Saturday racing tips: Catching Pigeons gossip column

1.50 Ascot - MENGLI KHAN

Mengli Khan can make a winning first appearance for Nicky Henderson in the For The Love Of Racing Handicap Chase at Ascot on Saturday.

A high-class performer in Ireland for Gordon Elliot, he faces a tough task with top-weight of 11st 12lb here but has settled in really well at Seven Barrows and his work has delighted the Henderson team.

It suggests that he has retained his form having landed two of his last four outings for Gigginstown and even those victories came in the height of summer, he should handle this testing ground well enough.

3.35 Newbury - TIME FLIES BY

It may pay to take a chance with Time Flies By in the Betfair Exchange Trophy. Nicky Henderson saddles the hot favourite for this feature with recent course and distance winner Buzz and he looks sure to go well, but he must concede 19lbs to his stablemate, who has always been held in high regard by the champion trainer.

Interestingly, he returns to the minimum trip after pulling quite hard before disappointing a little on his return to action here last month and should also be better suited by the more competitive nature of the race. Dangers abound though and in-form Harry Fry will be looking for a big run from Lightly Squeeze, who has had a wind op, handles the ground, and is on the same mark as when he fell when in front at the last in the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury in February.

2.25 Ascot - THE WORLDS END

The Worlds End faces a much tougher task than when he won this race 12 months ago but still merits each-way consideration in the Grade One Porsche Long Walk Hurdle. Little has gone right since for the nine-year-old with disappointments at Haydock and Auteuil but he makes his first appearance for Olly Murphy after doing sterling service for Tom George in the past. The change of scenery may be just what he needs to spark a return to form.

3.00 Ascot - ESPOIR DE GUYE

Espoir de Guye, an easy winner at this meeting last year, can successfully step up to three miles in the Good Luck Holllie in SPOTY Silver Cup Handicap Chase.

Although not quite up to the standard of some of the past years, this looks an open affair and Venetia Williams' gelding still looks relatively unexposed after just five outings over fences since his arrival from France. He again showed his liking for the course when landing a two mile five furlong handicap on his return to actio and there seems no reason why he shouldn't see out the extra yardage.

2.40 Haydock - SOJOURN

Sojourn can make the most of Rex Dingle's 3lb allowance in the Betfair Tommy Whittle Handicap Chase at Haydock. The handicapper took a dim view of his runaway 15 length success over Amateur in a handicap at Carlisle on his reappearance and has hoisted him a rather lumpy 11lbs.

However he would have won much further had he not blundered at the second last and is fancied to see off another easy winner on his return to action, Ffos Las scorer Hill Sixteen.

3.15 Haydock - SILVA ECLIPSE

Sue Smith is finding a bit of form after a relatively quiet spell and it may pay to take a chance on Silva Eclipse in the Listen To Paul Nicholls on Betting.Betfair Handicap Hurdle.

The son of Multiplex has shown a liking for the Haydock mud in the past and is back on a reasonable mark after two disappointing efforts on his last two starts. If he can reproduce the form of his win here over Imperial Knight and Deja Vu last season then he should go well.

2.35 Lingfield - PIRATE KING

Pirate King ended last season with a fairly hefty treasure chest after landing his last three races of his all-weather winter campaign and he can pick up more bounty in the Betway Handicap at Lingfield.

Charlie Fellows was very pleased with his first outing since last February when fourth to the bang-in-form Johnny Drama at Kempton last month and more is anticipated as he returns to the scene of that hat-trick, on the back of some very satisfactory work at home.

12.15 Lingfield - BASCULE

Richard Hughes' Bascule ran a pleasing race after a slow start to finish sixth to the promising short-priced rivals Napper Tandy and Mused at Kempton on his debut and should have learnt enough from those exertions to land the Play Ladbrokes 5-A-Side On Football EBF Novice Auction Stakes.

The form of the race looks solid enough with the runner up and the fourth Papas Dream winning subsequently and he should be able to see off the more experienced Wisper and Alvarino.

3.20 Fakenham Sunday - FIRST SOLDIER

French import First Soldier showed plenty of promise on his British debut when fourth to Get Your Own at Southwell last month and is well fancied by the Richard Newland team to step up on the performance and land the Christmas Holidays Maiden Hurdle at Fakenham on Sunday.

Useful conditional Cillin Leonard takes off a handy 7lbs and the extra half mile should suit.