Cheltenham Saturday

1:15 Paddy Power Cheltenham Countdown Podcast Handicap Chase 2m 4f 56yds

Horses with previous course experience have dominated this valuable handicap but I’m happy to buck that trend with the fast-improving Excello, who looks something to bet on facing the Cheltenham fences for the first time.

The former French gelding joined Nicky Henderson with a reasonable amount of experience under his belt from five outings in his native Fance. On his British chasing bow, he brushed aside the 149-rated Solo at Ascot last time, jumping soundly if a little to his left before shifting seamlessly through the gears.

Only a five-year-old, he has already shown the sheer precocity of a typical French chasing recruit and having backed him at Ascot, I see no reason to desert him now. A switch to a left-handed course should be ideal and if all goes well at the weekend this may be a stepping stone to an eventual tilt at graded races down the line.

1:50 Paddy Power Cotswold Chase (Grade 2) 3m 1f 56yds

Datsalrightgino won’t be out of place in an intriguing renewal of this Grade 2 contest after winning at this level at Ayr in the spring. If, like me, you backed Mahler Mission to land last November’s Coral Gold Cup, you will have been dismayed to see Jamie Snowden’s smart young chaser motoring into contention close home and mowing down the luckless Mahler Mission with relative ease.

Connections could well have played a canny hand here by keeping the eight-year-old fresh for this decent pot and though he’s not favoured by the weights, he’s a young gelding on the up, who likes the track and chased Stage Star home on this card a year ago.

Depending on how he goes here, a possible crack at the Gold Cup could be on the cards and each-way odds of 50/1 for chasing’s Blue Riband make some appeal.

2:25 My Pension Expert Clarence House Chase (Grade 1) 2m 63yds

It’s a pity that El Fabiolo isn’t here to do battle with Jonbon in this re-arranged Clarence House Chase, but in the former’s absence this is a nice pay-day for Nicky Henderson’s top two-miler, who faces a simple task here against five decidedly inferior rivals.

However, the boot may be on the other foot in the Champion Chase at the Festival in March where Jonbon will surely be playing for second place against a top-notch performer in El Fabiolo.

3:00 Unibet Hurdle (Grade 2) 2m 179yds

Course specialists are always worth marking up at Cheltenham and while this is a slightly disappointing turnout, the doughty mare Love Envoi can continue her fine run of form at Prestbury Park.

A winner of the Grade 1 Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle in 2022, she didn’t seem quite herself when running on late into second after a sluggish show on her return to action at Sandown in December. She should be better suited by racing once more at Cheltenham, and the prospect of a less testing surface should also be to her advantage.

She’s favoured by the figures too, top rated on a mark of 151, she receives weight from three opponents and gives 1lb to main rival and seasonal debutante Lossiemouth, who is officially rated 4lb inferior to Love Envoi.

3:35 McCoy Contractors Cleeve Hurdle (Grade 2) 3m

There’s a whiff of the old boys’ reunion about this year’s Cleeve Hurdle with the evergreen Paisley Park facing three horses that finished behind him when he endured an agonising defeat at the hands of the progressive young stayer Crambo in the Long Walk Hurdle five weeks ago.

With no Crambo to worry about at Cheltenham, Paisley Park can secure a record-breaking fourth Cleeve Hurdle. After backing Crambo to win at Ascot in December, it was almost inevitable that Paisley Park would emerge from the chasing pack and show all the persistence in a finish that has been the hallmark of his long and remarkable career.

The likelihood of slightly slower ground and a stronger gallop than he faced at Ascot should make him especially hard to beat.

Doncaster Saturday

2:05 SBK Yorkshire Rose Mares’ Hurdle (Grade 2) 2m 12yds

This graded mares’ event has been a happy hunting ground for Willie Mullins, who has won the race twice before with Annie Power and Vroum Vroum Mag.

Both those illustrious mares were able to dominate inferior opposition and that could well be the case again courtesy of Ashroe Diamond, one of two Mullins runners in this year’s contest.

In a weak-looking event, Ashroe Diamond receives 3lb from stable companion Gala Marceau and has the advantage of a recent run to her name while Gala Marceau returns after a 251-day absence. An impressive winner of a Grade 1 mares’ hurdle at Fairyhouse last April, Ashroe Diamond should edge the call over her stable companion.

2.40 Albert Bartlett River Don Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2) 3m 84yds

A typically open renewal of the River Don and I fancy the progressive Esprit Du Poitier to go close here; Lucinda Russell’s French-bred gelding looks decent each-way value. A dual bumper winner who ran well for a long way in the Grade 1 Aintree bumper, he should appreciate tackling this longer trip for the first time.

More forcing tactics combined with a step up in trip resulted in a facile victory at Ayr last time and this likeable sort may well be under-estimated in the betting.

3.15 SBK Great Yorkshire Handicap Chase 3m

Dan Skelton has few equals when it comes to picking off big handicap pots and, after a somewhat lacklustre campaign, the start of 2024 has seen Skelton back among the winners with a scintillating six-timer a fortnight ago.

The upsurge in stable form bodes well for the chances of the yard’s Sail Away,who was a horse going places over fences last season, making all to score at Ayr in April. Intriguingly, he has been ridden more patiently in two starts this season, and there’s a strong suggestion he’s been hiding his light under a bushel.

Given a sighter of today’s course and distance last time, this bold jumper found the omission of eight fences compromising his chances on that occasion. Quicker ground should be meat and drink at Town Moor, and he looks a most interesting runner for a bang in-form yard.

Excello 1.15 Cheltenham 1pt win

@ 6/1

Datsalrightgino 1.50 Cheltenham 1pt win @ 11/2

Esprit Du Potier 2.40 Doncaster 1pt e/w @ 8/1

Sail Away 3.15 Doncaster 1pt e/w @ 14/1