Horse Racing Tips: Frank Hickey’s 6 Saturday selections

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Sandown 13.50 – Dorking Lad (Each Way)

I’m going with Dorking Lad here. Gary Moore won this in 2014 with Brave Vic who hadn’t won in four races over hurdles prior to winning this off 123. Dorking Lad pulled hard on his bumper debut at Huntingdon this time last year when fourth, 11l behind Favoir, who won a G2 hurdle this season.

He was third at Sandown on his hurdles debut in November when 9l behind subsequent G2 winner Adrimel. Mistake at the last cost him second but he was value for finishing closer. He was 7/4 on his handicap debut at Market Rasen off 117 where he didn’t jump great but the 2m2f trip there seemed too sharp.

He was giving the 136 rated Annual Invictus a good race when second at Plumpton, a mistake at the last cost him finishing much closer. The better ground here looks sure to suit and he is definitely capable of rating far higher than 117 when jumping and settling better.

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Sandown 14.25 – Mack The Man (Each Way)

Mack The Man beat beat Lightly Squeezed (109 who is now rated 137) last season at Warwick off 115. He followed up here off 122 when beating Protektorat (now 22lbs higher), Song For Someone (now 11lb higher) in the December Handicap Hurdle in what was a strong renewal of the race. He was brought down in the Betfair Hurdle when only 15/2 last season. He didn’t really take to chasing.

He on a weak four runner handicap at Wincanton in January off 127. He never got into the race in the Betfair Hurdle this season, racing wide in rear. However, I think he could have enough here and he’s worth a punt.

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Sandown 15.00 – Ucanaver (Each Way)

I’m going with Ucanaver here. Honeyball won this race last season with Coquelicot and she beat Ucanaver at Huntingdon prior to winning this when Ucanaver was trained by Adam West. Third Allavina rated 136, fourth Marada is rated 126. Ucanaver bolted up on her debut for Honeyball at Fontwell in October on decent ground.

She was then smashed in the market for Listed Cheltenham bumper when 6/4 fav but was far too keen but had a wind op since, so maybe that was an issue that day. She needs to settle better but if she does, she has the ability to win a race like this and better ground is a plus. The Honeyball yard is in great form with a high RTF at the moment.

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Wolverhampton 15.15 – Streamline

I fancy Streamline here. He was a G3 Sirenia Stakes winner on the AW as a juvenile. He was off the track over 15 months and didn’t beat a rival in his first two starts this year. Last time in a handicap at Kempton off 95, I thought he didn’t get a clear run of things at all and think he would have gone really close had he got a clear run.

He dropped another pound and Moore up who is 7-24 (29 per cent) the last five years for Clive Cox. Of Cox’s last eight runners, he has had 3 winners, a second and two thirds.

Sandown 15.35 – Up The Straight (Each Way)

Up The Straight ran well in a Cheltenham handicap hurdle in October off 135 when third and was beaten less than 3l. He was second to Chantry House on his chase debut at Ascot. He unseated at Plumpton when favourite in January and was second to Umbrigado at Fontwell and that one won the Greatwood Gold Cup last week off 144. He was outclassed in the G1 Scilly Isles here last month too.

He is unexposed as a handicapper and is off the same mark as that Cheltenham run and the better ground here is a positive. I reckon Up The Straight is worth a punt here.

Navan 16.30 – The Dabbler (Each Way)

I’m going with The Dabbler here. He’s yet to win in 13 starts but caught the eye on handicap debut over fences last time at Naas when 7l behind Storm Judge over 2m4f. Was staying on really strongly and the ttep up in 3m sure to suit here. Jordan Gainford some value for his 7lb claim.