Nick Luck’s blog: Konfusion and Muddle make a fine double

William Hill ambassador Nick Luck runs his expert eye over the best of Saturday’s action from Wincanton and Newcastle.

Wincanton, Saturday

PRINCE QUALI looks the one with the most upside in the TV opener at Wincanton today (1.30pm). Robert Walford is a handy trainer, particularly with French imports, and this one shaped way better than his finishing position in what appeared to be a warm-up race over hurdles. That was a hotter affair than this, and now he tackles fences (showed significant aptitude in France) with potential to improve a fair bit, so he makes appeal at 9/4.

MINI YEATS gets the nod at 17/2 in a modest affair (2.05pm). The front of the market looks a bit shaky here, dominated by an out of form horse and one who won a really poor race last time. The selection’s connections will doubtless be ruing fouling up his mark in a fair race here last time, but it nonetheless represents the best recent effort and appeared to show him in a different light. The effort of the third since suggests that even this new rating doesn’t flatter Mini Yeats and he’s in calm waters here.

ICONIC MUDDLE is the pick at 11/2 in a tight handicap (2.40pm). He’s had no racing for an eleven-year-old, but last year’s efforts suggest he won’t find this company too taxing, we know he handles conditions and, most importantly of all, he goes particularly well fresh.

ASTRONOMIC VIEW looks ready to win (3.15pm). Like many from this stable, he’s been brought along quite steadily, and there’s still a bit to come judged on his very creditable efforts in his first two handicaps. Most importantly, his two lifetime best efforts have come on very deep ground, which is a bit of a query for several of his rivals. He’s worth siding with at 9/2.

Newcastle, Saturday

KONFUSION looks a nice price at 10/1 in the opening TV race at Newcastle (1.40pm). He’s a smartly bred horse out of a really useful mare in Tahira, and his pedigree screams proper winter ground. He showed bags of promise despite greenness in his first two starts, and the standard set here is far from insurmountable.

TARAS HALLS might be worth a very small play at 17/2 against a very short priced favourite in Handstands (2.15pm). He made really quite a taking start to his career in bumpers, but the wheels have fallen off a bit. There’s a chance he might not be fully cranked with a nice mark in mind, but this is a weak heat, and he’ll struggle to be out of the frame if he can put last time’s dull effort behind him.

ATTENTION ALL has plenty in his favour at 4/1 in a weak chase (2.50pm). He ran ok last time going the wrong way round and over too short a trip. He is now back down in grade in an uncompetitive race, is back up to two and a half miles, and a flat left-handed track will suit much better.

TOMMY JOHNSON has been set a very realistic task on his handicap debut (3.25pm). He made a bright start and, after a blip, shaped with much more promise last time. The handicapper has taken a chance letting him in at this level, and he might pay for it, so the 4/1 on offer looks worth taking.