SATURDAY WEEKENDER

16:40 Listowel The Willie Mullins trained Childrens List ran out a ready winner at Downpatrick last month, beating decent opposition in Coldstonesober and Bank Bonus in to second and third respectively and taking his career wins to three from six races. He is reunited with jockey Ruby Walsh for todays’ race and should be capable of adding to his win tally here. Master Appeal is looking to make it three wins in a row and has to be considered following an eleven length victory at Clonmel earlier this month. However, he has been hit with a 10lbs rise and all prior wins came on good ground so with the forecast ground being soft he may find things more difficult today. Argentino is a previous winner on yielding-to-soft ground and could prove to be the main danger to our selection. He was a last time out winner, beating Plinth by a head at Killarney last month and although has been raised 4lbs he should remain competitive and looks the choice for forecast purposes. Childrens List (E/W if 9/2+)

16:45 Catterick Classic Villager looks likely to go off at short enough price but 13/8 at the time of writing could prove to be decent value given that he has won his last three races and boasts a 100% win record both here at Catterick and over todays’ race distance. Light Of Asia was four lengths behind Classic Villager when finishing fifth at Thirsk last month but has an 8lbs swing in the weights for todays’ race so has to be considered, although is still 3lbs higher than his last winning mark and has only managed two wins in seventeen career runs. Others to consider include Poetic Verse who won this race last year although is 7lbs higher today and hasn’t won since, while Only Orsenfoolsies has a 55% strike rate for top three finishes over todays’ trip and could figure again having been eased 2lbs. Classic Villager (WIN)

17:40 Wolverhampton China Excels has a 6lbs penalty to carry for todays’ race but has returned from a five month break like a different horse, having won over five furlongs at Leicester last month (with his jockey overweight by 5lbs) and following up with a three and a half length victory here over six furlongs last week. Smart DJ looks the most likely to challenge at the head of the market and also in the race itself. A one length winner over five furlongs at Bath last time out, he has been handed a 5lbs rise but should be able to remain competitive from his new mark. He is passed over today as his only other effort away from turf resulted in him only finishing fifth and is effectively 10lbs worse off today. Frank The Barber ran a good race when second over course and distance last month and runs off the same mark today so is another to consider. China Excels (WIN)