Saturday Racing Tips: 11/2 Nap heads Owen’s selections

Storm Darragh is expected to bring strong winds and plenty of rain to the UK on Saturday, so several of the afternoon's meetings are subject to early-morning inspections.

Fingers crossed it's safe to race and we at least get a run for our money from my four Saturday racing tips.

12:57 Aintree - Golden Ambition @ 15/8

My first interest on Saturday is Ben Pauling's GOLDEN AMBITION at Aintree for a novices' handicap hurdle over an extended three miles.

The five-year-old son of Mount Nelson showed precious little in eight runs last season, but he's been highly-progressive so far this term, recording form figures of 211 between October-November.

He's risen from a mark of 89 to 108 as a result, but he essentially runs off 101 - a pound lower than his comfortably victory at Lingfield just over three weeks ago - thanks to the brilliant Callum Pritchard's seven-pound claim.

Golden Ambition shapes like there's even more to come and this looks another winnable contest, so he's the pick to land a hat-trick.

13:15 Sandown - Henri The Second @ 4/1

Just under 20 minutes later, I'm hopeful of a bold bid from Paul Nicholls' HENRI THE SECOND in the Pertemps Qualifier at Sandown.

The Saddler Maker gelding is one of just three runners - the other two unfancied in the betting - in this field of 10 that has already had a run this season, an advantage not to be taken lightly given forecast conditions.

He's become a bit frustrating to follow, failing to build on a Grade 2 novice hurdle victory at the Surrey venue this time two years ago, but his reappearance back over hurdles here at Sandown last month was very encouraging.

He was entitled to need it after 364 days off, and he wasn't beaten too far (11¼ lengths) in fourth. That ought to have put him spot on for this next assignment, as he tackles three miles for the first time.

He's dropped from a mark of 133, after the aforementioned Graded success, to 125 and if he can return in anything like that sort of form, which he's more than entitled to as a lightly-raced seven-year-old, then he must have an excellent chance.

Betfred will return your stake (up to £10) as a free bet if your selection in this race finishes 2nd.

13:42 Navan - My Trump Card @ 11/2

Bective Stud sponsor this Listed handicap hurdle over 3m1f and Gordon Elliott's MY TRUMP CARD can be an appropriate winner for Noel and Valerie Moran.

The six-year-old son of Shantou is the only runner in the race sporting their white and green silks, which is perhaps a tip in itself, and he makes obvious appeal off a low mark.

He runs off 128, with the useful Carl Millar taking off five pounds, which could prove quite lenient considering this horse was set to contest the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle at this year's Cheltenham Festival prior to a setback following his maiden success here at Navan in January.

His form reads well as it is, but he's so young and lightly-raced that you can only imagine there's more to come.

The concern is that he was touted to go novice chasing earlier in the season but obviously hasn't, suggesting he had another issue or two, but otherwise he makes serious appeal and at 11/2 he's Nap material in my book.

14:12 Chepstow - Wrappedupinmay @ 5/2

Finally, a chance is taken on Paul Nicholls' WRAPPEDUPINMAY in this novices' handicap chase over just shy of three miles.

He appeared to have the world at his feet after bolting up by 24 lengths on his rules debut in a bumper at Exeter in January last year, but he's been relatively disappointing since.

However, he never really encountered his preferred conditions and there's every chance he's going to come into his own now tackling the bigger obstacles. Everything he did over hurdles was a bonus, and all that...

Wrappedupinmay won a PTP in April two years ago by a whopping 30 lengths, with a horse called Ask Anything (rated 130 over fences) a further eight adrift. If as hoped he does prove a much better chaser than hurdler, this mark of 122 could prove very lenient indeed.

Ground is ideal, the one concern regards fitness. Nicholls' lot have tended to need their first run of the campaign, so he might well blow up, but I expect him to be bang there at the business end at the very least.

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