Saturday Racing Tips: Rayvin Black will relish heavy ground at Sandown

Sitting pretty at Sandown

It'll be a briefer column than usual this week, mainly because it is a very low-key weekend pre-Cheltenham and I'm very happy with our ante-post position on the main betting race, the Imperial Cup.

Hopefully, Rayvin Black can get us in the, err black, in the big one at Sandown at 15:10, for the reasons that I outlined on Tuesday.

The selection has not shortened too much from the recommended prices in midweek - though each-way players have got the four places, after only 15 were confirmed for the race on Thursday morning - and he could be taken on for the lead by the likes of Solstice Star.

But I like the fact that this heavy-ground loving course specialist will be looking to expose any chinks in the sexier horses such as Affaire D'Honneur, For Good Measure and Clayton, and I reckon he will get them all at it, in bad ground, from a long way out. And a mark of 149 still looks very workable on the evidence of that Wincanton win.

In short, we are sitting pretty enough with the ante-post plays. But if you haven't had a bet yet, Rayvin Black would still be the recommendation at a very fair 14.013/1.

I was going to stick with just him until I saw Ozzy Thomas was on offer at 42.041/1 and he has to be worth a saver. He has been given a break since disappointing over fences, and returns on the same mark as when finishing a fair fifth to Old Guard at Cheltenham in October.

He looks weighted to go well at a huge price, goes well fresh and the ground shouldn't be an issue.

For my only other bet at Sandown - I don't tip or punt in bumpers, although I was tempted by Relax in the 14:35 - I like the look of Flashjack at 15.014/1 in the 14:00.

The one question mark about Flashjack is that he is unproven over the trip but there is plenty of stamina on the distaff side of his pedigree, and by all accounts he is a bit of a beast of a horse, too. A staying chaser in mould.

He is also well suited to heavy ground, is in-form, is lightly-raced and is on an attractive mark based on his Leicester and Towcester victories. Two Taffs looks the rightful favourite on potential, but I'd be worried about him stepping up in trip on this ground.

A small stakes bet at Wolverhampton

Over at Wolverhampton, I am going to give Snoano a spin to small stakes at 19.018/1 in the 14:15.

He is less battle-hardened than most in here, and unproven on the track, but he is undoubtedly interesting on his first start for Tim Easterby, who picked him up for just 21,000gns from John Gosden and whose jumpers have been going well.

He lost his way badly on his final two starts but this smart juvenile is well-handicapped off a mark of 92 on his reappearance third of four at Sandown last season, and could prove too good for these.

I will be back every day next week for my thoughts on Cheltenham - day one column live at 17:00 on Monday. Can't wait.

Recommended Bets
Back Flashjack at 15.014/1 in the 14:00 at Sandown
Back Snoano at 19.018/1 in the 14:15 at Wolverhampton
Back Rayvin Black at 14.013/1 and Ozzy Thomas at 42.041/1 in the 15:10 at Sandown