Rhys Williams' Racing Tips: 5 Selections For Saturday
Horse racing expert Rhys Williams is sharing his best selections for today's racing.
Rhys has been a racing analyst for over 10 years, working for At The Races and most recently as a tipster for Betfair where his tipping column had a 31% ROI over four and a half years.
He often focuses away from the front end of the market, finding angles that aren't evident to most.
Thanks to his recent winners, Rhys' tips have returned 141.43 points from 113.5 points staked, meaning his profit and loss record stands at 27.93pts overall.
Here are Rhys' tips for Saturday, using the most up-to-date odds from the best horse racing betting sites.
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13:17 Bangor: Laristote - 0.5pt Win @ 33/1
Laristote is the second string for Donald McCain in the opening novices’ hurdle at Bangor, but I think the market is underestimating his chance following a promising run at Sedgefield last time.
He showed plenty of promise on his debut in an Irish point before disappointing on his first two starts for McCain, but he showed more last time on his first run after a wind op.
He raced handily from the off and despite his jumping not always being convincing, he looked to be going best turning the final bend towards two out.
He was headed just before the last and finished quite weakly on the climb to the line to finish fourth.
While I think he will likely be better on a right-handed track, the flatter nature of the finish today will be more suitable for Laristote and they may look to ride him a shade more patiently too.
It could be that the front few in here are a bit too classy for him but the quality of that run suggests he can be more competitive than his price suggests.
Any 16/1 or bigger appeals.
Rhys' Selection 1: 13:17 Bangor - Laristote - 0.5pt Win
13:17 Bangor: L'hybris Is Born - 0.5pt Win @ 80/1
At an even bigger price in the same race, I think L’hybris Is Born has the potential to show more now dropped in trip for his rules debut.
He showed promise on his debut at Chaddesley Corbett in a 2m4f maiden in a tight finish. He hasn’t built on that since but I think the soft ground and track at Alnwick weren’t ideal for him.
He faded tamely late on, while the 3m trip was too far for him and his jumping lacked fluency at times on his latest start.
It may be that he’s just gone backwards and possibly needs a break, but I think the shorter trip, better ground and switch to hurdles has the potential to bring improvement from L’hybris Is Born.
Any 33/1 or bigger appeals.
Rhys' Selection 2: 13:17 Bangor: L'hybris Is Born - 0.5pt Win
15:10 Newbury: Checkandchallenge - 0.5pt Each-Way @ 40/1
Checkandchallenge finished fifth in the Lockinge when last racing over this course and distance, and I think the market is overlooking the chance of his class telling on his return to handicap company.
I think a well run straight mile is ideal for him and he’s not had the opportunity to encounter that scenario in any of his six starts since the Lockinge.
However, he’s continued to often run creditably in Listed and Group 3 company.
He’s now back in the scenario that he wants and it’s not a concern that the cheekpieces have been taken off as I’m not sure they had much impact on him towards the end of last season.
This is only Checkandchallenge’s second ever run in a handicap and while his slow starting tendency is a concern and it may be that he will need the run after a break.
I think his price underestimates the chance of his class telling. Any 20/1 or bigger appeals.
Rhys' Selection 3: 15:10 Newbury - Checkandchallenge - 0.5pt Each-Way
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15:23 Thirsk: Draupnir - 0.5pts Win @ 20/1
Draupnir won on his only run over course and distance last season and I think he has a better chance of making it two from two at this track than the market suggests.
He looked the type who would need time, so it was to his credit that he ran as well as he did when finishing second in a maiden at Beverley - having previously shown promise in a strong maiden at Doncaster.
After a couple of defeats in handicaps, they dropped him back to seven furlongs at this track and he won well, albeit with a ride that took advantage of what appeared to be the beneficial near rail.
Draupnir ran better than the margin beaten suggests at Catterick, when last seen at he lost his action on the undulations late on when still in contention.
It may be that he will need the run after a break or that this company is a bit too strong for him, but I think he could have more to come this season and any 14/1 or bigger appeals.
Rhys' Selection 4: 15:23 Thirsk - Draupnir - 0.5pt Win
16:37 Nottingham: Bintaryana - 0.5pt Win @ 13/2
Bintaryana has shortened quite a bit in the market this morning, but I thought she was put in at a ridiculous price to start with and she’s still a little overpriced now.
She showed some promise on her debut at Haydock when looking green at various stages.
She also ended up being furthest away from the advantageous near rail but made some eyecatching late headway to finish fifth behind a couple of fillies who contest the Fred Darling today.
I expect she will have improved quite a bit for that experience and this is not a strong fillies’ maiden.
Any 6/1 or bigger appeals.
Rhys' Selection 5: 16:37 Nottingham - Bintaryana - 0.5pt Win
Odds correct at time of publishing!
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