Saturday Racing Tips: Le Milos looks primed for Warwick test

There are six meetings in Britain and Ireland on Saturday and the Premier Racing comes from Newbury and Warwick, which is live on ITV4. First off is Warwick before they go at Uttoxeter, Newbury, Naas, Newcastle and Wolverhampton.

Among our Saturday fancies is one for trainer Dan Skelton at his local track Warwick and he is fancied to take down a Willie Mullins-trained hotpot.

Horse Racing Odds

Today's Horse Races

14:40 Warwick - West Balboa @ 5/2

Willie Mullins saddles the hot favourite Gala Marceau here, but it’s a long time since she was last seen finishing second behind Lossiemouth at Punchestown in May and she might be vulnerable to West Balboa. She is unbeaten in one at the track and has a huge chance.

The Dan Skelton-trained mare hasn’t been at her best for the majority of the season, but her latest fourth behind Della Casa Lunga at Kempton over Christmas was a step back in the right direction. She recorded her best Racing Post Rating of the season on that occasion.

West Balboa has never looked like the strongest of stayers over 3m and that run came over the longer distance, but there is every chance that she will be even better at this 2m5f trip.

Skelton fits first-time cheekpieces in a bid to sharpen up West Balboa this time and they might help her to recapture her old sparkle. She will be difficult to beat if that is the case.

15:15 Warwick - Le Milos @ 10/3

The 2m 4f veterans’ handicap chase (15:15) could also go to the Skelton team with Le Milos, who is steadily returning to form this season and ran his best race at Chepstow last time.

Le Milos has dropped from a rating of 152 to race off just 139 here and was 2lb higher than this when beaten only eight and a quarter lengths by the progressive Lowry’s Bar in third at the Welsh track last time. That was his first run in cheekpieces and they had an effect.

The sheepskin is back on and Le Milos might be even more dangerous if he is ridden forward around this tight track. His stamina from further could then come into play.

Skelton loves Warwick, so will probably have had a race here in mind for Le Milos, and this will be his first run in a veterans’ race. This should be a lot easier than Chepstow last time.

15:35 Newbury - Aucunrisque @ 22/1

The big race at Newbury can go to Aucunrisque, who has finished first and second in two starts at this course and is 5lb lower than when successful in this race two seasons ago.

The Chris Gordon-trained performer is evidently well handicapped on his best form and showed he still retains plenty of ability when winning a hot race at Ascot in November.

Aucunrisque comfortably saw off a strong field that day. The runner-up, third and sixth have all won subsequently, while the fourth and fifth have also run well. The form is evidently red hot and the selection is only 4lb higher on this occasion.

He disappointed when well beaten at Kempton over Christmas, finishing only sixth, but that wasn’t his true form and connections blamed the softening ground. It’s on the soft side at Newbury, but rarely gets that bad there and Aucunrisque might be able to act on these conditions.

Horse Racing Tips from Betfred Insights.