Nick Luck’s William Hill blog: Hope Brentford can be Elite at Wincanton

William Hill ambassador Nick Luck previews Saturday’s ITV Racing action from Wincanton, Doncaster and Aintree.

Wincanton, Saturday

KILLER KANE gets the vote in a low-key start to TV proceedings on Saturday at Wincanton (1.09pm). Application of blinkers may well eke out a little more improvement in this horse, who is well handicapped on his best and who is natural front running style should be well suited to this track in a small field. The yard has made quite a bright start to the campaign.

ALL THE GLORY can return to form at a pretty big price in quite a competitive handicap (1.45pm). She won the mares’ finale at Newbury in good style, suggesting that there should be much more to come off this sort of mark. A little disappointing subsequently, she may have been feeling the effects of her Haydock fall in the spring. Either way, she has always performed to her best after a significant break.

SOUL ICON can win the Rising Stars (2.23pm). Although he doesn’t have the obvious profile for this race, he does have the best form, which the market seems to have overlooked. What is more, his rating has been hard earned in very competitive handicaps. Conditions are very much in his favour and his yard has shown itself time and again not to be underestimated against the big guns.

BRENTFORD HOPE might have the edge in a three runner Elite Hurdle (2.55pm). At one stage, it looked like he might go all the way to the top on the Flat, so the talent has always been there. He gradually worked his way to being pretty useful over hurdles last year with his sharp turn of foot being in evidence on his last two starts in particular. There must be a danger here that his two rivals take one another on too early on this speedy track, and that the selection can take advantage accordingly.

LORD BADDESLEY is the narrow pick in the Badger Beer (3.30pm). His trainer is well represented here, but it seems significant that the stable jockey takes the ride on this new recruit. Although an habitual front runner went with Chris Gordon, he might just be ridden with a tiny bit more restraint here to ensure that he gets home over 3 miles, something which has not been conclusively proven. On pure talent, however, he has the tools to be very effective at this track on this ground.

Doncaster, Saturday

TEN BOB TONY might be the answer to the televised opener at Doncaster (1.20pm). His form in France two starts ago entitles him to maximum respect here, particularly on ground that he should enjoy. He seemed to recoil a little from that effort last time, but the most attractive angle here is the drop back to pure sprinting.

DIAMOND RAIN can win the Listed race for fillies (3.10pm). She looked a genuinely exciting talent when winning a stakes race at Newbury in the spring, but clearly found the fast ground at Royal Ascot unsuitable. We know where we stand now with her main market rivals, but that market appears to under appreciate Diamond Rain’s residual potential. She is the daughter of an oaks winner who appreciated plenty of cutting the ground, too.

MASTER BUILDER can win the November Handicap (3.45pm). This will be a significant test at the trip and it is in his favour that he has been racing mainly over 14 furlongs. I was a little disappointed that he did not win at York last time, but that was an extremely searching test in the conditions and I’m prepared to believe that he can take another step forward, particularly with William Buick booked for the ride.

Aintree, Saturday

GUARD THE MOON can score again at Aintree (1.30pm). He has been consistent through his short career to date, but better ground has brought about yet further improvement and I’m not sure that the handicapper has nailed him just yet. With the rain yet to arrive, the stable is extending its traditionally strong start to the season.

CALGARY TIGER is my wild selection for this Saturday afternoon (2.05pm). He has been rather unconventionally campaigned, but he is really quite talented on his day. That day usually involves him being allowed to use his pace and free wheel from the front. There is no doubt that he is well treated on pure ability, and he can go particularly well when a little fresher. James Best got a good tune out of him at Worcester in the summer and will be bold here.

IDALKO BIHOUE is quite a confident pick for the Grand Sefton (2.40pm). He was sparingly campaigned last season, but acquitted himself creditably on nearly every occasion. He looks to have been granted a bit of a gift with a two-pound drop for a perfectly good run at Cheltenham in April. This slightly more searching test and flatter track will suit this horse who is far from exposed. There is no obvious reason why he should not take to these fences – after all, the stable has had enough horses of all different types succeed around Aintree.