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

I'm focusing entirely on the National Hunt action on Saturday, especially Day 2 of Chepstow's Jump Season Opener.

My Saturday racing tips features a trio - including a 5/2 Nap - from the Welsh venue, plus one at Hexham.

14:10 Chepstow - Mighty Bandit @ 17/2

My first interest on Saturday is Warren Greatrex's MIGHTY BANDIT in this four-year-old handicap hurdle.

The son of Order Of St George began his career for Gordon Elliott in Ireland, beating Boodles hero Lark In The Mornin by nine-and-a-half lengths, but he had issues in the meantime and was sold for a cool €420k (£351k) and transferred to new connections.

However, he's enjoyed a good few months on the Flat recently, so it's well worth chancing he's over whatever problems he encountered and can make a splash back over obstacles.

If that proves true and the Mighty Bandit who battered a subsequent Cheltenham winner turns up, a mark of 130 could easily underestimate him in a race lacking quality.

Liari is the exception, but Paul Nicholls hasn't made the blistering start to the season we've become accustomed to over the years, and the price difference between him and the selection is far too big in my view.

14:30 Hexham - Wendigo @ 13/8

Twenty minutes later we briefly divert from the action at Chepstow to go to Hexham, where Jamie Snowden saddles hurdling debutant WENDIGO.

The five-year-old Great Pretender gelding, who fetched £70k last May, won two of three bumpers last term, beating Jonjo & A J O'Neill's Wilful - now rated 125 - on his final run in that discipline.

He now goes over obstacles and this looks a fantastic opportunity for him to get off the mark. With all due respect, this rates a modest affair.

The selection showed good ability in PTPs, recording a couple of 90+ RPRs, and he rates a strong selection on his jumping debut.

14:45 Chepstow - Cuthbert Dibble @ 5/2

Back to south Wales for CUTHBERT DIBBLE, who makes his chasing debut in a Listed contest over 2m3½f.

The six-year-old son of Kayf Tara was a highly-progressive hurdler for the Twiston-Davies team, rising from a mark of 111 in February last year to 140 this April, with the highlight being his third in the Pertemps at the latest Cheltenham Festival.

He now goes over the bigger obstacles and if he takes to them - as those hailing from this yard so often do - he sets the standard in this six-strong field.

Not only that, but he's a much safer proposition on the fitness front, too. Twiston-Davies' string are usually more than forward enough for their first run, evidenced by their 32% strike rate in the last fortnight.

This is Nap material for me.

15:20 Chepstow - Into The Park @ 8/1

Finally, I'm backing Philip Hobbs & Johnson White's INTO THE PARK in the Silver Trophy Handicap Hurdle - a Class 2 event over 2m3½f again.

I tipped the five-year-old Walk In The Park gelding last season before his handicap debut at Taunton off a mark of 120, for I thought it seriously underestimated him. I thought he deserved to be closer to 130.

He won well that day, but disappointed slightly off six pounds higher at Newbury next time out. That can easily be forgiven, though, as it was his first attempt over further than the minimum trip and his sixth outing of the season.

He's enjoyed a nice break since, and I'm hopeful this young horse can continue to progress this term. The fact Michael Nolan is hopefully telling, for I presume he had the choice between the selection and Lowry's Bar, who himself boasts good claims.

With this being an Extra Place Race, with five on offer instead of four at 1/5 the odds, I couldn't put anyone off an each-way play. Win-only for me, though.

Click the link for all the latest Horse Racing Odds

Find more Horse Racing Tips here at Betfred Insights