Two Saturday selections - including a handicap chaser for red-hot Paul Nicholls

Here we pick out two horses who catch the eye at the early prices . . .

Get A Tonic(2.25 Haydock)

There are a number of contenders for Saturday's Betfair Exchange Stayers' Handicap Hurdle at Haydock, but I'm backing the Dan Skelton-trained Get A Tonic to come out on top.

The six-year-old mare is coming into this 3m½f contest fresh and ran well twice over this distance at the end of last season. She recorded a career-best Racing Post Rating of 134 when winning at Ayr in April and has proved herself as a stayer.

She was consistent last term and finished inside the top three in each of her seven races, including when third to Marie's Rock in a Listed race at Warwick, who subsequently went onto land back-to-back Grade 1s. She can run another big race at Haydock.
Liam Headd, reporter

Thyme White (3.15 Ascot)

Paul Nicholls has his string in excellent order, operating at a whopping 40 per cent strike rate in the last fortnight, and Thyme White can keep the ball rolling for the champion trainer in Saturday's 2m1f Jim Barry Wines Hurst Park Handicap Chase at Ascot.

A 7lb rise for winning easily last time over the same course and distance does not look in the slightest bit excessive. It was an impressive display that suggested he could handle a rise.

The presence of Funambule Sivola and Edwardstone, both rated in the 160s, means Thyme White won't be burdened with a big weight. He should have more to come.
Mark Boylan, reporter

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