Stephen Harris’ Saturday Racing Tips at Musselburgh and Sandown

Paul Nicholls would be a very rare visitor up to Scotland from his base in the southwest, and it looks significant that his classy novice makes the long journey up for this valuable prize. He has won two from three over hurdles so far at a useful level and posted a career best effort from the front winning at Ascot in November (excuses when pulled up on deep ground at Newbury last time out).

An attacking ride is on the cards from the excellent Bryony Frost, and he should take plenty of passing with the sharp nature of Musselburgh on drying ground expected to suit ideally (and the yard continuing in terrific form this week).

Ben Pauling has a lovely team of young horses in the yard this winter, and his progressive novice has been found a terrific opening to defy a double penalty at Sandown. He impressed when winning on his second run for this yard at Fontwell in December (winner previously in France), and that form on good ground should prove to be pretty strong for the track.

The emphasis on stamina up the sapping Sandown hill is expected to unlock further improvement under the talented 5lb claimer Beau Morgan (dropping back to a bare two miles from 2m2f), and he looks the type to make up into a cracking novice chaser next season.

Rose Dobbin’s handicapper is entitled to have needed the run when making his seasonal reappearance in October at Carlisle and should relish the much quicker drying ground conditions expected at Musselburgh on Saturday.

He missed an engagement in the week at Newcastle when the ground turned really heavy, and this looks a much better opening under regular rider Craig Nichol.