Saturday Horse Racing Tips: Katie Midwinter's best bets including 66/1 Kelso fancy

Kelso, 13:30 - Back The Navigator E/W @ 66/167.00

Dianne Sayer has a good record at Kelso this term, performing at a 25 percent strike-rate with many of her beaten runners also making the frame. Her representative in this series final, veteran The Navigator, faces a stiff task as the outsider of the field, but is far from a forlorn hope.

The 11-year-old had recorded form figures of 11511 over this course-and-distance before his latest effort here when finishing down the field in his penultimate start. Two of those successes came earlier this term, his latest from only a 2lb lower mark with Charlie Maggs claiming 5lb aboard. Whilst he is vulnerable to a younger improver, he has plenty of valuable experience at this venue in his favour and isn't badly treated at the weights in his 98th career start.

At huge odds of 66/167.00, The Navigator could be worth keeping the faith in each-way considering his good record at the track and the fact he has proven he retains plenty of ability this term. He could be able to outrun those odds under Peter Kavanagh, for a trainer with a good record at the track.

Bangor-on-Dee, 13:37 - Back Gwennie May Star @ 10/34.33

Making his first appearance for Christian Williams, Gwennie May Star makes appeal in this 2m7f contest from a workable mark of 115 with Toby McCain-Mitchell claiming 5lb in the saddle. He's 6lb higher than when claiming his latest success at Warwick in his penultimate start, but remains well treated at the weights and could bounce back from a disappointing effort at Haydock when last seen.

The form of his previous win has been franked by multiple horses with three subsequent winners emerging from it. There's substance to the form and there could be more to come from the gelding, who is yet to be completely exposed in handicap company, potentially still on an upward trajectory. 

A likeable performer on his day, Gwennie May Star could land a fifth career success on yard debut, making the most appeal in this field.

Newbury, 13:50 - Back Grand Vendetta @ 7/18.00

In his third appearance, Paul Nicholls-trained Grand Vendetta is an interesting contender in this 2m3f handicap hurdler for the novices. He beat subsequent winner Wandering Ego when last seen at Taunton in February, pulling away late on, seemingly getting better the further he went and proving his stamina over this trip. His maiden win came on heavy ground but on pedigree he could be suited by a sounder surface.

En Vedette, his dam, raced solely on a softer surface in France but won a Listed contest before producing black-type achievers Lady Adare and Sabrina, both of whom were seen mostly on better ground and appeared most effective on it. Other winning siblings have also appeared at their best on ground with good in the description, suggesting this challenge could well suit Grand Vendetta who has only encountered a drier surface on debut in December.

There's already substance to the form of his maiden success and the six-year-old is completely unexposed on a handicap debut from a mark of 120. The €140,000 purchase is well-related and could be on a lenient opening rating, making him one to note under Harry Cobden for the Ditcheat team.

Click here to read Paul on all his Saturday runners including Grand Vendetta

Newbury, 14:25 - Back Coastguard Station E/W @ 14/115.00

This intermediate distance on a sound surface could suit Coastguard Station, who is unexposed over the trip. He was a convincing winner over an extended 2m5f at Market Rasen in his penultimate start, beating subsequent winner Mahons Glory, now rated 139, who could go well in the Topham if heading to Aintree.

It's a decent level of form and, although needing to bounce back from a disappointing effort at Ascot, Coastguard Station could be worth keeping onside as he steps up in class in this competitive contest.

At an each-way price, the experienced 10-year-old is one to note under champion jockey Sean Bowen. He has usually been seen plying his trade over the minimum trip, staying on well on most occasions in recent seasons. This extra distance could allow him to put in a bold bid in his favoured conditions, and he may be capable of outrunning his odds for trainer Henry Oliver.

Newbury, 15:00 - Back Queenofthejukebox E/W @ 12/113.00

Queenofthejukebox could be well treated from a mark of 104 for Noel Williams on the back of a decent second to Just Call Me Lucy at Wetherby. She is making only her fifth appearance over obstacles having shaped with promise to date, previously showing potential in bumpers including when fifth to Kingston Queen in Listed company.

The daughter of Jukebox Jury is unexposed in handicap company and there could be further improvement to come from her. She remains capable of showing progression as she gains more experience, and, considering some of the form she has shown, her current mark could prove lenient.

Newbury, 15:00 - Back Pismo Beach E/W @ 20/121.00

Six-year-old mare Pismo Beach is another to consider at a price in this competitive contest. She was pulled up in her latest start but had excuses and should shape better this time out if able to bounce back to some form.

The Stuart Edmunds-trained contender has some noteworthy form to her name so far during her career. She shaped with promise in novice company and finished third to Siog Geal in this race twelve months ago from a mark of 105.

Now rated 110 with rider Murray Dodd claiming 7lb in the saddle, with the benefit of course experience in this race, Pismo Beach can put in another competitive effort. She shed her maiden tag at Hexham earlier in the term, getting off the mark by beating Highbury Hill, and also finished a creditable fourth to Nurse Susan at Cheltenham, outrunning odds of 33/134.00.

Far from a forlorn hope, having been able to defy the odds to make the frame in the past, Pismo Beach warrants each-way consideration and shouldn't be discounted as she seeks to go to places better than in last year's edition of the race and land a second career win.

Bangor-on-Dee, 15:20 - Back Norman Fletcher @ 15/28.50

Nigel and Willy Twiston-Davies are performing at a 44 percent strike-rate at Bangor-on-Dee since joining forces as trainers, saddling four winners from nine runners, as well as a second, third and two fourths.

Their representative in this extended 2m3f contest, Norman Fletcher, is an interesting contender. He hasn't been able to make a huge impression in four runs this term, but hasn't been completely disgraced against tough opposition either, and is on a workable mark of 118 now with James Turner claiming 5lb in the saddle.

Making appeal at the weights, the seven-year-old should be able to put in a bold bid from his current rating having shown a good level of form from a much higher rating in the past.

Norman Fletcher was beaten less than eight-lengths by Kargese from a mark of 127 in the County Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival last term, before being beaten only six-lengths by King William Rufus at the same venue from 2lbs lower. He's now much lower in the weights and returns on a sounder surface, which has suited in the past. Unexposed over this trip, the step back up in distance could help considering he is related to a number of stayers.

His dam, Hiho Silver Lining, won a point as well as being competitive over the intermediate distances, before producing Super Six and Cardboard Gangster, both of whom won over two-and-a-half-miles or further.

Navan, 16:17 - Back Bridie's Beau E/W @ 14/115.00

Gavin Cromwell-trained Bridie's Beau is only 3lb higher than when finishing a close second to Soloman Lane over a shorter trip at this track in December. He travelled extremely well into the race that day, finishing strongly from a 9lb higher mark than his previous win, shaping as though a step up in trip could suit.

The son of Blue Bresil has only been seen once over further than an extended two-and-a-half-miles previously, when failing to make an impression in a handicap hurdle at Naas, but he's out of a point winner in Jessber's Dream, a half-sister to 3m1f winner Imperial Alcazar, therefore could be effective over this extra distance.

Still unexposed in handicap company over fences in only his seventh start as a chaser, there could be plenty of further progression to come from Bridie's Beau, and he holds solid each-way claims at odds of 14/115.00.

Bangor-on-Dee, 16:30 - Back Love Me E/W @ 9/110.00

Formerly trained by Henry de Bromhead, Love Me was a winner at Navan early during her previous campaign, beating St Denis's Well by a couple of lengths from a mark of 97. The runner-up is now rated 23lb higher on a mark of 114, whilst third-placed O'Faolins Glory is on a 15lb higher mark.

In her later runs for her previous yard, the Ectot mare was unable to match the level shown when getting off the mark to land her maiden, but this is only her tenth start over hurdles and it may be too early to give up on her. She has shaped with some promise on a couple of occasions for Jo Davis so far, finishing in fourth and third in both of her first two outings this season before undergoing wind surgery. 

Although she was pulled up when last seen, she was reported to be lame post-race therefore had a valid excuse and, in her second outing after a wind operation, could show significant improvement. Appearing on a lenient mark if returning to her best, the six-year-old mare is one to note. The step up in trip could suit, too, as she has stayed on well over the minimum distance in the past.

Newbury, 16:45 - Back King Turgeon @ 3/14.00

Top weight King Turgeon returns to action following a 99-day break bidding to improve on his previous starts this term having finished sixth in the Grand Sefton and sixth in a competitive handicap chase at Cheltenham in two runs so far.

Last term, the grey was hugely progressive, winning three on the bounce, rising 21lb. He managed to finish a creditable third at Wincanton from a rating of 139, having previously won off his current mark of 133, proving his worth against tough opposition from a high rating.

Although he hasn't quite been in the same form since that placed effort last year, the David Pipe-trained runner remains a horse to consider in a contest such as this and his class could prevail on the back of two promising efforts this term.

There could be more to come from him this season, having been kept quite fresh, and the yard is currently in decent form, too, which is another positive.

Navan, 16:52 - Back Stuntman Steve E/W @ 6/17.00

Seven-year-old gelding Stuntman Steve makes his handicap debut over fences in his fourth start over the larger obstacles here. He hasn't been able to get involved in his three previous runs, including in a Thurles contest won by Salvator Mundi, but could find more luck down the handicap route.

Trained by Gavin Cromwell, the son of Getaway could be well treated from a mark of 114 considering some of the form he has shown previously over hurdles. He needs to transfer that form to chasing but does bring plenty of point form into the race, too.

Last year, Stuntman Steve put in a number of competitive performances in handicap hurdles behind the likes of Last Kingdom, now rated 17lb higher on a mark of 132, now 134-rated Lord Erskine, and now 137-rated Batman Girac, before winning at Listowel. He also finished second to Bowensonfire, who is now rated 30lb higher on 153, in a 16-runner Bellewstown contest, when beating stablemate Ballysax Hank, who's now rated 15lb higher on 136.

There's plenty of substance to Stuntman Steve's form over hurdles and if he can transfer it to chasing he holds leading claims from his current mark. He needs to prove himself as a chaser, but could be in with a great chance at the weights under Keith Donoghue.

Now read Paul Nicholls' preview of his Saturday runners and get his best chance