Rhys Williams' Wednesday Racing Tips: Saturn to run rings around her rivals

Showed a good level of ability last season

Bangor 13:10: Saturn 'n Silk 1.5pt e/w 6/1

The market for the opening race at Bangor has a surprising look to it on form. Tequila Blaze looks about the right price but I'm surprised that Glorious Spirit and She's So Lovely are ahead of Saturn 'n Silk as the former took advantage of the very short priced favourite jumping badly at Sedgefield and the latter looked like she would want more of a test of stamina based on her two performances in Irish points.

I think both of their exploits so far fall short of what Saturn 'n Silk achieved over hurdles last season when she came up against some good quality opposition. She ran well when finishing third at Newbury behind Gran Luna and Will Victory and I think her performance at Fakenham can be marked up as that looked an unsuitable track for her so she did well to get finish that close behind a couple of mares now rated 132 and 135 over hurdles.

Saturn 'n' Silk looked a bit short of speed on both of those occasions and she was stepped up to 2m3½f at Doncaster two starts ago. She led for much of that contest before making a mistake at the last and she was soon headed before finishing third.

She finished last season with a very comfortable win at Chepstow and now makes her return to action in what looks a weaker race than many of those she contested last season.

She has looked a shade quirky at times and she may face competition for the lead but if she can run to the level that she achieved last season then I think she's far more of a danger than the market suggests. Any 4/1 or bigger appeals.

Contested strong pace on rules debut

Bangor 14:10: Ballybreeze 1pt win 16/1

There's an interesting collection of horses in this race with some having shown ability in bumpers, others having shown promise over hurdles and the favourite for the 2018 Queen's Vase returning to the track for the first time since that race.

Away from those with obvious chances towards the head of the market, I think one of those that showed ability in a bumper (and on debut in a point) has been underestimated by the market.

Ballybreeze was set to be a very wide margin winner on debut at Dalton Park before falling at 2 out and he backed up that performance with a good run in defeat on rules debut at Uttoxeter in a strongly run bumper.

Handy from the off along with Fishkhov and Key To The Moon, he turned into the home straight in second. He was still in contention with three furlongs to go but he had little left late on and faded to finish sixth.

He was unfavourably positioned given the pace so his performance can be marked up accordingly. That was a fairly strong bumper with the winner having finished fourth to Third Time Lucki on debut and had contested the Champion Bumper on his previous run. Of those who also raced handily, Fishkhov was highly touted having finished a close second to Vanillier in a point on debut while The Grey Falco is now rated 123 over hurdles.

Given that Ballybreeze has experience of jumping in points, it's hoped that he will have no problem with the switch to hurdling and I think this slightly better ground will suit too. It may be that other simply have more talent than him but, even though the market has corrected itself a little, I think he's overpriced and any 14/1 or bigger appeals.

Race could set up ideally for her

Catterick 14:20: Aye Catcher 1pt win 14/1

This nursery is likely to be very strongly run and that could set the race up for a closer with one of those looking likely to benefit from this currently being underestimated by the market.

Aye Catcher's three runs so far have all come on the all weather and she has shaped with some promise while looking like five furlongs around a bend hasn't been ideal for her.

She was green on debut at Kempton when running on late to finish fourth. She was off the track for over four months after that before making her second start at Lingfield. She was a bit slowly into stride and raced in second last before racing keenly and making a little headway. That left her wide on the bend and she lost her position and couldn't get back into it after that.

A hood was applied for her latest start at Chelmsford to try to help her settle but she was still keen leaving the back straight. She travelled well behind the leaders entering the home straight but couldn't match their pace late on and finished fourth.

I think a straight five furlongs that is likely to be run at a very strong pace could be ideal for her as she should have no issue settling and she has shown that she doesn't have an instant turn of foot but can finish strongly.

It is an unknown over how she will handle the turf, particularly with the ground on the soft side, but I think she has a chance to improve under these circumstances and any 12/1 or bigger appeals.

Ran better than result suggests on rules debut

Bangor 16:10: Creative Control 0.5pt e/w 30/1

Creative Control showed some ability on both starts in Irish points and he ran better than the margin beaten suggests on rules debut in a bumper at Catterick.

He raced in midfield early on and he was still travelling well turning out of the back straight in fourth before being pushed along to make headway just before turning into the home straight. He closed into a share of third going through the wings of 2 out but had little left in the testing conditions late on and faded quickly to be beaten 22 lengths.

I think the better ground today will suit and he may have benefitted from a break and time to adapt to his new yard having had a fairly quick turnaround between finishing second in an Irish point and running in that bumper.

He does look the second string on jockey bookings which is a slight concern and it may be that he lacks the class of a few of his rivals but I think his chance has been overlooked by the market and any 20/1 or bigger appeals.