Rhys Williams' Racing Tips: 6 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.
Rhys' tips have returned 149.93 points from 134.00 points staked, meaning his profit and loss record stands at +15.93pts overall.
Here are Rhys' tips for today, using the most up-to-date odds from the best horse racing betting sites.
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Newmarket 14:20: Ancient Rome - 0.5pts e/w @ 18/1
This race is likely to be well run and I think that can see Ancient Rome run better than his big price suggests.
Apart from one good run at Sandown, he was well held in races last season but I thought his seasonal debut at Newbury suggested he could be capable of producing more this season.
He was restrained to the back of the field early on and was still there with a couple of furlongs to go. He could never get a clear run and didn’t come off the bridle at any stage while making some late headway on the near rail to be beaten just over six lengths.
Hopefully the good pace and smaller field than last time will give Ancient Rome a better chance of getting a clear run today and I think this trip could be ideal for him.
He may be vulnerable to younger legs and it might be that he will revert to having an off day but he looks overpriced and any 16/1 or bigger appeals.
Rhys' Selection 1: Newmarket 14:20: Ancient Rome - 0.5pts Each-Way
Punchestown 14:30: Call The Tune - 0.5pt Win @ 66/1
Call The Tune is making his first start over this banks course but he ran well on his only attempt over a banks course in the pointing field and I think the market is overlooking his chance.
That banks run was at Knockanard and he looked to have plenty to do in sixth after a slow jump at three out. Pushed along, he was still some way behind the front pair turning into the home straight before finishing strongly to take second behind What Path who he reopposes today.
That run has since been followed by two respectable runs in Open company including last time when finishing fourth behind Wonderwall.
If Call The Tune has learned from his first experience of banks racing I think he has the potential to reverse that form with What Path who is a fair bit shorter than him in the market.
It may be that he just doesn’t quite have the class for this race or that he won’t be as effective on this banks course but he looks overpriced given the level he’s been running to of late and any 25/1 or bigger appeals.
Rhys' Selection 2: Punchestown 14:30: Call The Tune - 0.5pt Win
Newmarket 16:45: Daiquiri Bay - 1pt e/w @ 9/2
I thought Daiquiri Bay was a bit unlucky when last seen over this C&D and he looks to have a good chance of making a successful seasonal debut.
He put together a string of good performances in defeat last season before finding the ground softer than ideal at Ascot two starts ago.
Back on better ground for his final start of last season, he initially tracked the leaders before losing his place a little. He was boxed in with three furlongs to go and came under driving and took a little while to pick up in the steadily run contest.
He finally hit top gear coming out of the dip but couldn’t quite pick up the front pair who were more favourably positioned given the pace.
This race is likely to be a bit stronger run and hopefully they won’t make the same mistake of riding him for any sort of turn of foot.
It may be that he will need the run a little after the break and he could be a long term prospect for the Ebor but I’m hopeful he can show his quality now and any 4/1 or bigger appeals.
Rhys' Selection 3: Newmarket 16:45: Daiquiri Bay - 1pt Each-Way
Punchestown 18:05: Ballypollard - 0.5pt Win @ 9/1
There are plenty of newcomers in this bumper but I’m siding with a couple of horses coming out of the Irish pointing field.
Ballypollard made a winning debut at Kirkistown in March and looked the right type for a bumper given how powerfully he travelled.
Having been held up, he moved easily into second on the run to three out and looked to still be running away between three out and two out. He cruised into a share of the lead turning out of the back straight and didn’t come off the bridle while easing away from Moneysharvin.
While that wasn’t the strongest maiden, the winner in which he won and the cruising speed that he showed was taking and suggests that the wait to get Ballypollard to the track as a six-year-old was worth it.
I think he can cope with this sharper test and while the market hasn’t missed him too much on the back of that performance I think he’s a little overpriced. Any 8/1 or bigger appeals.
Rhys' Selection 4: Punchestown 18:05: Ballypollard - 0.5pt Win
Punchestown 18:05: Working Class Hero - 0.5pt Win @ 33/1
At a much bigger price, Working Class Hero also makes some appeal on his first start under rules having shown promise on his pointing debut.
That was at Dromahane back in November 2024 and he raced prominently from the off. He was upsides Stroll In The Park and clear of the rest down the back straight and saw off that rival on the long run to three out.
Working Class Hero was still travelling well going to two out and looked to be going best but he got in a bit tight to that and the earlier exertions told late on as he faded to finish third.
That race has worked out in mixed fashion but he did have subsequent bumper winner Tadhg’s Rock and Grade 1 novice hurdle runner up Catchintsavo in behind while Stroll In The Park has run well in a strong maiden on debut.
That run has since been followed by two respectable runs in Open company including last time when finishing fourth behind Wonderwall.
If Call The Tune has learned from his first experience of banks racing I think he has the potential to reverse that form with What Path who is a fair bit shorter than him in the market.
It may be that he just doesn’t quite have the class for this race or that he won’t be as effective on this banks course but he looks overpriced given the level he’s been running to of late and any 25/1 or bigger appeals.
Rhys' Selection 5: Punchestown 18:05: Working Class Hero - 0.5pt Win
Doncaster 19:32: Vega’s Virtue - 0.5pt Win @ 9/1
Vega’s Virtue makes her handicap and seasonal debut in this seven-furlong contest and I think she can improve on what she showed last year.
She looked clueless on debut over five furlongs at Beverley and didn’t run too badly considering that in finishing just under eight lengths behind the winner. She still looked very green at Ripon eleven days later and would have finished closer but for failing to get a completely clear run on the near rail in the closing stages.
They got the third quick run in at Carlisle where she was poorly positioned and I’m not convinced the ground was ideal for her either.
I expect the time off since will have done Vega’s Virtue plenty of good and she can put in a far more professional display this evening than in any of her runs last season.
This looks a moderate race and while it may be that she will need the run a little on her first start of the season, it would be a surprise if she doesn’t show that she’s a fair bit better than this opening mark of 57 at some time this season. Any 7/1 or bigger appeals.
Rhys' Selection 6: Doncaster 19:32: Vega’s Virtue - 0.5pt Win
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