Martin Dixon's tips for Saturday: "I think he'll be hard to beat"

There has been a strong bias towards lower numbers on Leicester's straight track for a few years now, and from stall three, in a race without many front-runners, I think there's a chance Zoulu Chief could get the jump on his rivals here under Billy Loughnane. 

He had a long absence, and a lull in form for a while, but was right back on song towards the end of last year, and he's very effective on lightening fast ground, and undulating tracks, which is what he'll be getting here.

I'll back him win only at the general 7-1 on offer, and will be looking to keep Strike Red on side as well as he's tumbled in the weights, and was runner-up in this race last year, but Zoulu Chief is my main play. 

When the blinkers were fitted on Great Acclaim last year, he was a revelation, producing personal best after personal best, and in some notably competitive handicaps, too.

It's surely significant that the headgear is refitted here after not figuring in the Lincoln last month when all aids were left off. 

He's a prominent racer that travels well, a combination I like for drying ground at Haydock, and Charles Bishop, who has partnered him to five of his six career victories, is back on board. 

His mark is only 1lb higher than when he was second behind the very talented Native Warriror at Ascot last September, so I think he has strong enough form to figure plus offers good each-way value at a best price of 17-2, at the time of writing. 

I remember working at this meeting at Haydock last season, and the stands' rail was definitely the place to be on the sprint track. It's not certain to be the same again, admittedly, but I can't see stall ten as a hindrance to Fiscal Policy's chance, especially as the two front-runners are drawn right near him, and he's a very well handicapped performer on his form from last Spring. 

Returning from an absence at Thirsk this month, it was notable that he was strong in the market, and duly took a big step back in the right direction. 

He'll be happy back on drying ground, and if the set up of the race is as perfect as I think it could be, then I think he'll be hard to beat.