given he appears best fresh, it is wise to think he will be primed for this contest, and he also ran well in the Betfair Hurdle (off a 5lb higher mark) following a short break last season. 

Dan Skelton’s eight-year-old finished second over this course and distance in the Imperial Cup last year (again following a break) and looks fairly treated off a rating of 132 based on his best efforts. 

Harry Skelton is already jocked up, and this is Knickerbockerglory’s only entry, so he should be among the declarations on Thursday, especially as Dan Skelton mentioned this as a potential target a few weeks ago.