TV TIPS (SATURDAY)

13:50 Cheltenham 

We start today’s tv tips with a Grade 3 handicap chase over twenty seven furlongs.

Sam Twiston-Davies and Paul Nicholls were prolific this time last year winning 3/4 races including this card, they team up together again today with Black Thunder who could be a danger from his current mark but would probably prefer a little bit more give in the ground.

Upswing is currently  the market favourite after his six length win at Worcester three weeks ago but he’s got an eight pound penalty to negotiate with today and that could be his undoing.

Shotgun Paddy had a very disappointing start to the start of the year but he’s one of the best on his day and he’s been given help from the handicapper and is back on a winning mark and should go close.

Rigadin De Beauchene is another who’s been given help from the handicapper and is two pounds lower then his last win at Haydock, Miss V Williams has got him ready first time out in the past and she tends to save her best for the Saturday show and he should be a real player at such a huge price.

Sego Success is another who should be a real player here; he’s won on both soft and good ground so this surface should suit and with his run under his belt last time out he should be the one to beat.

Sego Success (E/W if 9/2+)

Rigadin De Beauchene  (E/W) 

Shotgun Paddy  (E/W)

14:05 Wetherby

We head to Wetherby for our second race on C4 a handicap chase over nineteen furlongs.

De Voussoir A Moi has been knocking on the door as of late but hasn’t been given any leniency from the handicapper being raised a further two pounds; he still has every chance here though as the soft ground definitely suits him more than others here.

Elenika could be very dangerous off his current mark but his 574 day’s absence from the track is a real concern but can’t be dismissed.

Voyage A New York and Cody Wyoming are both probably high enough in the weights at present so it’s hard to give either a good chance for this.

Supreme Asset to me looks the biggest danger to the favourite as he’s fallen down the weights at a rate of knots and is three pounds lower from his last win and could be the shock winner in this race.

Supreme Asset  (E/W)

14:25 Cheltenham 

A huge field of twenty currently line up for this year’s Paddy Power Gold Cup chase.

The Pipe family have won this race eight times in the past twenty years which is by far more than any other trainer, they have two entries here for this time around with Kings Palace the more likely of the two to go close; he completed a strong hat-trick at the end of last season but was clearly out of his depth in a Grade 1 novice chase around here last time out.

Sam Twiston-Davies and Paul Nicholls have a great chance of repeating last year win with Sound Investment; he held on well to finish the race off at Aintree last month and the four pound rise shouldn’t be an issue.

Boondooma seems to take to any surface and comes here seeking a hat-trick after two wins over slightly shorter trips but he’s got proven form over this distance and is another on the short list.

The two that stand out for me are Buywise and Art Mauresque the former finished three lengths behind Sound Investment last time out but is weighted to get closer to him today; he  is scrappy at times on his jumping but makes up for it on the flat parts of the race. The latter looks to be improving all the time and seems to get stronger with every race; he’llneed to be kept near the front in a race like this and if this happens he could take all the beating.

Sound Investment  (E/W) 

Buywise  (E/W) 

Art Mauresque  (E/W)

15:00 Cheltenham 

Another big field line up for the next C4 race a twenty five furlong handicap hurdle.

The Pipe family once again have two entries in this with Batavir currently the clear favourite; he looked to struggle last time out stepping up to this kind of distance where few people said something seemed amiss but it was more probable that the huge hike in the weights was the real issue and as he runs from that same mark again today I’ve got to oppose him here.

Sir Manganese is another who has been hiked up in the weights after a two length win last time out but he looks more of a progressing sort and should be able to cope with the conditions today.

Milan Bond is another here off the back of a recent success but has only been penalised a pound for that win; he’s another that will relish the ground.

The old guy in the field Ongenstown Lad isn’t getting any younger but completed a double recently in fine style at this distance but this may just be beyond him today but is definitely one to keep an eye on.

Desilvano unseated his rider last time out but did complete a hat-trick in novice company at the end of last season, he still looks on a lenient mark after his third at Southwell at the beginning of the year and is another who deserves respect.

Milan Bond  (E/W) 

Desilvano  (E/W)

15:15 Wetherby 

We return back to Wetherby for the punatilmate race of the TV tips a two mile handicap hurdle.

John Quin was successful in this race last year and brings two very promising stars for this today in Arthurs Secret and Kentucky Star, the latter was a bit disappointing on his first run at his new yard last time out but he probably needed that run as he’s done pretty well over in Ireland before that. The former also disappointed last time out but has had success over this distance; he’s stepping up in class today but could make his presence felt if being able to run his race.

Kayf Blanco’s third over course and distance last time out is one of the best performances on paper than most of these here he finished behind two strong geldings on that day and if he produces that kind of form again today he may be the one to beat.

Hollywoodien is one that looks a great import from France; he makes his debut for his new yard and to be put in at this type of race his owner and trainer must think very highly of him.

Kayf Blanco (E/W if 9/2+) 

Hollywoodien  (E/W)

15:35 Cheltenham 

The final race of the TV tips is a twenty one furlong handicap hurdle.

David Pipe and Scudamore teamed up to win this back in 2010 and have a huge chance to go in once again with Herbert Park today; he steps up to handicap company from what looks a very fair mark and if he produces anywhere near his novice form he will be very dangerous.

Tjongejonge makes his debut for his new yard after two good wins over in France, the booking of Richard Johnson is also something to note and he could make a winning start for his new yard here.

There’s still so many question marks surrounding Champagne Express as he looked to be aimed at a chase career this season so the fact he comes here for this today must mean connections still think he has what it takes over the hurdles.

Fort Worth looked something special in 2014 but can’t seem to stay on his feet as of late but Jonjo O’Neil would of spent many hours schooling him over the summer and this could be his chance to reverse all that bad form at the end of last season.

Herbert Park  (WIN) 

Fort Worth  (E/W)