Cheltenham Saturday

1.10 William Hill Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase 2m 4f 44y

Lord Of Thunder was tried in the Persian War on his jumps debut last term, which is an indication of the regard he’s held in, and he got his act together to win twice at Wincanton around the turn of the year. Those wins were in deep ground, but it’s doubtful whether he needs the mud and he impressed with the way he jumped, suggesting he would benefit from an early switch to fences. He gets that here and, with the Tizzard stable in good form, a big run is expected.

It’s an open race, however, and there are others worth a mention at the prices. Bob Bob Ricard took to fences like a duck to water in the spring, winning his only two starts over fences before reverting to hurdles, and he ran a fine comeback when fifth in the Fixed Brush hurdles final at Worcester. That should set him up nicely for this, and he should get the race set up to suit as well, with plenty of pace in evidence.

1.45 William Hill Betting Done Properly Novices’ Hurdle 2m 7f 208y

Millforce needs to brush up his jumping, but he has made a bright start and was only just touched off at Cork last time, where he would surely have won with a more fluent round. He clearly can jump, as he had six runs between the flags in Ireland and he’s merely adjusting to the less familiar hurdles. He looks a smart prospect, if he can iron out those issues and should go well.

Intense Approach has also been held back by his jumping, but John McConnell’s charge ran well to be second to Flying Fortune in the Persian War and that is the best form on offer. He ought to go well if he stays the longer trip, and his dam was a very useful middle-distance stayer on the flat, so there is every chance he will. Of more concern is the stable form, with McConnell’s busy yard sending out 70 runners already this month, but that outlay has only yielded two winners.

2.20 William Hill Committed To Top Prices Handicap Chase 3m 1f

Broadway Boy is the logical starting point for this handicap, having been highly tried after a very promising start to his chase career. He impressed when winning against experienced horses here in December, before finding the best novices too good at Warwick and Aintree. He’s only 3lb higher for his last win and is young enough to progress again this term, for all the market tells that story in a much shorter form.

The woes of the Jane Williams yard were well-documented last year, with a local farmer growing rapeseed nearby causing respiratory issues for many of her horses, and that is a perfectly ready excuse for Pepe Le Moko’s disappointing effort at Kempton on his final start of last season, albeit it wasn’t a bad run strictly on the book.

Pepe Le Moko was a ready winner on his seasonal and chase debut last term, looking something of a natural, and the fact that he could show useful form when the stable was struggling is a positive. He’ll probably stay three miles and a bit further here and, as long as he’s ready to go first time up this season, is a very interesting proposition. The yard had a chase winner at Exeter in Jupiter Allen during the week, that horse also coming back from an absence, and that adds to any confidence.

2.55 Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle (Qualifier) 2m 7f 208y

Secret Trix is worth considering at the odds here, with his last couple of runs easy enough to forgive. He did not enjoy the big fences at Newton Abbot last time and never found any rhythm at Cartmel (not an ideal track for most) on his previous outing.

He was quietly progressive throughout last term prior to that, winning five times and finishing second on another three occasions, and looks fairly treated on a mark 4lb higher than when beating Mr Muldoon at Uttoxeter in July.

Secret Trix is another hurdler who can spoil his chance with errors, making it odd that he was tried over fences last time, but he’s oblivious to underfoot conditions and knows how to get his head in front, so could well surprise for a yard in a fine vein of form.

3.30 Masterson Holdings Hurdle 2m 87y

Bottler’secret is head and shoulders above these on form shown so far, his second in the Grade 1 four-year-old hurdle at Punchestown clearly the best piece of form on show to date.

He has to concede weight to his rivals on much quicker ground, but had Givemefive 14 lengths behind him at Fairyhouse on his penultimate start, and a few pounds doesn’t look enough to argue for a reversal of that form.

Good ground might bring them closer together, but that’s pure supposition, and Bottler’secret wasn’t dodging better ground last season, but merely running in the best races he could according to schedule.

Doncaster Saturday

1.30 William Hill Prospect Stakes (Doncaster Stakes) (Listed) 6f 2y

La Bellota is a little risky with blinkers being reached for, but his best effort came at six furlongs on soft ground and he was far from disgraced in a draw-affected Cornwallis Stakes back at five furlongs last time.

The booking of Oisin Murphy to take over from Darragh Keenan is a significant one, with no disrespect to the latter. If he takes to the headgear, he could make a mockery of double-figure odds.

2.05 Join Century Racing Club Today Handicap 5f 3y

Designer is of significant interest at the weights in this sprint handicap. John Butler’s mare handles heavy and firmish ground and was a winner at York’s Ebor Meeting last year, winning a fillies’ and mares’ handicap for the second year running.

She was absent before trying for a hat-trick in August and looked very rusty, suggesting she was rushed back for that race.

She still needed the run to some degree at Haydock last time, but fared better to finish a three-and-three-quarter-length fifth of 10 to Blue Storm, and will need more here.

She has slipped below her last winning mark after those efforts and should be approaching peak fitness.

She was runner-up in this race two years ago from a mark of 97 and – with Jamie Spencer an eye-catching booking – is taken to get back to winning ways.

2.40 William Hill Futurity Trophy Stakes (Group 1) 1m

Wimbledon Hawkeye is a horse I have a huge amount of time for and he’s a solid favourite for this, but Seaplane looks a tremendous staying prospect for next year after a wide-margin maiden win at Newmarket last month and is worth chancing here at a much bigger price.

Prior to that Newmarket success, Seaplane was reeled in close home in a well-contested maiden won by Calla Lagoon at Ascot, with subsequent Epsom winner Too Soon back in third.

I thought that was a decent race for the grade and, while Seaplane is probably more of a long-term prospect, he impressed with how well he maintained a strong gallop in tough conditions at Newmarket, and has stamina aplenty in his pedigree, so winning at seven furlongs must go down as a huge bonus for this son of Golden Horn.

He’s going to come into his own over further, with half-sister Sumo Sam, a Group 2 winner over a mile and three-quarters, but this race provides no hiding place back on the testing straight track, and Seaplane appeals as capable of taking his form up another notch.

Recommended:

Lord Of Thunder 1.10 Cheltenham – 1pt win 8/1 (Coral; 15/2 Ladbrokes)

Pepe Le Moko 2.20 Cheltenham – 1pt win 12/1 (general)

La Bellota 1.30 Doncaster – 1pt win 12/1 (general)

Designer 2.05 Doncaster – 1pt e/w 14/1 (general – 5 places)

Seaplane 2.40 Doncaster – 1pt e/w 16/1 (Bet365; 12/1 general)