Horse racing tips: Roi De France can prove king

This point winner and expensive £90k purchase looks set to progress after achieving a lowly handicap mark.

Youdecide had made little show at big prices in three novice hurdles prior to his latest start but that handicap debut was a different story, backed into favouritism at Huntingdon in a similar 0-95 grade and coming good in no uncertain terms by beating Buckaroo by a comfortable four lengths. The step up to this trip clearly helped, too.

Buckaroo is 5lb better off now which should make things closer, but I will be disappointed if Ben Pauling’s gelding cannot confirm the form here.

The lightly-raced Roi De France may have been a little difficult to train judging by the periodic breaks he has had, but he seems to have no problem returning fresh and well from a break and he returns here after putting up possibly his best ever performance over this course last December. 

That was a runner-up effort in Listed company but Roi De France returns to a handicap here, while the drop down in trip is a minor concern. 

With habitual slow starters drawn on his inside, I suspect the Gosden-trained four-year-old might well get the lead and make this seven furlongs a strong test to suit him. 

Roi De France looks set for a good season and might soon be out of handicap company.

He looks set to complete the hat-trick for his bang in-form trainer. 

Collusion should confirm the form of his latest win with the third-placed Arlecchino’s Gift, who is only 4lb better off for defeat by 1 ½ lengths and actually enjoyed a better run through. 

The winning run has coincided with Collusion being better at the start, but he got messed about last time through no fault of his own and still came through to win comfortably. 

There is plenty of pace on here and that looks set to suit Dylan Cunha’s gelding very well.