Horse Racing Tips: Rhys Williams has an 18/1 NAP on rules debut at Ballinrobe

• Showed ability in both point runs

• Sharper test likely to suit

• Desert Halo is overpriced at Ballinrobe

Potential to build on point promise

Ballinrobe 19:20: Desert Halo 1pt e/w 18/1

This doesn't look a particularly strong bumper and I think the market has overlooked the chance of rules newcomer Desert Halo who has shown some ability in the pointing field.

He was sent off favourite for his debut and after initially setting off in behind the leaders, he pulled his way closer and went to the front after the third fence in a well strung out field.

Despite some less than convincing jumping and looking a bit green at times, he continued to hold the lead until being headed on the long run to 2 out. He couldn't go with Butcher Hollow after that and faded to finish third.

Butcher Hollow was subsequently sold for £200,000 while the runner up, One More Stroke, has since chased home Intense Approach who went on to be sold for £210,000. San Frandisco fell at 2 out when in fourth and he has since won and was sold for £100,000 last night at Aintree.

Desert Halo was off the track for a month before making his second start and again he shaped with some promise in defeat.

He initially set off towards the back of the field before racing keenly to track the leaders on the inside and continued to hold that position despite often lacking the fluency of his rivals at the fences.

A slightly slow jump at 3 out left him stuck on the inside as the leading pair started to get away but he got a bit closer at 2 out before having little more left to offer and dropping away to finish fifth.

The winner of that maiden, Queensbury Boy, has since been sold for £130,000 and the runner up went for £320,000 while the fourth has run respectably on debut.

Both of those performances suggest that a bumper may prove to be a more suitable test for Desert Halo than three miles over fences and they have found a below average race of its kind for him on his rules debut. He also has the additional benefit of a jockey of Ray Barron's quality being able to claim 7lb.

There is a concern that the ground may be softer than ideal but in a race of this quality I think he's overpriced and any 12/1 or bigger appeals.