Horse Racing Tips: Pauling novice leads Saturday’s trio

Jumps racing dominates across Britain and Ireland on Saturday, with six meetings taking place across the afternoon and into the evening. That action comes from Ascot, Ayr, Down Royal and Wetherby, while Flat cards at Newmarket and Southwell also feature.

Among my Saturday horse racing tips is one for trainer Ben Pauling who was an expensive purchase from the point-to-point scene and is likely to improve on his chasing debut under rules.

12:55 Ascot - Katate Dori @ 7/1

Trainer Sam Thomas has got his relatively quiet start to the season off to a flying start, winning three races from 11 runners since October 11th, and that fine run of form can continue with KATATE DORI in the opening 2m3f novices' handicap hurdle as jumps racing returns to Ascot.

Open only to conditional riders, this six-year-old will be partnered by one of the more experienced riders in Dylan Johnston, and he rounded off his last campaign with a good third over 2m5f at Wincanton on decent ground in April.

A couple of very poor jumps cost him a winning chance on that occasion so he's going to have to brush up in that department here on his return, but he has some solid form in the book and is running from a very workable mark.

13:30 Ascot - Leader In The Park @ 13/8

A winner of his sole point-to-point by 56-lengths, LEADER IN THE PARK was subsequently purchased for £250,000 and although he didn't set the world alight in four tries over hurdles, he has to be of interest on his chasing debut in this 2m3f novices' handicap.

He did win over hurdles when seeing off Grand Albert impressively in a Doncaster maiden hurdle back in February in testing conditions. With that in mind, he does have to prove his effectiveness on a sounder surface but this boy was always going to make a better chaser.

This is a tough introduction to larger obstacles but he receives weight from the field and could be lurking off a lenient mark.

14:05 Ascot - Martator @ 6/1

A dual winner over hurdles and second in a Grade 1 in that code when trained in France, MARTATOR came good over fences at the end of last season for Venetia Williams and will be hard to beat in the 2m1f handicap chase on his return if he's ready.

The son of Martaline was a model of consistency last season over larger obstacles, posting form figures which read 33223111, rounding off a hat-trick of handicaps when easily landing a 2m4f contest at Sandown off a mark of 127 in April.

One of those wins came over course and distance and a 7lb rise in the weights is more than fair. Fitness has to be taken on trust but he has a strong chance.

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

Find more Horse Racing Tips here at Betfred Insights