The Weekend Winners team are back for 2025 and start off with their best picks for the action at Sandown this Saturday.
Host Kate Tracey is joined by Declan Rix of attheraces.com and BetVictor’s Sam Boswell as they preview a competitive card, featuring a Veterans’ Chase qualifier.
Declan and Kate are taking each other on in the two-mile Free Bet With Unibet’s Betbuilder Rebound Handicap Hurdle (3.35), while Sam is siding with an older favourite earlier on the card.
Declan Rix of attheraces.com…
Oh My Johnny (Sandown, 3.35)
“I’m really keen on him. I think a mark of 116 is very workable for the Philip Hobbs and Johnson White team.
“When he ran at Bangor I had him running to a rating of 120. He had the race wrapped up going to the last when he fell and I thought that was very unlucky.
“Then he won really well at Uttoxeter. His jumping can still be quite fiddly but what I really love about him is he finds plenty for pressure.
“I think he is very well handicapped and the yard are flying.”
Host Kate Tracey…
Navajo Indy (Sandown, 3.35)
“This is a tricky betting heat but I really like the horse third down the list, Navajo Indy.
“Any one of these could win this as it’s super competitive but he is in pursuit of a four-timer, signing off last season with the first of those wins.
“He was ridden with more restraint in the Gerry Feilden last time out but I’m hoping he’ll be reverted to more prominent tactics because this tends to go to those kind of horses.
“He proved himself on soft ground last time as well, showing his versatility. He’s up 8lbs, which won’t be easy, but he’s game and very likeable.”
Navajo Indy (green) on the way to winning at Newbury
Sam Boswell of BetVictor…
Copperhead (Sandown, 3.00)
“I like the consistency of him and I hope that will continue.
“I went back through the comments of Joe Tizzard after Chepstow at the start of the season and they were working back from this Veterans Series final. Since then, he’s just been ticking over nicely.
“Having Freddie Gingell back on will take the 3lbs off which will be really helpful.
“I think the stablemate [Eldorado Allen] could’ve been a bit of a danger but he’s been nudged up [in the handicap] so there’s not as much between them as there was.”