Saturday Horse Racing Predictions by Stephen Harris at Warwick and Wetherby

Alan King's unexposed novice shaped well when well backed for his handicap/seasonal debut at Lingfield in November, travelling strongly under restraint and just blowing up at the last on his first run for nine months. He remains on a very attractive mark in this sphere, with the scope to improve as he becomes more settled early on, and the booking of the excellent Brendan Powell certainly increases confidence that he can take this modest looking Class 4 contest.

This sharp left-handed two miles should suit ideally (good winner of his maiden hurdle at Plumpton last season), and there should be plenty more to come after just four runs over hurdles.

Micky Hammond has hit a real purple patch in recent weeks, with four winners from 24 runners in the last 14 days, and his recent arrival from France shaped well at Newcastle last time out. The 6-y-o travelled strongest on the bridle there, looking the certain winner two out as he loomed up, but he was just denied after the final flight in a desperately tight three-way finish.

He has won three from 22 career starts over hurdles so far (20 of those runs in France for Davide Satalia), and this slight step back in trip to an extended 2m3f promises to unlock further improvement under Brian Hughes (against some pretty exposed or moderate looking northern rivals).

Rose Dobbin’s winning chaser has been building up to full fitness in two runs in deep ground so far this winter so far, promising more with the way he has travelled under patient rides on each occasion (taking a keen grip in the early stages under restraint/fading out of the places at the business end).

He has now been given a chance by the handicapper easing him down the weights a few pounds and remains open to more improvement in this sphere over fences after just four career starts. Craig Nicol has been booked for the ride, and he will be looking to pounce late in a Class 4 contest that lacks progressive or unexposed contenders in the formbook.