Our racing team provide their best bets for Saturday's action - including a big-price fancy in the Midlands Grand National.
Ben Linfoot - Captain Drake (3.35 Uttoxeter)
Harry Fry has an exceptional record at Uttoxeter and his CAPTAIN DRAKE could improve it further with victory in the Marston’s 61 Deep Midlands Grand National at the track on Saturday.
Fry has had 18 wins from 63 runners at 29 per cent at the track and Captain Drake was one of those winners as he won his maiden hurdle at Uttoxeter a couple of years ago.
He’s improved on his hurdling form since going chasing, though, his best effort coming at Exeter on New Year’s Day where his stamina came to the fore as he defeated a course specialist in The Kings Writ in good style.
Fighting a losing battle when unseating at Ascot after that, he’s worth forgiving that run and he could find bags of improvement now he steps up to this marathon trip as he looks a stout stayer.
Bryan Carver claims 5lb off his back as well and he’s already won a couple of races for Fry from seven rides. With a quartet of horses out of the handicap thanks to the presence of top weight De Rasher Counter, Captain Drake looks perfectly weighted to take advantage.
David Ord - Coeur De Lion (2.40 Kempton)
COUER DE LION rates a bet in the Paddy Power Silver Plate Handicap Hurdle at Kempton on Saturday.
Alan King's charge is a useful stayer on the flat and continues to catch the eye over timber, including when fifth to Dorking Boy at Newbury in December. He looked ready for stronger handling that day and Tom Cannon takes over from his amateur rider.
He'll relish going up to two miles five here and is two pounds lower than in Berkshire and beginning to look seriously well handicapped.
Matt Brocklebank - Eden Du Houx (2.05 Kempton)
The EBF Final has been saved from Sandown’s abandoned card and it looks a cracking contest at Kempton on Saturday.
McFabulous has been the talk of the West Country for a few weeks now and there’s little doubt Paul Nicholls’ six-year-old has the potential to prove really well handicapped this spring having beaten Thebannerkingrebel in Aintree’s Grade Two bumper last April.
He’s got a mark of 132 having opened his account at Market Rasen last time but he’s not the only one ahead of the assessor.
David Pipe’s EDEN DU HOUX could be another fascinating contender for handicaps going forward as he was an above-average bumper performer too last season, including wins over On The Slopes at Plumpton and Imperial Alcazar in a Listed event at Ascot.
This year he’s gained some good experience over timber, winning once from his first three outings before an encouraging third on handicap debut back at Ascot when last seen in February.
The going was really testing there and he showed a good attitude to plug after looking to be on the retreat and he gets another shot off the same mark this weekend (130).
Pipe was keen to try and get him into the Cheltenham Festival race run in his father’s name but he missed the cut there and looks for compensation. The cheekpieces are a new addition which could just help him eke out a little more improvement and all things considered he looks a good bet to beat the likely hotpot favourite McFabulous.
Richard Mann - On The Slopes (1.30 Kempton)
ON THE SLOPES had turned in some fine efforts over fences prior to breaking his duck in impressive fashion at Kempton last month, scoring with authority following an immaculate round of jumping.
His previous third to this week’s Cheltenham Festival hero Simply The Betts further strengthens the body of his form and he looks on a fair mark as he tackles the Paddy Power Novices' Limited Handicap Chase back at Kempton.
Dr Sanderson might prove the chief threat following a better effort last time at Ludlow but he is expected to find On The Slopes too streetwise for him on this occasion.