Saturday horse racing tips: Shouldvebeenaring looks a dead cert at Wolverhampton

Tipster Paul O’Brien is back for the best of today’s horse racing action at Sandown and Wolverhampton.

Here are the picks…

Sandown 13:15: 4 Kartoon And Co

Kartoon And Co won on his debut at Stratford in October last year and followed that up by coming second at Market Rasen on December 7. This four-year-old gelding was slightly below par on his last start coming third of six at Huntingdon on January 12, but that can be forgiven as he was put up a grade but still ran fairly keen throughout. There is one positive to be gained from that below benchmark performance, which is a workable rating which he can take full advantage of to win on his handicap debut.

Wolverhampton 14:40: 5 Shouldvebeenaring

It’s slightly surprising to see Shouldvebeenaring entered into a listed all-weather race but if you delve deeper into the form books you’ll find he got a second place at Newcastle as a two year old and a win as three year old at Southwell before the start of last year’s flat season.

I witnessed him coming third last time out in the Qatar Prix de la Foret at Longchamp in October last year where he came clear of the rest inside the final furlong. In second place was Frankie Dettori aboard Kinross, who was denied a final victory by Kelina. This significantly easier field at Wolverhampton could well see Shouldvebeenaring go off odds-on but that would be justified as none of the other runners should pose much of a threat to a horse with such ability.

Chelmsford City 17:30: 9 Calcutta Dream

Six year old gelding Calcutta Dream is only 2lbs higher rated than his most recent course and distance win at Chelmsford on January 11. He was second last time out at Wolverhampton on February 17, just beaten on the line by a nose in a photo finish by Lough Lean, who has had back to back wins this year. A repeat of that performance should see him back to winning ways today.