Saturday horse racing tips: Dave Nevison's best bets

We’re set for a really terrific afternoon’s racing where I’ll be watching from the Racing TV studio - and I don’t mind admitting that I hope the producer will have a nice long advert break timed so I can watch Shishkin and Energumene’s clash live from Ascot!

There is some really good stuff on the channel and I believe these four should go well.

2.08 Taunton: Molly Carew at 7-2 with bet365

She could be poised to strike.

Molly Carew won this race last year and seemingly really enjoyed the track before going on to win two more handicap chases. She is back down to a mark below her latest win (at this track last April) and seems to have been running herself into form on her three starts this season.

I am determined to back a Thomas Doggrell winner before he loses his claim and I was annoyed I didn’t have at least a saver on Trump Lady this week, who won at 40/1 at Exeter. I definitely had her as one of the dangers to my selection in that race, which ran like a drain!

2.35 Haydock: Empire Steel at a general 9-2

He has a strong chance off near bottom weight and with Brian Hughes taking over in the saddle.

Empire Steel might well have won - and possibly quite impressively - in the Rowland Meyrick at Wetherby last time, galloping well and looking to be going best when falling at the top of the straight. Prior to that he ran a very good race at this track behind Strictlyadancer, one of Christian Williams’ who was on a roll at the time, so he clearly handles this track well.

I am taking the view that his mark may have been raised significantly if he had won at Wetherby and Empire Steel could be very well in here. Like most of Sandy Thomson’s runners, he excels when the mud is flying so conditions will be perfect.

2.43 Taunton: The Russian Doyen at a general 6-1

Moving him back to hurdles in this seniors’ event could be a smart move by his bang in-form trainer Jeremy Scott.

By definition, this race doesn’t have improvers involved and The Russian Doyen is one that at least looks to be in very good form based on a good effort at Newbury last time where he beat everything bar an absolute blot on the handicap.

The Russian Doyen has tumbled in the ratings over hurdles as well as fences and, in truth, the fences have got in the way of this nine-year-old’s chasing career which hasn’t really happened despite a few false dawns when he was with the Tizzards.

He won over hurdles here as a novice and made all that day. I don’t believe habitual front-runner Trans Express will be able to lead him here (now a 12-year-old and way out of the weights) and hopefully The Russian Doyen will kick on in the home straight and make his light weight tell.

3.10 Haydock: Moon King at a general 9-2

I am puzzled by the handicapper dropping Moon King for each of his latest excellent runs and feel he has an awful lot in his favour here.

Moon King jumped well in the blinkers last time and really battled on well, revealing a toughness that may have been questioned previously. Those blinkers are retained here with his normal tongue tie while Brian Hughes – the only jockey to win aboard Moon King – is back in the saddle.

Moon King has now proved himself over this trip and looks very likely to get the lead he enjoys in this field to get the lead. Haydock favours that front-running style more than most tracks, while Moon King won twice at this course in staying events on the Flat.

A good run looks assured with the Charlie Longsdon team amongst the winners this month.