The pick of the prices on Saturday....

Friday, 17th April 2026

The pick of the prices on Saturday….

In ATC today….

…. I bring you my best picks in Saturday afternoon’s biggest betting heats….

I’m on CHASINGOUTTHEBLUES in the 3.35 at Ayr – up at 12s….

…. I’m on MOUDAN at 8s in the 1.10 at Ayr….

…. I’m on SECRET SQUIRREL at 14s in the 2.20 at Ayr….

…. and I’m on STEM at 12s in the 3.10 at Newbury….

That’s the summary….

…. you’ll find all my reasoning below – as per usual….

Oh…. and if you’re looking for the standout place terms on offer – you’ll find them in the Bet Box below….

Read on….

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…. the Scottish Grand National – Ayr – 3.35....

I want to be with CHASINGOUTTHEBLUES at the general 12s….

Several of those in and around him in the betting….

…. and this looks a competitive race with eight of the 21 runners trading at 10s or shorter this morning….

…. might already be said to have had a crack at their principal spring target – some going up the rankings to one degree or another….

…. both circumstances that might serve to blunt the competitive edge….

That’s not the case with Mark Walford’s horse….

…. he’s in great form, very much on the upgrade, and tomorrow could well prove to be his big day….

I can’t knock the race he won at Carlisle last time – it was a decent enough target….

…. but I don’t think we’re going to see this 7yo at his very best without a proper trip – which he gets for the first time tomorrow….

He’s such a strong finisher at three miles that I wonder how much improvement he could find for the extra mile tomorrow….

…. and off a mark of just 126 – entitling him to weight from pretty much everything in tomorrow’s field….

…. and with a bit of cut in the ground….

…. he’s a very dangerous proposition in my book….

Montregard was the last one off my shortlist….

Last week the JP McManus team fielded five in the Aintree Grand National – bagging the winner, the second and the fourth….

For this one they field just the one – clearly held back for the race….

Does the change of strategy from scatter gun to sharp shooting signal high-level confidence? Who knows….

…. but – if it does – everybody had better watch out….

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…. the Scotty Brand – Ayr – 1.10....

Irish raider MOUDAN interests me for this at the general 8s….

He’s been in pretty good form of late….

…. winning at Navan in late March….

…. before running second off 5lb higher behind a well-treated winner at Fairyhouse earlier this month….

Connections must feel like he’s in with a shot at the money to send him over….

…. he’s got a light weight off his mark of 130….

…. and Sean Bowen’s booked for the ride….

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…. the Scottish Champion Hurdle – Ayr – 2.20....

I do like Captain Hugo’s chance in this – but the price isn’t quite there….

…. and I can’t resist having a crack at the general 14s about Hughie Morrison’s SECRET SQUIRREL….

He won the Fitzdares in 2025 and then crashed out at the last in the William Hill at Newbury when running a big one next time out….

That saw him off the track for over a year and he only returned in the Kingwell at Wincanton in February….

He got beat 8-lengths that day – and he certainly wasn’t knocked about when his chance had gone….

…. and that wasn’t too bad an effort when you consider the winner was Alexei – now 10lb higher in the rankings….

It was a proper bust-out next time in the County Hurdle – with Secret Squirrel finishing well down the field….

A mistake at the third flight might have worked against him – but maybe I’m clutching at straws….

…. all I do know is that he was sent off at 11s – fifth in the betting – which has to count as an endorsement of sorts in a big field handicap like that….

He’s down another 3lb to 130 – a rating he can surely do business from (despite being a pound out of the handicap)….

…. he’s fresher than most….

…. and I reckon he could still have a big performance in him….

Johnny Burke rode him for the first time at Cheltenham – and gets the nod again tomorrow….

…. he rides at 20%+ for Morrison….

…. and I just think the duo are a little underrated at the price….

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…. the Spring Cup – Newbury – 3.10....

A lot of punters would tell you that a good dart is the best answer to this 26-runner affair up the straight mile at Newbury….

…. and perhaps it is….

…. but I do reckon Richard Hannon’s STEM is a fair bet at the general 12s….

He won his maiden at this track….

…. and on his last run last term he was beaten just a neck here in a big-field handicap by the horse sent off favourite for last month’s Lincoln – Eternal Force….

That one’s gone up almost a stone in the meantime, whilst the third horse home is up 7lb and the fourth horse 5lb….

It looks like good form and with Stem up just 3lb he has the look of one that could be well-treated….

Given how that last race has worked out over the winter….

…. and given how he likes the track….

…. you’d think connections have very much been working towards this big prize with him….

…. and I expect a big run from the 4yo….

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Now, just to recap….

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That’s all for today….

I’ll be back with more next week….

Meantime – contact me at – nick.pullen@spapublishinggroup.co.uk

And remember – win, lose or draw – enjoy the racing….

Stay tuned….

Against the Crowd