Nick’s Picks: Good Omens ahead at Sandown and Wolverhampton

William Hill ambassador Nick Luck casts his eye over Saturday’s racing from Sandown and Wolverhampton.

Sandown

CHURCHILLS BOY is a nice priced selection at 10/1 to get us amongst the winners if Sandown’s Saturday TV card gets the go-ahead (1.50pm). Bar one blip, his career has been a winning one to date, and he was particularly tenacious when taking an above average event at Fontwell last time. The form has worked out, and he’s better off at the weights with subsequent scorer Inneston. In addition, he’s handled really testing ground well and can progress for the step up in trip.

MAN O WORK looks attractively treated in the Imperial Cup (2.25pm) at 9/1. He’s very lightly raced, but is more than useful judged on his best efforts, among them a superb fourth in a hot heat at Fairyhouse. The subsequent exploits of those around him make his handicap mark appear quite kind, and this could be a nice precursor to getting him into a Festival race.

MERCIAN OMEN might surprise a few in the mares’ bumper (3.00pm). This isn’t as strong a running as normal, and this mare looked a very strong stayer on her debut at Wetherby. Despite a price of 10/1, she has one of the best jumping pedigrees in the race as she’s closely related to the smart Pendra (best in the mud) and the stable’s tough Mercian King. Sire Black Sam Bellamy has very good stats on testing ground too.

LAC DE CONSTANCE is worth another chance at 11/2 in the novice handicap (3.35pm). He looked right out of the top drawer early in the campaign, and was hot favourite to overturn Boothill and co in the Wayward Lad, when unseating his rider. The ground was too quick at Exeter last time, and he doesn’t have a whole lot to fear from these opponents, for all they’re useful in their grade.

Wolverhampton

INGRA TOR can take the TV opener at Wolverhampton (1.30pm) at 7/2. I loved this horse early last year, and was disappointed he didn’t end up stakes class, but he’s been gelded and, if that does the trick, he could yet be really smart. I think he’ll get the perfect set-up here from his draw, with Baldomero and Silky Wilkie likely to go forward and tow him into the race.

TACARIB BAY can run a bold race in the Lincoln Trial (2.05pm) at 10/1. He has top weight, but is a very smart horse when he gets it together, and there was a fair bit to like about his opening effort on the synthetic at Lingfield. This track, coupled with a much stronger gallop, should really squeeze out a pound or two more, and he’s run well first time out both previous times.

ANGEL BLEU is favourite, but still reasonably priced at 3/1 to win the Lady Wulfruna (2.40pm). He didn’t get much of a roll of the dice last year, and was forced into running in Group One mile races which were a little beyond him. I like him back in trip and down in grade.