Rhys Williams' Racing Tips: 3 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 149.93 points from 126 points staked, meaning his profit and loss record stands at +23.93pts overall.
Here are Rhys' tips for Saturday, using the most up-to-date odds from the best horse racing betting sites.
Build your daily yard of horses in our new 'Stables Stars' fantasy game below to be in with a chance of winning £100, £50 or £25.
Play Stable Stars Here
Leicester 15:19: Dragon God - 0.5pt Win @ 14/1
Dragon God was dropped 3lb for his latest run at Bath which looks generous given that he never got the chance to come off the bridle.
Drawn nearest the inside rail, he looked a little outpaced through the first half of the race on the drop back to five furlongs.
He started to make some headway on the rail but could never get a clear run in behind rivals and finished ninth.
The return to six furlongs looks likely to suit and hopefully this lightly raced four-year-old will have better luck in running today.
Any 8/1 or bigger appeals.
Rhys' Selection 1: Leicester 15:19: Dragon God - 0.5pts Win
Sandown 17:15: Last Kingdom - 1pt Win @ 33/1
Last Kingdom has shown little since joining Faye Bramley but I wouldn’t be as surprised as the market if he was to suddenly bounce back today with the cheekpieces back on.
When trained by Willie Mullins, Last Kingdom improved for the fitting of cheekpieces when winning a Listed handicap hurdle at Listowel and ran respectably in two more starts for the yard with the headgear fitted.
He’s shown very little in four starts since joining Bramley and he’s looked in need of some headgear to sharpen him up on a couple of occasions.
He ran a very odd race at Aintree last time where he dropped right through the field down the back straight and looked like he would end up either being completely tailed off or pulled up but he ended up running on again a little late on.
Those four performances have left him on a stone lower mark than when first joining the yard and the cheekpieces now go back on.
He does have to show that it isn’t the yard switch that has been another factor in the dip in form but I think he’s too big given his potential to bounce back and any 16/1 or bigger appeals.
Rhys' Selection 2: Sandown 17:15: Last Kingdom - 1pt Win
Ripon 17:20: Solar Cooper - 0.5pt Win @ 16/1
Solar Cooper was well held on his first start for Mark Walford at Beverley but I think this test could suit him better and he has a better chance of getting off the mark than his price suggests.
He was previously trained by Brian Ellison and was sent off favourite on nursery debut at Thirsk but he stumbled slightly after a couple of furlongs and never seemed too comfortable after, eventually finishing sixth.
Given that he had shown a tendency to hang left when trained by Ellison, it seemed an odd choice to run him at Beverley and unsurprisingly he hung left around the bend and could never get competitive.
A 3lb drop for that run looks generous considering there was an obvious reason for Solar Cooper underperforming. The return to a straight track and being drawn towards the near rail will help his cause as getting up against that rail will take away the concern over him hanging left.
There is a slight worry that the ridges of this track may catch him out after what happened at Thirsk but I think he’s overpriced given his potential for improvement and any double-figure prices appeal.
Rhys' Selection 3: Ripon 17:20: Solar Cooper - 0.5pt Win
2000 Guineas Ante-post: Needle Match - 0.5pt Win @ 50/1
The first four home in the Greenham are in the market for the 2000 Guineas, although Albert Einstein currently isn’t in the race, and it’s a surprise that the one who looked like he could be the best prospect from that race, is the biggest priced of the four.
It looked an ambitious decision to run Needle Match in the Greenham - given the quality of the maiden that he won at Newbury last season, but William Haggas reported that his work had been good.
Interest in the horse was piqued further after seeing the Trackside paddock analysis of him which read 'serious horse, immediately caught the eye. Ticks all the boxes, defined, big chest.' - yes, there are paddock analysts who don’t just say the favourite looks best, second favourite looks well, etc).
Needle Match then took the interest another step further when running a race full of promise.
He was a slowly away from the stalls slightly, carried left by Albert Einstein and raced a shade keenly under restraint at the back of the field in a fairly steadily run contest.
He was still there just over two furlongs out, before being switched towards the middle of the track and looked a bit green under pressure - he could never quite get on terms with the leaders, but was strong through the line in finishing fourth.
Given he was disadvantageously positioned, raced away from the near rail and this was only his second start, I thought that was a highly encouraging performance and one that suggested he could end up being the best prospect for the Guineas from this race.
It was surprising to me that his price hasn’t ended up shortening to a similar price to the three who finished ahead of him, particularly after being left in the race after yesterday’s forfeit stage.
It could be that it will be later in the season that Needle Match blossoms into a top quality three-year-old to match his looks, but I think the market is underestimating the chance of that happening in the short term in the 2000 Guineas and any 25/1 or bigger appeals.
Rhys' 2000 Guineas Ante-post: Needle Match - 0.5pt Win
Odds correct at time of publishing!
Read Up On The Latest Horse Racing Betting Sites
Why Not Check Out Our Dedicated Fast Racing Results Page
If you are following the latest horse racing tips, sign up at one of the best betting sites where you'll find exclusive offers.
You’ll find plenty of betting markets on horse racing today, along with a wide variety of other sports, at these trusted online betting sites, while you might even grab some free bets.
Also, follow our resident tipster James Boyle for his very latest tips and expert analysis ahead of the day's meetings in the UK, Ireland and around the world.
