Saturday Horse Racing Tips: Katie Midwinter's best bets including 20/1 Welsh Grand National pick

• Katie Midwinter has selections across the cards on Welsh Grand National Day

• Redemption for Irish-raider at Chepstow

• Likeable veteran makes appeal at the weights

• Read all about Betfair's Boxing Day free bet offer here

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Chepstow, 12:30 - Back Zambezi Fix E/W @ SP

Ten-year-old veteran Zambezi Fix has plenty of course experience in his favour and won over fences at this meeting two years ago. He could only manage fourth at the meeting twelve months ago, but is now over hurdles and appears on a workable mark.

Now 10lb below his last course-and-distance success, Zambezi Fix is rated 111 under Gavin Sheehan in this contest putting him in with solid claims at the weights. He has been dropped 2lb for his latest run at Uttoxeter, where he was unable to get into a position to challenge, and should fare better back in these familiar surroundings.

Last term, Zambezi Fix finished an eight-and-a-half-length fourth to the progressive Kabral Du Mathan, now rated 31lb higher on 154, with subsequent winners King William Rufus and Non Stop in second and third respectively. He proved he still possesses plenty of ability on that occasion, and shouldn't be discounted in this race.

The Bernard Llewellyn-trained grey makes the most appeal in the second race on Chepstow's flagship card, and can make his presence felt.

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Limerick, 12:52 - Back The Little Yank E/W @ 33/134.00

At odds of 33/134.00, The Little Yank shouldn't be discounted for John Patrick Ryan in his 100th career start. The versatile performer can be effective over both fences and hurdles and landed his first win in almost three years when successful at Kilbeggan in June.

That was from a mark of 97 over timber, but he was able to put in competitive efforts subsequently over fences including when narrowly denied by Stormy Master at odds of 9/110.00 from a rating of 96 at Wexford in July.

Although he has been well beaten in a couple of his latest runs, he has stayed on well from the rear of the field, emerging with credit on occasion, and can hold his own in this contest.

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Leopardstown, 13:12 - Back Found A Fifty @ SP

Found A Fifty has been in great form so far this season and is now bidding for a third successive win having beaten Dinoblue and Majborough in respective Grade Two contests at Navan and Cork recently.

The tough eight-year-old was beaten by Envoi Allen in his first start of the season but bounced back in good style and shouldn't be overlooked in this Grade One contest. He was dropped back in trip following his reappearance, and has been able to use his stamina to good effect over the minimum trip and 2m1f in his latest outings.

Although Found A Fifty has fallen shy at Grade One level in open company over fences to date, he has proved himself to be a solid Grade Two performer who can compete with talented opponents and, with a favourable run, could put in a bold bid under Jack Kennedy.

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Kempton, 13:20 - Back Greyval E/W @ 10/111.00

Fergal O'Brien-trained Greyval can be forgiven for a disappointing effort over fences at Cheltenham when last seen considering she was unable to get into a strong rhythm or into a position from which she could threaten, racing wide at the rear throughout the race.

She's better than shown on that occasion and a return over hurdles could spark some improvement.

With four wins to her name over flights, Greyval has enjoyed success as a hurdler in the past and is only 5lb higher than her latest win at Cheltenham in the spring. She has stamina to prove over this distance but has seen out an extended two-and-a-half-miles well up the Cheltenham hill previously.

At odds of 10/111.00, Greyval makes each-way appeal and could pose a threat under Johnny Burke.

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Leopardstown, 14:22 - Back Littlefoot E/W @ 18/119.00

On a rating of 120, Littlefoot could bounce back from a disappointing run at Cheltenham which could be worth forgiving to return to some form in this competitive handicap.

The seven-year-old had previously finished second twice, including from his current rating at Tipperary when making the frame at odds of 14/115.00. He is still unexposed in handicap hurdles and could be capable of showing further improvement.

At Punchestown in his final start of the previous campaign, Littlefoot was able to outrun odds of 80/181.00 to be beaten only a length-and-a-quarter by Thisistheway. That was an excellent run and he backed it up with another placed effort at Tipperary in his penultimate start. 

Littlefoot has proven he can be competitive from his current rating and warrants each-way consideration under Danny Gilligan at a price of 18/119.00.

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Leopardstown, 14:22 - Back Feud E/W @ 33/134.00

Five-year-old Feud is another worth considering in this competitive handicap hurdle. He is unexposed and lightly raced as he makes his eighth start over hurdles, having won two from seven to date over obstacles.

The Richard O'Brien-trained contender is now 1lb lower than when narrowly beaten at Wexford in August. He defied odds of 11/112.00 to make the frame on that occasion under Danny Mullins, having previously won a maiden and novice event including a comfortable success over Mordor at the Galway Festival.

There could be more to come from this young horse, who has the scope for further improvement, in handicap company. Although he hasn't been seen to best effect in recent runs, he may improve for his Fairyhouse appearance following a short break a month ago and is on a mark from which he can pose a threat.

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Chepstow, 14:50 - Back Where It All Began E/W @ 20/121.00

Although he wasn't seen to best effect when pulled up in the race last year, Where It All Began could put in an improved effort from a 5lb lower mark for the in-form Gordon Elliott yard.

The Cullentra representative has shaped as though a valuable big-field handicap could be within his capabilities, and, although things haven't quite worked out over the past year, a resurgence in form is possible.

Early in 2024, Where It All Began won the Grand National Trial at Punchestown in convincing fashion, beating We'llhavewan by 16-lengths from a 6lb lower rating than his current mark. He was sent off at odds of 10/111.00 that day and was hugely impressive in landing the sole win over fences in his career to date.

Despite being unable to land a serious blow in his races since, he did finish a creditable fourth to a future Cheltenham Gold Cup winner in Inothewayurthinkin in last year's Kim Muir Challenge Cup, and it may be too early to give up on the dour stayer who should have stamina in abundance.

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Leopardstown, 15:00 - Back Pied Piper E/W @ 40/141.00

From a mark of 144 with 5lb claimer Josh Williamson in the plate, likeable performer Pied Piper makes plenty of appeal at the weights and has the potential to put in a competitive effort in this tricky handicap.

The classy seven-year-old has shown to possess plenty of talent throughout his career to date, often seen in Grade One contests as a hurdler before embarking on his chasing career. He has taken well to chasing and won his first two starts over fences by a combined distance of 50-lengths.

At Galway during the summer, he finished as a tailed off last of the field, weakening quickly having been travelling well into the race. He was found to be clinically abnormal following the effort, in a run worth forgiving, before falling when featuring in the Kerry National.

Pied Piper proved his stamina credentials with a promising second to Leave Of Absence at Cheltenham in October, unsuited by the omission of a few obstacles but emerging with plenty of credit. He was then a good fifth in the Troytown in heavy conditions, and, from a 2lb lower mark on a drier surface, could improve on that respectable performance. 

At a price of 40/141.00, Pied Piper represents value and warrants each-way consideration considering his promising start over fences and the class he has shown previously.

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Leopardstown, 15:00 - Back Search For Glory E/W @ 25/126.00

Search For Glory is another Cullentra representative to consider in the competitive handicap on Leopardstown's card. He's a likeable performer is on a workable mark of 140 with 5lb claimer James Smith aboard, on the back of a promising second to Down Memory Lane when well supported in a Listed Navan handicap earlier this month.

One to consider each-way in the race, Search For Glory could still be capable of some further improvement in his tenth start over fences. He has experience in big field handicaps and, following a good performance, should be able to hold his own in this contest.

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Now read Sam Turner's latest tips here!

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