Saturday Racing Tips: Rhys Williams is taking a two-pronged attack in the staying handicap hurdle at Aintree

• Blinkers to help Au Fleuron

• Step up in trip to suit Moon Hunter

• Au Fleuron and Moon Hunter are overpriced at Aintree

Ran on from unpromising position at Cheltenham

Aintree 14:25: Au Fleuron 0.5pt e/w 14/1

Au Fleuron was never in contention in the Martin Pipe last time but he shaped well with a step up in trip in mind.

He was never really travelling with much fluency and gradually lost his position in the first half of the race before making a little progress again once switched out wide. He was driven along and struggling at the top of the hill and was joint last of those still going at 2 out before staying on strongly in the home straight to finish eighth.

He had also shaped like a stayer on his previous run at Punchestown and the step up in trip today looks likely to suit Al Fleuron. He also has blinkers applied for the first time and they will hopefully sharpen him up in the first half of the race and cause him to travel sweeter.

There is the chance that he might just be a very awkward ride and the blinkers won't have any impact but I think there could be more to come from him under these circumstances and any 11/1 or bigger appeals.

Improvement to come for step up in trip

Aintree 14:25: Moon Hunter 0.5pt e/w 20/1

Moon Hunter is another stepping up to 3m for the first time under rules and that looks likely to suit him.

He looked a stayer in two runs in points when lacking the necessary speed on debut over 2m4f and then drawing clear of his rivals in the closing stages on his second start over 3m.

He won nicely on his rules debut a Wetherby over 2m3½f and followed up at Doncaster over the same trip when staying on well after the last to catch Theatre Man.

The testing ground didn't suit at Warwick next time and he bounced back on better ground at Doncaster last time where he finished second to Henry's Friend. Moon Hunter didn't jump at all well that day and put in a performance that suggested he was now in need of a step up in trip to progress further.

The drying ground will help him as he wouldn't want it too soft and the step up in trip could bring improvement from him. There is a concern that his jumping will let him down as he's tended to go left and be quite clumsy even on left handed tracks. However, I still think he's a bit overpriced and any 16/1 or bigger appeals.