Horse Racing Tips: Rhys Williams' NAP is a novice hurdler at Catterick

Won with plenty in hand on hurdling debut

Catterick 12:40: Guerlain de Vaux 1pt win 15/8

Guerlain de Vaux got off the mark over hurdles at Market Rasen last time and I think he has a very good chance of adding to that success today.

He made his debut in a bumper at Chepstow where he was green and lacked the necessary speed for that test. He showed his inexperience turning the final bend and had to be shaken along. He kept plugging away under driving but never looked like putting in a serious challenge and finished fifth.

He was switched to hurdling a month later and made a successful start in that sphere over a distance of 2m5½f with the rail movements making it nearly a furlong further than the official registered distance. He raced a little further back than midfield until making some headway halfway down the back straight on the final circuit. He was still travelling well in a close seventh turning into the home straight and eased closer going to 2 out before being shaken along after jumping that. Angled to the outside, he was just over a length behind jumping the last and despite running green, he got to the front and on the run in and always looked to be holding the runner up, winning by 1½ lengths.

Guerlain de Vaux does have to improve on the bare form of that victory to win today but I thought he won with far more in hand than the margin suggests and the step up in trip looks likely to bring more improvement from him, which isn't necessarily the case for Gredin. The ground is also no issue for him while it may be for Starsky who disappointed last time.

It could be that carrying a penalty against Best Trition turns out to be too tough a task but I think he has more willingness than that rival if it becomes a battle and any 7/4 or bigger appeals.