Saturday’s Racing Tips – A first Group 1 win is on the cards for Karl Burke’s Convergent

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Hard Dealt didn't put in a stellar performance at Exeter. She wasn't helped by not jumping efficiently and getting tired in the straight.

She was far too bold over her hurdles. Ballooning a few and looking like a chaser in the making.

I was never happy with how she was racing and felt like she was always going to come up short, but not in the manner she did. I think she will be plenty better than her handicap mark, but maybe that'll be over fences.

Thankfully, the Skelton runner, Theonewedreamof managed to get the job done later in the day.

Harry gave her a usual cool ride from the back, but she had to battle to ensure she got the win. Her jumping was good for the most part, and her stamina lasted on her first attempt over 3m.

Convergent 11/8 (1pt) – Munich 2.40

I really would like to be more confident and have more money on Convergent, but the weather reports conflict to what the current ground is reported by the Racing Post.

Convergent is best on good to soft, but handles soft very well. The ground is apparently ‘soft', but the weather report from Munich over the last week has been 90%+ dry. They had ice fog in the last 48 hours, which might have slowed the surface down slightly, but I think it's racing as good.

So with that being said, it's still a one-point win selection on Convergent, who gets his chance to win a Group 1 on the second time of asking.

He came up short in the German Derby earlier in the season, but he looks a better horse now.

This isn't a gimme, as we have Junko, who won this race last year and is still a solid horse at the age of six.

Back it with Tote (no fixed odds)

Highlands Legacy 9/2 (1pt) – Aintree 2.05

I was a sufferer of the chasing debut success of Highlands Legacy at Worcester, but I will hopefully be on the right side of him today.

He beat my selection a couple of weeks ago, Escapeandevade, and I thought he did it easier than the winning margin suggests.

He only managed to win by two lengths, but Jonjo Jr was very relaxed in the saddle and produced him as late as he possibly could. When he hit the front, he pulled clear and won it quite nicely in the end.

The handicapper has put him up by 6lbs for the recent success. That rise makes life tougher, but from what I saw at Worcester, there should be plenty more to come.

Back it with Tote (no fixed odds)

Twp Stori 6/1 (1pt) – Kelso 1.52

It's always a big risk going for a chase debutante without being in the know from the whispers around the stable, but I think it's worth a few quid to have a bet on Twp Stori.

Sameul Drinkwater is sending his runner from Worcester up to Scotland for his first chase start, which is a very positive sign.

It's not a short trip, so I can't imagine they will be wasting time and money on travel for an underwhelming performance by Twp Stori.

If he were shorter in the market, I don't think it would be worth it, but he is 6/1.

The favourite deserves his spot at the top of the market, and a couple of others are entitled to run well, but it's a winnable race if he can jump soundly.

Back it with Tote (no fixed odds)

Totesport placepot from Wolverhampton

• 14.18 – Exotic Baby
• 14.50 – Diamond Bay
• 15.25 – La Belle Forest
• 16.00 – Ruby's Profit
• 16.30 – Director's Cut
• 17.00 – Winter Crown

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