My main fancies are highlighted in bold – other horses mentioned are well worth considering and should be treated as dangers to the main selection.
Cheltenham
1.10 Time for Spring comes into this amateur riders handicap on the back of a recent win and he is ridden by arguably the best jockey in the race. Somatic won at Wexford in June, handles the ground and has an each way chance.
1.45 The likes of Crackaway Jack, I’msingingtheblues and Oh Crick have chances at the top of the weights. Crackaway Jack has moved from Emma Lavelle to Paul Nicholls and has a wind operation since last season. I’msingingtheblues was second 3 times last season. He goes on any ground but may just be a little high in the weights. Oh Crick is a previous Cheltenham Festival winner and 2 miles is his optimum trip but he is another that may need some help from the handicapper.The novice Havingotascoobydo has won a couple of small races and is less exposed than some of his rivals.
2.55 Bumper winner Absolutely Fantastic won a maiden at Gowran Park before putting in an excellent effort when runner up at Cork last month. He likes good ground and should go well. The stable won this race a few years ago. Steps to Freedom has won his last two starts. A former Aintree bumper winner he looks a smart prospect. Ericht has some solid form in bumpers. Runner up at Ascot on his debut he then won at Huntingdon and Newbury before finishing 6th in the Cheltenham Champion bumper. His pedigree suggests he may want some cut in the ground. He looks a bright prospect for novice hurdles.
3.30 This looks a wide open race. Devotion to Duty reverts to hurdles after unseating his rider on his chase debut. He won over hurdles at Musselburgh last season and is another that has had a wind operation in the summer. Kauto Relko has a chance on the pick of his form.
4.05 This looks a really competitive affair. Champion Court has already won over fences at Aintree. He won a grade 2 hurdle at Cheltenham last November. Cue Card made a winning debut in pleasing fashion at Chepstow. A former Cheltenham Champion bumper winner he also has some very smart form over hurdles. The stable are in good from. Grands Crus makes his eagerly awaiting chase bow. He won the Cleeve Hurdle last year and was the only horse that offered any competition to Big Bucks at the Cheltenham and Aintree festivals. Sybarite won a bumper at Uttoxeter before going on to run well over hurdles. A big, imposing sort he was perhaps a shade disappointing when beaten on his chase debut. He is probably capable of better. Dualla Lord is a multiple point to point winner. It is hard to evaluate the form but it is interesting that he goes straight over hurdles.
Newcastle
12.30 Conceptual Art showed a modicum of form on the all weather for Michael Bell and makes his hurdles debut here.
1.00 Tiptoeaway is a course winner and has the benefit of a recent run.
From the archives
Saturday sees one of the major handicaps of the jumps season, the Paddy Power Chase at Cheltenham. The 2006 renewal was won by Exotic Dancer, (pictured below) trained by Jonjo O’Neill and ridden by AP McCoy.
Picture courtesy of the artist Sarah Clegg
He went on to win the Boylesports Gold Cup over course and distance the following month, this time with Tony Dobbin doing the steering. His biggest career success came at Leopardstown in 2008 when he won the Grace 1 Lexus Chase beating the 2006 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner War of Attrition. His career was to end in tragedy as he died from a heart attack after finishing 2nd in the Totesport Bowl at Aintree in 2009.
Turf trivia
Luccombe Chine runs in the 2.45 at Newcastle. The horse is named after a beauty spot in the Isle of Wight.
Nap of the day
Grands Crus
Dark horse
Havingotascoobydo
ahorse 