The Punt Daily: Tom Collins' free horse racing tips on Saturday afternoon

BANKER

(3.45 Leopardstown)

Willie Mullins-trained six-year-old who absolutely bolted up on his first start for new connections at Fairyhouse in November, sauntering clear of a subsequent winner to strike with plenty in hand. He was immediately given Cheltenham Festival quotes on the back of that victory but those who got on at short-ish odds would have been left disappointed when he could only get within 22 lengths of unbeaten hurdler Easywork at Limerick on Boxing Day on his only other outing. The heavy ground and 2m4f trip probably didn't suit him that day, though, and he now returns to his proven conditions on his first start in handicap company. The way he won first time up suggested he was a Graded performer and a mark of 137 is very fair.

DARK HORSE

Eclair De Beaufeu (2.35 Leopardstown)

Five-time winner who came alive this time last year, racking up a quick double in competitive handicap hurdles before unseating when just headed at the last in the County Hurdle off a mark of 136. Travelled well and would have certainly featured in the finish that day if he stood up, albeit he wouldn't have won, suggesting that his mark was pretty lenient. Eclair De Beaufeu has impressed in four chasing starts this year, finishing a close-up second to Arkle fancy Notebook on his first outing before scoring by 19 lengths in easy fashion. Hasn't troubled the judge in two Graded chases since but drops into handicap company off a mark of 140 and Sean O'Keeffe's 5lb claim won't go amiss.

GOOD THING

Stick With Bill (4.10 Sandown)

Another tip with the same angle of Graded company back into handicaps on a day where hopes are high about making a significant profit. Stick With Bill is an unexposed chaser in the making who proved to be extremely talented in bumpers (form figures 12, only beaten by 141-rated King Roland) before promising plenty on his first two maiden hurdle outings. Won from the front on the last of those and was immediately pitched into a Grade 1, where he finished a distant fourth in first-time cheekpieces behind Thyme Hill in the Tolworth. Given a break since then, headgear is removed and drops dramatically in class.

Did you know that you can get The Punt earlier on our app? Download to get it from 7.30am every morning