Saturday Horse Racing Tips: Katie Midwinter's best bets including 30/1 Sandown fancy

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Group 1 Saturday at Sandown

It's Eclipse Day at Sandown and a field of seven are set to line up in the prestigious Group One feature at 15:35.

Constitution River, bidding for a fifth successive win and fresh from a French Derby victory, is the standout contender and strong favourite from a Ballydoyle trio that also includes Hawk Mountain.

Unexposed Gethin will put his credentials on the line as he steps up to the top level for the first time, following a narrow defeat by Ombudsman when last seen over course-and-distance.

Saddadd is an interesting contender, whilst A Boy Named Susie is far from a forlorn hope, still capable of showing further progression in a fascinating renewal which also features Flushing Meadows and the supplemented King's Gambit.

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Sandown, 14:25 - Back Tribal Chief @ 10/34.33

Likeable gelding Tribal Chief has often promised to strike in a big-field, valuable handicap, but has lacked luck on a number of occasions. He's on a workable rating of 93, only 3lb above his last win, and has put in two competitive efforts so far this term, finishing third in both the Lincoln at Doncaster and the Victoria Cup at Ascot.

Trained by the in-form David Menuisier, the son of Sioux Nation has amassed plenty of valuable experience during his career to date in similar contests. He is well-treated at the weights if able to enjoy a favourable trip, and may finally reward the faith under Saffie Osborne.

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Sandown, 14:25 - Back Popmaster E/W @ 30/131.00

Whilst eight-year-old grey Popmaster is often vulnerable to a younger improver, he has shown this year that he still retains plenty of ability and is currently only 3lb higher than his last winning mark when successful at Kempton during the winter. He has made the frame on a number of other occasions in recent months and finished a creditable fourth at odds of 28/129.00 in an 18-runner Epsom handicap on Oaks Day last month.

From an unchanged mark of 97, the likeable and experienced performer could outrun his odds for Ed Walker under Kieran Shoemark. He's impossible to rule out from a workable rating, on the back of a promising run, and shouldn't be discounted, holding each-way claims at his best.

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Newmarket, 14:40 - Back Lady Roisia E/W @ 14/115.00

Unexposed filly Lady Roisia has caught the eye previously and shaped well on reappearance in Listed company at Newbury in her penultimate start when returning from a 226-day break. She was sent off at odds of 50/151.00 for the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot, but was luckless when unseating early on, stumbling upon leaving the stalls.

Making only her fifth lifetime start here, the daughter of St Mark's Basilica could outrun her odds as she is a maiden winner who has also placed behind Touleen. There should be more to come from her and the extra couple of furlongs over this mile-and-a-half distance may suit.

Out of Oaks winner Talent, with plenty of black-type in the pedigree as well as middle-distance form, Lady Roisia is well-bred and could be worth a second glance. The best may be yet to come from her and she makes each-way appeal under Hector Crouch.

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Newmarket, 15:15 - Back Sportingsilvermile E/W @ 16/117.00

James Owen-trained Sportingsilvermine is 9lb higher than when a dominant winner at Beverley in his penultimate start, but is on the same mark of 86 as when a good third at odds of 11/112.00 in a higher class York handicap when last seen. He had been competitive from a similar rating last term, making the frame on multiple occasions from a 2lb lower mark of 84, and, following a disappointing spell during the spring, proved he still retains plenty of ability.

In good form currently, and having finished fourth at odds of 22/123.00 in the race 12 months ago, albeit on a different track at Haydock, the five-year-old could be capable of a bold showing for James Owen under in-form rider Marco Ghiani, who is currently operating at a 30% strike-rate in recent weeks.

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Newmarket, 15:50 - Back Dashing Dick E/W @ 15/28.50

Course-and-distance winner Dashing Dick has plenty of form on the July Course in his favour as he bids for a sixth career win. The William Stone-trained contender is 1lb lower than his last winning mark and returned to form with a good third-placed effort here recently.

From an unchanged rating of 73, the experienced eight-year-old should be capable of posing a threat and warrants consideration in familiar surroundings. He proved he's still able to make his presence felt with a promising performance in his latest outing and could take another step forward from a workable mark.

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Newmarket, 16:25 - Back No Retreat E/W @ 7/18.00

Sent off at odds of 50/151.00 for the Royal Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot, No Retreat was luckless on that occasion in a run worth forgiving. He's capable of much better and had been in good form previously in Bahrain and Doha, winning twice whilst also placing at Listed level behind Byline. 

His latest outing was his first run for 123 days, and he could take a step forward now with the benefit of a run. He faces a stiff task from a mark of 107, but could still be on an upward trajectory, still relatively unexposed, particularly in handicaps in Britain.

A likeable performer and generally consistent, it could be worth keeping the faith in the five-year-old son of Siyouni, who has plenty of talent on his day.

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Bet of the day: Beverley, 17:10 - Back Glenfinnan @ 7/24.50

Course-and-distance winner Glenfinnan recorded his latest win at the track in May from only a 1lb lower mark. He has since run well at Carlisle and remains well treated at the weights from a rating of 79 as he bids for a sixth career success.

The likeable six-year-old gelding has previously won from a 14lb higher mark and, although he has dropped significantly at the weights since then, he has often shown he still retains plenty of ability in defeat against tough opposition, including when fourth of 13 to Headmaster at Newbury in the autumn.

It may be worth keeping Glenfinnan onside from his current mark at this level and he should be able to make his presence felt over a trip that suits in the hands of Connor Beasley for Michael Dods.

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Sandown, 17:22 - Back Flying Frontier E/W @ 11/26.50

James Tate-trained Flying Frontier is 1lb below his last winning mark when beating the legendary Sir Busker at Sandown last summer, and, although his two subsequent runs were disappointing, he returned to some form with a creditable fourth-placed effort at odds of 25/126.00 in a Redcar handicap when last seen, and could show further improvement.

The six-year-old son of Farhh remains lightly raced in only his 15th career start, and he has shown he's capable of striking from a higher rating previously. With proven form over course-and-distance, Flying Frontier is one to note in the hands of Rossa Ryan, holding solid claims.

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Sandown, 17:22 - Back Great David E/W @ 14/115.00

Another contender to consider from the yard in the same race is Great David, who hasn't been seen to best effect in two handicap starts this term, but has dropped 5lb as a result and showed form in tough company last term.

During 2025, the son of Ribchester won a handicap from a mark of 76 before defying the odds in Stakes company, finishing third to Mount Kilimanjaro at odds of 25/126.00 in the Dee Stakes at Chester, before achieving a brilliant fifth-placed finish at 40/141.00 in the Hampton Court Stakes. He was beaten only a length-and-a-quarter by Nahraan in a Listed Hamilton contest, and earnt himself a career-high rating of 103.

Whilst he has to prove himself from a stiff mark in handicap company, Great David has plenty of talent on his day and could be capable of a resurgence in form under James Doyle. He has been able to compete in deep waters, including in a Royal Ascot Group Three, and may prove worth keeping the faith in.

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Bellewstown, 18:18 - Back Stuntman Steve E/W @ 14/115.00

Equipped with first-time blinkers, Stuntman Steve makes appeal on his hurdling return in this valuable handicap, well treated at the weights from a mark of 120 with Eoghan Finegan claiming 5lb, if able to revert back to previous form over timber following a stint over fences.

Last year in this contest, the Gavin Cromwell-trained gelding chased home Bowensonfire, who won from a mark of 123 before running off a 30lb higher rating at the Cheltenham Festival, subsequently franking the form on multiple occasions. Stuntman Steve is on a similar mark this time around and could be able to repeat the feat of twelve months ago by at least making the frame once again.

His form over fences has left plenty to be desired, but things didn't pan out favourably for him in recent handicap appearances over the larger obstacles and he often shaped as though a win was a feasible achievement for him as a chaser. With winning form over hurdles, however, he is proven in this sphere and could return to form.

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Nottingham, 19:00 - Back Zarinca @ 4/15.00

Unexposed filly Zarinca shaped with some promise on handicap debut at Pontefract when last seen, but couldn't get involved for the major honours. She could take a step forward for the experience, however, and, having shed her maiden tag at Southwell in her penultimate start, could be worth keeping the faith in from a mark of 72.

In the hands of Paul Mulrennan, the daughter of Expert Eye makes appeal and may be capable of better than shown in her latest outing. Her maiden win has already produced three subsequent winners, and her current mark could prove lenient as she bids for a second win for Ed Bethell.

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