Saturday Racing Tips: 11/8 Nap heads Owen’s three

It's the weekend before Cheltenham and I've got a trio of Saturday racing tips, including a 6/5 Nap, for your consideration.

Fingers crossed for a winner or three to boost the confidence ahead of the greatest four days on the sporting calendar. Can't wait.

13:50 Sandown - The Kemble Brewery @ 13/2

I'm surprised THE KEMBLE BREWERY is nearly twice the price of Meetbythesea for this Premier Handicap hurdle over 2m4f at Sandown.

Kim Bailey's six-year-old was sent off as short as 4/11f against that rival at Ludlow just before Christmas and while the latter came out on top, he was in receipt of a whopping 11 pounds. On Saturday, the difference is just six.

On top of that, the selection ought to appreciate going the other way round, having jumped out to his right - drastically at times - the last day. I also think he's going to relish the step up to 2m4f.

Some of the The Kemble Brewery's previous form is top-notch, too. He beat David Pipe's Jurancon, victorious in three of his next four starts to earn a mark of 132, on hurdling debut at Worcester back in October and Koapey, who he beat comfortably at Ffos Las in between, is no mug either.

Bailey is a fantastic target trainer and this has been the aim for a while now, with the Cheltenham handler first mentioning this £45k contest for the son of Blue Bresil a couple of months ago.

I'm backing him to win, but as this is an Extra Place Race - with 5 places on offer instead of 4 at 1/5 the odds - I couldn't put anyone off an each-way play.

14:10 Gowran Park - Grimaud @ 6/5

I expect GRIMAUD to be very hard to beat in the opening two-mile maiden hurdle at Gowran Park.

The five-year-old son of Zoffany, trained by Gordon Elliott, is winless in three starts over obstacles, but he's shown plenty of ability in defeat - enough to earn an opening mark of 123.

His form behind Willie Mullins' Fishery Lane, who looks bound for the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival next week, is very useful, especially considering the selection made a momentum-losing error at the final flight. I'd say he's worth more than the four-and-a-half-length margin.

He meets nothing of that calibre on Saturday - nor the likes he'd have bumped into if he wasn't ruled out of a Listed handicap hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival last month due to a stone bruise.

Captain Ryan Matt might be the one to give him most to think about, but I'll be disappointed if he doesn't break his duck. He's Nap material.

16:00 Ayr - Ned Tanner @ 11/4

My final selection on Saturday is Nick Alexander's NED TANNER for this 0-140 handicap chase over an extended 2m4f.

The nine-year-old son of Milan looked to be regressing at an alarming rate earlier in the season, finishing 19 lengths adrift on seasonal reappearance in November before an even heavier defeat at Carlisle the following month.

However, he got right back on track at Haydock just before the turn of the year and although he was runner-up on both occasions, it's fair to say he's held his form in two starts since.

His latest effort, when two lengths behind Lucinda Russell's El Elefante in a Class 2 up at Kelso, was as good as any of his recent performances. In fact, it might be one of his career-bests.

He drops back to Class 3 company here, off just a pound higher, and must have an excellent chance of getting back into the winners' enclosure.

Dare To Shout is feared, but otherwise it's a very winnable contest and I'm hopeful he can do exactly that.

The Cheltenham Festival is just days away - check out the latest Cheltenham Betting Odds, including the Gold Cup Betting Odds, over at betfred.com

Find more Horse Racing Tips here at Betfred Insights