Tingle Creek day at Sandown is always a festive highlight and the ITV4 cameras are in town for five live races at the Esher track on Saturday.

The big one is at 3.00 and our expert, Clive Gildon, has a trio of selections on the card, including one in the marathon handicap that brings the curtain down on a belting day.

Saturday’s tips

• 1.15 Sandown – Dubrovnik Harry – 9/2
• 2.25 Sandown – Altobelli – 7/2
• 3.35 Sandown – Dr Kananga – 25/1

1.15 Sandown – Dubrovnik Harry

Dubrovnik Harry has two top pieces of form at Sandown and can land a first course success at the third attempt in the Pertemps qualifier for Harry Fry.

The lightly raced eight-year-old beat a stack of good horses when a cracking third in the EBF Final at the track in 2022, running as if he needed a stronger test of stamina, and produced a performance of similar standing when third in the Heroes Handicap Hurdle here in February when last seen. 

Three subsequent winners have emerged from that race and Dubrovnik Harry is an interesting proposition on this return to slower ground.

He recorded a wide-margin success on his sole try on heavy going as a novice and he ran well in a better race on his seasonal bow last term, so there is every chance he’ll be fit enough to do himself justice.

2.25 Sandown – Altobelli 

Fry also has an interesting runner in the 2m handicap hurdle as Altobelli is capable of winning races off his rating. 

Altobelli was thrown into a Grade 1 novice hurdle at Aintree only four starts back and showed plenty to work on in his first couple of handicap hurdles last term. 

He pulled well clear of the third when a good second at Ascot on his return, proving he can go well when fresh, and ran to a similar level when third in a higher-class race at that track on Long Walk Hurdle day.

The only two who beat him were Champion Hurdle third Luccia and Impose Toi, who are rated 13lb and 10lb higher now, so the form is respectable.

Altobelli was unable to show his best when fancied on his final run of the previous campaign in the Betfair Hurdle, jumping sloppily, but that was his true form and he should be much more at home down in class off a reduced mark.

3.35 Sandown – Dr Kananga

The London National over an extended 3m4f is sure to be a war of attrition and Dr Kananga is taken to do the business at a nice price for an in-form yard.

Ben Clarke enjoyed the most successful month of his training career in November and all four of his winners were reappearing. 

That augurs well for the chances Dr Kananga, who has dropped to a mark 23lb lower than when he was sent off an 8-1 shot for a 22-runner Becher Chase on this weekend two seasons ago and should be ready to go on his comeback.

He looked a marathon chaser of some potential back then, and although those dreams were unfulfilled, he still ran a couple of promising races in staying chases last campaign when second to well-handicapped rivals Twoshotsoftequila and Art Decco at Catterick and Leicester. He has his conditions and this may be the time to catch the bottomweight.

Saturday’s tips

• 1.15 Sandown – Dubrovnik Harry – 9/2
• 2.25 Sandown – Altobelli – 7/2
• 3.35 Sandown – Dr Kananga – 25/1

*all odds correct at time of writing and subject to change

Remember to gamble responsibly

A responsible gambler is someone who:

• Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
• Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
• Never chase their losses
• Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed
• GamCare – www.gamcare.org.uk
• Gamble Aware – www.gambleaware.org

For help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or go to www.gamstop.co.uk to be excluded from all UK-regulated gambling websites.

Commercial content notice: Taking one of the bookmaker offers featured in this article may result in a payment to talkSPORT. 18+. T&Cs apply. Gambleaware.org