Saturday Racing Tips: 5/2 Nap heads Owen’s four fancies

An action-packed Saturday awaits, with EIGHT meetings taking place across the UK & Ireland.

I've studied the cards and come down on four Saturday racing tips - including a 5/2 Nap in the opener at Musselburgh.

13:25 Cork - Tashir @ 6/4

If he's fit and ready after 228 days off the track, Johnny Murtagh's TASHIR ought to take all the beating in this mile-long maiden.

The three-year-old son of Kingman appeared just once as a juvenile and finished runner-up to Aidan O'Brien's Monumental, despite a less-than-ideal passage through the race.

That form is very strong. The winner finished second and third in Group 2 and Group 3 company respectively on his next two starts and is rated 109, while the third has since won a handicap off his opening mark of 83. The fourth also won next time out.

There's more depth to that form than anything on offer from the selection's 17 rivals at Cork on Saturday and he's open to as much improvement as any of them too.

Murtagh's in good form - he's operating at a 21% strike rate in the past fortnight - and everything points to a bold bid.

13:50 Musselburgh - Wiltshire Lad @ 5/2

Andrew Balding's horses are going great guns at the moment, which bodes well for WILTSHIRE LAD in this 0-95 handicap over a mile at Musselburgh.

The three-year-old son of Wootton Bassett spent his two-year-old season under the tutelage of Sir Michael Stoute, who's since retired, and he showed plenty of ability despite winning just one of four starts.

His debut behind the likes of Group 1 winner New Century (rated 110), Consolidation (90) and Betfred 2000 Guineas favourite Field Of Gold (109) - and ahead of Glittering Legend (104) who won a Listed event on All-Weather Championships Day at Newcastle on Friday - at Doncaster last June could hardly have worked out better, while his second to the now 96-rated Seagolazo at Chester a month later is solid form too.

His subsequent effort at Yarmouth was disappointing, but he bounced immediately back to win a Southwell handicap in October in good style off a mark of 78, so that's forgiven.

He changed hands over the winter, was gelded and now makes his first start for new connections. Considering the typical profile of a Stoute horse, a good bit more is expected of the selection this year.

Under the equally in-form Oisin Murphy, Wiltshire Lad is fancied to keep Balding's good run going.

14:05 Haydock - Givemefive @ 2/1

My next fancy is GIVEMEFIVE for Harry Derham in the Two Mile Hurdle Series Final at Haydock.

The five-year-old comes to Merseyside on the back of a career-best performance, winning a Class 3 handicap at Newcastle off a mark of 128 by seven widening lengths.

He's been put back up four pounds, which he struggled off earlier this term, but he's only five and appears to be improving, so I expect another big performance.

Over this sharp trip on a flat track like Haydock, I can see him setting off in front again and never seeing another rival.

17:05 Fairyhouse - Jazzy Matty @ 5/1

Finally, I'm backing dual Cheltenham Festival hero JAZZY MATTY to land this Listed handicap hurdle over two miles at Fairyhouse.

Cian Collins' six-year-old won the Grand Annual at HQ last month and reverts back to hurdling off a 10lb lower mark.

Judging by his run over the smaller obstacles at Thurles at the start of the year, which was likely just a prep run for the Festival, he's still capable of running to a high standard in that sphere.

So, his mark of 125 looks very exploitable indeed and bar Joyeuse, who has stacks of weight to carry, I think this is a modest race, so 5/1 makes plenty of appeal.

Click the links for the latest Today's Horse Races and Horse Racing Odds

Find more Horse Racing Tips here at Betfred Insights