TV TIPS (SATURDAY)

13:30 Newbury (More4) A Handicap Chase named in memory of Sir Peter O’Sullevan starts the action over on More4 where there is a runner who can complete his hat-trick. Antony for the Moore team has won on both starts this autumn, including a Grade 3 around Ascot four weeks ago. He took advantage of a lenient mark when travelling smoothly and jumping nicely in the Sodexo Gold Cup. He’s been put 8lb for that success but can take it in his stride and back in handicap company can prove to be a horse going places. Mystifiable won on the back of a long lay-off last Ocotber and this is his first run for 231-days, so he does go well fresh. Fergal O’Brien has his string in tip-top order and if this son of Kayf Tara can replicate his win over course and distance in March then he is a big player. Evan Williams horses generally come on for their first run, so On Tour is likely to be in contention. This is his first time at the trip and he’ll be given a typical Paul Moloney patient ride to see if his stamina holds out. It looked to be a decent race when he finished second at Aintree on his return, so he could have more to offer in this sphere. Venetia Williams runners do well at this time of year and Waldorf Salad is likely to go out to make a bold bid from the front. Anthony (E/W)

13:45 Newcastle (More4) Not the most appealing of Novice Hurdles with just the four runners going to post and it looks like a good opportunity for Get On The Yager to make it two from two. He was able to dictate at Market Rasen when beating the useful bumper horse Willoughby Court on his hurdling debut for Dan Skelton and in this small field he should be able to do the same once more. The step up to 2m6f shouldn’t be a problem after his win in a Restricted Point-to-Point in April. Horses by Tamure tend to handle soft or heavy conditions quite well, so he should build on his debut success. Sandy Thomson’s Spirit Of Kayf will offer the sternest test. He was a winner of a Maiden Hurdle at Hexham before failing early on at Sedgefield. If none the worse for that experience then he should be suited by the step up in trip and has handled worse conditions in bumpers. The very much in-form Brian Hughes gets the leg up and these two could make it a decent duel. Seven year old Wyfield Rose has five wins over hurdles to her name, with the majority over three miles. She’ll stay the trip but conditions could have gone against her with her best form on decent ground. She does get a weight allowance but she shouldn’t be good enough against these lesser exposed types. Get On The Yager (WIN)

14:05 Newbury (More4) Born Survivor ticks plenty of boxes coming into this Handicap Hurdle considering he’ll relish the ground and he should now be tuned up after his pipe opener at Aintree. In that race he couldn’t live with the turn of foot of Massini’s Trap but this five year old does look to have a nice future ahead of him. Dan Skelton has said he has physically matured over summer and in time the plan is to go over the larger obstacles. Despite going up a couple of pounds for his run 34-days ago he could prove to be better than quite a few of these. Onefitzall is another that could have more to offer. He broke a blood vessel back in February, so that would potentially be a worry. He travelled fluently before powering clear over this trip at Uttoxeter last Ocotber and if returning to that level of form should see him push Born Survivor. If the Carlisle run has blown away the cobwebs then he won’t be without a chance but his jumping left a bit to be desired. Paul Nicholls had a few horses move from France last season and not all of them seemed to acclimatise; Favourito Buck’s looks to be one of them types. His two starts on these shores saw him go off favourite on both only to disappoint. A lot is thought of him and if having done well over summer he could prove to be a well handicapped sort. Born Survivor (WIN)

14:40 Newbury Nicky Henderson trained the winner of this race in 2014 for these owners when L’Ami Serge claimed victory. This time around Omessa Has bids to win this Listed contest. One start saw her tailed off at Cheltenham in April when you could argue the good ground was against her. She passed through the sales ring at 150,000 euros, so she is highly thought of after placing in a few listed races at Auteuil. She’s a half-sister to Enfant De Lune, who won a few races for Alan King in the late noughties. She still has something to prove, so might be worth taking on. Ozzie The Oscar has won four of his five starts over hurdles, his only defeat coming at the hands of Thistlecrack’s half-brother West Approach. Hobbs and Johnson won this race last year with Sternrubin and this son of Oscar making his handicap debut off a mark of 140 is likely to be a key component in this race. He looks a solid type, who settles quickly, travels before having a change of gear. A chance is taken on smart flat performer Who Dares Win, who finished a close fourth in the Grade 3 Silver Trophy at Chepstow last month. He stayed on in the latter part of the race but had too much to do. The winner of that race Ballyoptic was second in the Grade 2 Long Distance Hurdle yesterday giving that form a bit more substance. For me that is the strongest form in the book coming into this race and this son of Jeremy can add to his two previous hurdling triumphs. Who Dares Wins (E/W if 9/2+)

14:55 Newcastle The Fighting Fifth was won last year by Identity Thief for Bryan Cooper and Henry de Bromhead and the pair team up with Petit Mouchoir for this year’s renewal. The five year old hasn’t won since last year but has put in some very good efforts at the top table. A good yardstick to measure against, especially when a good second in a Grade 1 at Aintree, which was won by Buveur D’Air. This grey was third on his reappearance at Down Royal behind Rashaan and Apple’s Jade. It’s the latter who is in this field and there looks to have been a slight overreaction to her shock defeat at Down Royal. She may have taken a bit of time to get used to her new surroundings after the move from Willie Mullins to Gordon Elliot plus the good ground may not have helped. Now there is cut in the ground she could make her presence felt and with her being in the receipt of weight she looks a decent price. Sceau Royal has won on both starts this season. He showed signs of talent as a three year old last year with wins at Cheltenham and Huntingdon but when pitched at the top level he struggled. He was last seen winning the Grade 2 Elite Hurdle yet it wasn’t the strongest race for the grade. He hasn’t put a foot wrong this autumn and it is understandable why he opened as the favourite. Apple’s Jade (WIN)

15:10 Newbury The main race of the day – the Hennessy Gold Cup won last year by Smad Place, who shoulders top weight this time around. He came into the race last year after a win at Kempton, this time around he comes here on the back of a fourth in the Old Roan Chase when finding the trip on the sharp side. The nine year old is likely to try and make a bold bid from the front but he is likely to set it up for a closer this time around but he won’t mind conditions. Native River and Un Temps Pour Tout have form against each other in the Worcester Novices Chase over a furlong shorter, where the former came out on top. Colin Tizzard’s charge has been aimed at this race and is a natural chaser plus he’ll have come on for the run at Wetherby when second over hurdles behind Silsol. The Tizzard’s do reckon he’s still a well handicapped horse and could exploit this mark. Blaklion won the RSA Chase last year and is a horse that is versatile on the ground following wins on heavy then good ground. He’s not really a horse that gets too much attention but he is a solid jumper and if Ryan Hatch gets a good position early on then he’ll be a key player in the finish. He definitely needed the run in the Charlie Hall and will come on for that, so is expected to go close for Nigel Twiston-Davies. A horse that has placed in this race in the last two years is Theatre Guide who underwent a wind op in the summer. The nine year old has had a pipe opener when second over a trip far too short at Wetherby, so he should be in fine fettle to run his race in this once again. Second last year and third in 2014, so can hit the frame again carrying a nice racing weight. Paddy Brennan will switch him off at the rear of the field and slowly make progress late on. Native River (WIN) Theatre Guide (E/W)

15:30 Newcastle The Rehearsal Chase is a Listed contest and a half decent field line up with Definitly Red looking to build on his success in a race of this nature at Ayr. That win capped off a decent season for Brian Ellison’s charge, who recently won on his return when staying on strongly to see off Onefitzall at Carlisle over hurdles. Now back to chasing this seven year old can take advantage of a low racing weight after some near misses last year in this sort of company. Bristol De Mai was given too much to do in the match race against Seeyouatmidnight and the plans for this five year old have been up in the air. He tries this trip for the first time and it should be within reach based on his relations. The only concern is that he does tend to make at least one mistake in his round of jumping, which could catch him out here. Wakanda won this last year and was followed home by Virak. It wasn’t the only time the Sue Smith runner had the better of Paul Nicholls’ inmate and at the prices I’d be willing to side with Wakanda again despite a pull in the weights. He has a wonderful attitude and will dig in when required. With him having a run under his belt and conditions in his favour I’m happy to give him the vote in this race once more. Wakanda (E/W)

15:45 Newbury A Handicap Chase to close the card where Harry Whittington’s French import Fou Et Sage gets my vote. He was previously with Harry Skelton before returning to France. He’s had one start for this yard and that was finishing second to Malcolm Jefferson’s exciting prospect Double W’s. Conditions should suit this son of Sageburg today better than they did at Wetherby, so with Aidan Coleman getting the leg up he can claim his first success. Raven’s Tower is a horse I’ve been following. Ben Pauling’s charge got his reward for is persistence at Aintree three weeks ago. There is definite ability there in this son of Raven’s Pass but he doesn’t show it all too often. He has won on soft ground in the past but he has to show he can handle this sort of mark. In April he was second to Owen Na View off this mark, so it shouldn’t be too far out of reach. Grey Gold is only 2lb higher after winning this race last year. He’ll relish the mud and despite the being the older statesman in this field he has every chance of providing Kerry Lee with a winner. He looked beaten when Whispering Harry headed him but he somehow battled back to take the success. A game type, who’ll be kept towards the rear. Fou Et Sage (E/W)