TV TIPS (SATURDAY)

13:55 Cheltenham

Spiritofthegames has made the frame in four from six over course and distance, including when second in this race in 2020 off a much higher mark than he races off today, That said, he hasn’t won a race since 2018 and hasn’t looked likely to add to his tally thus far this season so looks a risky proposition here.

Coole Cody is a two time course and distance winner who usually gives a decent run for your money in races of this nature, however was well beaten off this mark when last seen so also looks vulnerable for win purposes.

Farinet looked one to keep on the right side of when winning with ease at Sandown when last seen, however has so far been seen to best effect when the mud is flying, while Magic Saint has done all his winning over shorter trips but has previously taken home place money when racing over track and trip so it wouldn’t be a huge surprise to see him again make the frame despite the burden of top-weight.

Whatmore hasn’t been seen since November 2020 but tends to run well fresh, has been the model of consistency over fences and will appreciate the forecast good ground so looks to have plenty in his favour for a bold bid today.

WHATMORE (E/W)

written by Dean Kilbryde

14:10 Doncaster

Anna Bunina will come on for her seasonal reappearance at Musselburgh, in quite a competitive race. She has decent graded form from last year, with the form from her second placed finish at Ayr reaffirming the earlier statement that she might have needed her comeback run. Even though she is in receipt of weight, this is a tough ask and she’s yet to strike at this level in seven starts.

Miranda won this race last year and comes here off the back of a hard fought victory, when carrying top weight, at Ludlow. She has top weight again today but she is the class mare in the race. Paul Nicholls is in fine form, as is Bryony Frost. The only concern would be that her Ludlow victory might have taken a bit out of her, however, she has had time to recover.

Western Victory has her second start for Emma Lavelle, following her slightly eccentric debut at Ascot. She raced rather freely that day and is entitled to be raced with more tact today. Nevertheless, if she does bowl along in the lead again, then Doncaster should suit her better than Ascot. Her form with Declan Queally, in Ireland, is solid. She won over two and three miles and placed third, beaten a length, by subsequent Galmoy Hurdle winner, Royal Kahala and Dysart Diamond. She could prove nice value against the hot favourite.

WESTERN VICTORY (WIN)

written by Kieran McHugh

14:30 Cheltenham

Just the five runners for the prestigious Grade 2 Cotswold Chase and it’s a former winner Santini who’s of most interest. The highly-talented but fragile gelding took this back in 2020 when trained at Seven Barrows, before going on to finish runner-up in the Gold Cup that season. We’ve only seen him six times since that victory and although beaten a long way in the Betfair Chase at Cheltenham last month, he showed enough to suggest he retained lots of ability. That was his first run for Polly Gundry and given how he tired after a mistake at the last, there should be lots of improvement to come and looks overpriced.

It’s a current Seven Barrows inmate Chantry House that tops the market and you can see why, given he was a dual Grade 1 winning chaser last season as a novice. However, he hasn’t looked anywhere near that good in two runs this season. He won a “Mickey Mouse” event at Sandown and put in a dismal performance in the King George, so at the prices I’d be looking elsewhere.

The former Cheltenham Festival winner, Simply The Betts put in a much improved performance at this course earlier in the month on his third start for Paul Nicholls’. That being said his runner-up finish came in a handicap and he may struggle against this better quality of opposition. The ever-dependable Aye Right battled well to win the Rehearsal Chase when last seen and can’t be ruled out.

SANTINI (WIN)

written by Peter Keogh

14:45 Doncaster

Plenty of winning form on offer here as you would expect for a grade two novice contest. Unanswered Prayers will likely head the market after his victory last time at Wincanton where he despatched a Paul Nicholls odds on shot. But the Nicholls horse in question is one that will probably not come into its own until it's seen over a trip and a fence, so I think the form is not as solid as it may appear on first glance. My Bobby Dazzler ran very respectably last time out in a handicap at Cheltenham but that was over 3 miles and he wasn’t beaten by a lack of stamina so perhaps he will try and lead today over the 2 mile 5 furlongs. Although he won’t be stopping in front he may well get tapped for toe on this flatter track and also stepping into open company.

Coolbane Boy is the one for me, having moved into the care of Sandy Thomson from W J Burke in Ireland he has been strong in the market for both of his runs for the yard. Those runs were at Musselburgh on the first occasion he was travelling well before a bad mistake knocked him out the race and then was looked after. Then on New Year's Day he cruised round and showed a good turn of pace to dispatch a competitive field easily, on that evidence this slight step back in trip should be no barrier. He also has a fair bit of back class from his bumper days with a defeat of Power of Pause in January 2020.

COOLBANE BOY (WIN)

written by Michael Taylor

15:05 Cheltenham

The second of two Grade 2 contests on the card at Cheltenham this Saturday sees the annual renewal of the Cleeve Hurdle. Paisley Park aims to retain the race he's won for the past two years and it'd be some achievement if he were to retain his crown. There wouldn't be a dry eye in the house if he were to come out on top yet sadly, based on his most recent performances, the ten year old veteran looks to have declined and hasn't been finding the strength and reserve to finish in the same fashion he used to. It's safe to say he's not found his best form recently and it looks as though the runners up spot is the best Emma Lavelle's charge can hope for.

The same can be said for fellow Stayers Hurdle victor Lisnagar Oscar who hasn't been anywhere near his best with a string of lacklustre performances since claiming Cheltenham Festival glory.

The most likely to pose a threat to the current odds on favourite seems to be the Paul Nicholls trained McFabulous. A solid second behind Stormy Island looks a decent level of form however Paul Nicholls' charge has a habit of finding one or two too good when dining at the top table and it looks likely he's going to be the bridesmaid and not the bride once more.

Top trainer Nicky Henderson has played a masterstroke by sending Champ back over the smaller obstacles and the red-hot favourite looks to have garnered a new lease of life now that he's in the staying hurdling division. A very impressive victory at Ascot saw him put Thyme Hill and fellow entrant Paisley Park in their place and with another bold showing again here JP Mcmanus' runner will become the best UK hope for Staying Hurdle success come March.

CHAMP (WIN)

written by Rory Paddock

15:20 Doncaster This will likely take some deciphering though Nicky Henderson saddled the winner two years ago and his Fusil Raffles has been very well backed in the build-up. Undeniably fortunate when landing the Grade 2, Charlie Hall at Wetherby (Leader fell when holding a massive advantage) he lost very little when a fair fourth on his handicap debut at Cheltenham last time and a big run looks on the cards.

Cap Du Nord was beaten when blundering his chance away at the second last when third in this race last term, since then things have gone all to pot though he is ten pounds below that mark now and his trainer has publicly stated he believes a good run will be forthcoming.

Kapcorse looked very strong at the finish when powering away from a decent field at Newbury a couple of months ago, still quite lightly raced and proven on good ground, there is every chance the Paul Nicholls inmate will shrug off his eight pounds rise though improvement is required.

Demachine jumped and travelled with real purpose in the Ladbroke Trophy (Formerly Hennessy) before tiring late on, eventually finishing a well beaten fifth. Sent off a short priced favourite at Ludlow last month, he appeared to stumble and unseated Richard Patrick just after the first. Judged on his novice form and with that effort at Newbury screaming at further improvement, there is every chance compensation awaits here although the ground poses a significant question mark.

Janika has taken an absolute age to get back to something like ''Well Handicapped' and his most recent efforts have barely given any clues as to whether he is still capable enough to take advantage. Well beaten when seventh last time was preceded by two shocking efforts at Chepstow and Aintree, however, the fact is that he is now rated twelve pounds below the mark he last won off and a return to form cannot be dismissed despite it looking unlikely.

Cloudy Glen, Canelo and Nuts Well are capable when on song and Storm Control bounced back to winning ways when last seen, all four warrant serious consideration though Demachine is surely a winner waiting to happen and is taken to land this for trainer Kerry Lee.

DEMACHINE (E/W)

written by Chris Connolly

15:40 Cheltenham

The final race on ITV today is set to a cracking affair with all six horses involved holding winning form to their name.

The unbeaten Hillcrest had a fantastic win over course and distance on New Years Day and that appears to be the best form line in this race. He hasn’t raced on anything better than good to soft though and his market price will be very short for a race of this nature.

North Lodge has had only the one run so far and he did finish in front of some good horses that day. He is open to any amount of improvement and it will be interesting if there is a lot of market support for him here.

Also unbeaten over hurdles is Balco Coastal for Nicky Henderson and he would get my vote in this open looking race. He was very impressive at Huntingdon and though he wasn’t as good last time out, he still won well and the step up in trip looks the right way to go with him. Added to that he receives 5lb from Hillcrest and he has very strong credentials here.

BALCO COASTAL (WIN)

written by Tom Bates