Saturday Racing Tips: Highland can hunt down Becher rivals

Let’s hope the weather holds out because we are set for a treat on Saturday with six meetings in Britain and Ireland, including top-class affairs at Aintree and Sandown.

First off is Aintree before they go at Sandown, Chepstow, Navan, Newcastle and Wolverhampton.

Among our Saturday fancies is one for trainer Fergal O’Brien, who is bidding to secure his first victory in the Becher Chase.

13:50 Sandown - JPR One @ 15/8 

There has always been a buzz about JPR One and the six-year-old has started to show why since he was switched to chasing. He should be coming here unbeaten in two over fences.

JPR One was good at his obstacles when easily making a successful chasing debut at Newton Abbot in October and looked even better at Cheltenham last time until a final-fence mishap led to him unseating rider Brendan Powell. He was clear at the time and would have won.

That was disappointing, but it is probably no more than a bump in the road because JPR One had taken that field apart in the manner of a top-class novice chaser in the making and he could easily develop into Britain’s leading hope for the Arkle. He can win this en route.

14:05 Aintree - Highland Hunter @ 11/2

The feature race over the Grand National fences is the Becher Chase and it looks like a good opportunity for Highland Hunter to prove that he is right back to his best form.

Highland Hunter was second in the Welsh Grand National when trained by Paul Nicholls a couple of years ago, but has had his problems and run only twice subsequently.

However, the handicapper has dropped him to a mark 2lb lower than when recording that excellent effort at Chepstow and Highland Hunter proved he retained plenty of ability when taking second at Kelso in October on his first outing for 630 days.

That was a superb debut for new trainer Fergal O’Brien and, although back up 2lb in the weights, Highland Hunter is entitled to improve plenty for that first run after so long off.

14:25 Sandown - Spirit D’Aunou @ 11/2

Gary Moore loves a big winner at this Sandown meeting and Spirit D’Aunou might have been trained with this race in mind, so I expect him to improve for his seasonal return.

The four-year-old went off a warm favourite to make it five wins on the spin on that first run for 196 days at Cheltenham in October, but pulled too hard and that cost him. He still kept on nicely in the closing stages to take fourth, but was no match for winner Blueking D’Oroux.

That looked disappointing at the time, but the form ranks a lot better now because the winner has since won a Grade 2 at Ascot, and Spirit D’Aunou is running in a handicap here off a mark of just 129. There is every chance that might underestimate his ability second time up.

Spirit D’Aunou probably also won’t be so keen and fresh with that run under his belt and Niall Houlihan is able to claim 3lb. A big run is expected.

14:40 Aintree - Liari @ 5/2

This son of Cracksman won one of his three starts on the Flat in France, but has plenty of size and scope and looks likely to make up into an even better hurdler for Paul Nicholls.

Liari was heavily backed for his British debut at Wincanton in October and, although he won by only three-quarters of a length, he still looked to be learning on the job. The runner-up, Inside Man, is also an equally smart prospect and the front two were a long way clear.

This is a stronger race, but Liari looks open to plenty of improvement now that he has that first experience of hurdling under his belt and he has been given 41 days off to strengthen.

Horse Racing tips, from Insights.