Saturday Racing Tips: Five fancies for a competitive afternoon

A busy and highly-competitive Saturday afternoon of racing gets underway at 12:55 and concludes shortly after 19:25.

I've got five Saturday racing tips from the three National Hunt cards at Ascot, Haydock and Wincanton.

12:55 Haydock - One Big Bang each-way @ 8/1

Saturday's opener is a Pertemps Qualifier - the penultimate one of the season - that's attracted a highly-competitive field of 14, including a couple of Gordon Elliott raiders.

A case can be made for many of these, but I'm drawn to James Owen's ONE BIG BANG each-way.

The seven-year-old son of Masked Marvel was revitalised for switching trainers in March last year, rising from a mark of 106 to 127 in the space of nine months.

He's yet to win in four starts this year, but his form is solid and consistent. His second to Shoot First in the Premier Handicap over course and distance on Betfair Chase day in November was a clear career-best, and his subsequent fourth at Cheltenham on Trials Day is useful too.

His subsequent run at Ffos Las just 10 days later was sub-par, but that's easy to forgive considering the quick turnaround, lacklustre jumping and omitted hurdles.

I expect a much-improved effort this weekend at a venue he seems to enjoy following a 35-day break. Off a mark of 126, with talented claimer Jamie Brace taking off five pounds, he's fancied to make a bold bid.

This is an Extra Place Race, with Betfred paying 4 places instead of 3 at 1/5 the odds for all each-way bets.

13:36 Wincanton - Golden Ace @ 2/1

I'm surprised at the price difference between Burdett Road and GOLDEN ACE ahead of the G2 Kingwell Hurdle.

The former won the Greatwood in November and performed admirably behind Constitution Hill and Lossiemouth in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton over Christmas, but I believe his 150 rating is inflated and conceding eight pounds to last year's Mares' Novices' Hurdle winner back over her best trip could prove difficult.

The selection is yet to race over the minimum distance this term, taking in the Ascot Hurdle over 2m3f in November before the Relkeel Hurdle over a furlong further at Cheltenham on New Year's Day. She visibly failed to stay the trip on both occasions after travelling with her usual zest.

Dropping back to 1m7f ought to suit this talented daughter of Golden Horn, who just four starts ago beat Brighterdaysahead - 9/4 for the Champion Hurdle.

I expect the selection to track likely front-runner Burdett Road all the way and utilise her devastating turn of foot at the business end.

I think she's a great bet at current prices.

14:25 Ascot - Into The Park each-way @ 14/1

I've long been a fan of Philip Hobbs & Johnson White's INTO THE PARK and I think he's excellent each-way value for this ultra-competitive handicap over 2m3½f.

The six-year-old looked progressive early last year, recording back-to-back victories after finishing third, beaten just under three lengths, by Nicky Henderson's Joyeuse, who is now rated 138 after winning the big handicap hurdle at Newbury last weekend.

He didn't really kick on from that, running deplorably at Chepstow back in October on seasonal reappearance, but it's been reported he scoped badly afterwards and the subsequent 68-day break suggests he took a bit of time to come back to himself.

I thought his second at Exeter just before Christmas was encouraging under the circumstances and while a two-pound rise in the handicap is harsh, he's entitled to come on plenty for the run.

Improvement is required to win a race like this, but that can be expected given his profile. He looks well overpriced at current odds.

This is an Extra Place Race, with Betfred paying 4 places instead of 3 at 1/5 the odds for all each-way bets.

15:50 Haydock - Derryhassen Paddy @ 7/4

I fell in love with DERRYHASSEN PADDY at Windsor last month. Lucinda Russell's six-year-old made most of the running to beat Listed winner Honky Tonk Highway, who had 129 and 125 rivals over eight lengths behind, by a nose to extend his unbeaten record to 3-3.

The son of Arctic Cosmos is a strapping chaser in the making, but he proved in Berkshire that he can achieve plenty over the smaller obstacles.

I don't think he enjoyed being out in front and he could easily have folded when the runner-up headed him twice in the final couple of furlongs, but he showed a great attitude to get up in the final strides.

He's been targeted at this Grade 2 contest over an extended three miles ever since and although he has a three-pound penalty to carry, I think it's the ideal race for him. He should love Haydock's long, galloping straight.

Moon Rocket is a fearsome rival after his narrow second in the River Done a few weeks ago and Kepler's Law is interesting after his 30-length success at Leicester around the same time, but the selection looks a real talent and I fancy him quite strongly.

16:25 Haydock - My Drogo @ 15/8

Finally, I'm keen on MY DROGO in this fascinating Hunters' Chase over 2m6f.

Four years ago, he was a Grade 1-winning novice hurdler for Dan Skelton with the world at his feet. Unfortunately, his fragility was soon exposed and his career stalled.

However, he was recently transferred to Edward William Walker and pleased when third of 16 in a PTP at Larkhill before Christmas. A month later he returned to course and distance and won a five-runner affair by 12 lengths.

The fact he was able to put a couple of runs together and show a significant amount of improvement is very promising. He's so lightly-raced for a 10-year-old and if that progression can continue, he could be a real force to be reckoned with in this division.

He's rated superior to all seven of his rivals and William Biddick, who is mustard in these events, maintains the partnership. That's a big plus.

This is no gimmie, with Famous Clermont and Hollow Games solid opponents, but My Drogo is the bet in my book.

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