Six key stats to help you beat the bookies on Saturday

There are six cards on Saturday as Lingfield, Sandown, Newcastle, Cork, Wincanton and Kempton host some competitive racing. Here are statistics from each track that could help your punting . . .

Sandown

Paul Nicholls is the only trainer to have more than one victory to his name at Sandown this season – 4-9, 44 per cent strike-rate – and it was a similar story last season when his 27 per cent strike-rate yielded a £35.70 level-stakes profit.

He sends two there on Saturday, headed by unbeaten hurdler Tahmuras in the Unibet Tolworth Novices' Hurdle (2.25). The six-year-old makes the step up to Grade 1 company after two smooth successes at Chepstow and Haydock in November.

Iceo (3.35) looked potentially top class when running away with a juvenile hurdle on his British debut at Kempton last Christmas, but he makes his first start since last February having suffered a setback after being beaten in a pair of Grade 2 races.

Wincanton

Gary Moore was selective but prolific with his Wincanton runners in 2021-22, winning with four of his nine runners, and he heads there for the first time this season with a pair of runners aiming to continue the 20 per cent strike-rate he has built up over the last fortnight.

Poncho (12.55), in the colours of Goshen owner Steve Packham, makes his hurdles debut in the 1m7f maiden having made the frame in both his bumper starts. Isayalittleprayer (2.40) was pulled up on her first start in 657 days at Sandown in November, but could make more of an impact on her first start in handicaps.

Lingfield

Jamie Osborne has made a storming start to 2023 with four winners from nine runners for a 44 per cent strike-rate, He has four runners at Lingfield on Saturday and his main hope of continuing that fine run may be Free Solo (1.10), who has a 100 per cent record at Lingfield having won both starts here in the last two weeks.

Free Solo's recent wins were the first successes for the six-year-old since July 2019, so something about Lingfield seems to have brought out the best in him and he may be able to shrug off a 5lb penalty.

Newcastle

Ben Pauling doesn't make the trip to Newcastle from his base near Cheltenham very often but it's worth taking note when he does. His only runner there this season was a winner, and he has a 27 per cent strike-rate in the last five years.

Pauling, who has already far eclipsed his previous best tally of winners in a season, has an eyecatching trio set to make the long journey on Saturday, including the well-fancied pair Densworth (2.33) and Henry's Friend (3.08).

Densworth must prove he can handle soft ground but he was an impressive bumper winner and there was little wrong with his second at Doncaster last time out, while Henry's Friend drops in grade after a good second behind the highly regarded Henri The Second in a Grade 2 at Sandown in December.

Cork

Unsurprisingly, the deadly combination of Willie Mullins and Paul Townend have been the ones to keep on side at Cork this season.

Naas Tues 20 December 2022Willie Mullins and Paul Townend after Impaire Et Passe had won The Jack Carter Naas Maiden HurdlePhoto.carolinenorris.ie

Willie Mullins and Paul Townend both have terrific records at CorkCredit: Caroline Norris (racingpost.com/photos)

Mullins' eight winners at a 33 per cent strike-rate here this campaign have come for a €4.79 level-stakes profit and his three runners have a great chance of improving that record.

Alastor (12.27) and Walk In The Brise (1.37) will be partnered by Townend, who has form figures of 111531122 on his last ten rides, while Patrick Mullins is aboard Fancy Girl in the mares' bumper (3.57).

The trainer has a 35 per cent strike-rate in bumpers this season and Fancy Girl is making her debut under rules after winning her only point-to-point in March and subsequently being bought for €200,000.

Kempton

Jack Mitchell is in flying form, having started the new year with five wins from eight rides for a 62 per cent strike-rate, with three of those coming at this course on Wednesday.

He has two rides back at Kempton on Saturday afternoon, with the first of those coming on Fox Vision (5.30) for the powerful connections of Roger Varian and King Power Racing. The three-year-old colt was a close third on his debut at this course last month and could have more to offer now upped to 1m4f.

Mitchell has another strong chance in the mile handicap (6.30) on Asdaa, who is seeking a quick-fire hat-trick and was partnered to success by Mitchell here three days ago.

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