Horse To Follow To Fit The Trend At Cheltenham – Saturday Tips

A superb day of racing ahead with some brilliant jumps action from Cheltenham featuring the Paddy Power Gold Cup. There is also some decent flat action at Lingfield but jumps is by the far the most exciting code from now on!

The Murphy Group Handicap Chase at 1-50 looks a fiercely competitive affair and a tentative vote goes to one of my horses to follow this season, On Trend. It appears as though the softer the better for him which is why there are a few doubts about the quicker ground. Nick Gifford’s gelding has a great attitude and made a promising return at Ascot. With that run under his belt and scope for further improvement he may be worth an interest at a big price.

The Paddy Power Gold Cup is a hugely exciting contest with plenty of horses climbing the ranks lining up. Champion Court and Vino Griego are both interesting contenders on their course form but the vote goes to Nadiya De La Vega. She has a fine record fresh and a very good record around here.

Cheltenham Tips: Royal Irish Hussar 12-40, Shutthefrontdoor 1-15, On Trend 1-50, Nadiya De La Vega 2-30, Silver Eagle 3-00, Port Melon 3-35 and Sunday Serenade 4-05

Lingfield Tips: Buster Brown 11-50, Final Delivery 12-20, Not Rigg 12-55, Epic Voyage 1-25, Solar Deity 2-00, Prince Alzain 2-35, Tangerine Trees 3-10 and Twilight Angel 3-45

Uttoxeter Tips: It’s A Doddle 12-35. Cocacobana 1-05, High Aspirations 1-40, Finding Your Feet 2-15, Pagham Belle 2-50, Dancing Art 3-25 and I Need Gold 4-00

Wetherby Tips: Villa Royale 12-25, Supreme Asset 12-55, Lookout Mountain 1-30, No Planning 2-05, Badger Foot 2-40, Mojolika 3-15 and King Kurt 3-50

Welcome Return Of National Hunt Racing – Sunday Selections

After a 10 day break National Hunt racing returns today at Plumpton and Uttoxeter. This is always an exciting part of the season as the best youngsters begin to appear in juvenile or novice hurdles, NH flat races and promising hurdlers switch to fences. My list of horses to follow for the forthcoming season is now online!

There are some potential useful recruits to hurdling in the 2-30 at Plumpton. Arab League was an 80 rated stayer on the flat and this 2m test may not be enough for him. Trovare made his hurdling debut a couple of weeks ago at Fontwell and was travelling really well until unseating Colin Bolger with a circuit to go. He was very useful on the flat and with jumping errors ironed out he can go very close.

Ladyvie was no match for runaway winner Intac at Hereford last time out. That was her first start in England since arriving from France and she will have learnt plenty. With nothing of Intac’s calibre in the 4-00 at Plumpton she can score for David Pipe. It is also interesting she holds an entry at Perth next Thursday so the Pipe team could be lining up a quick double.

Nick Gifford is one of my favourite trainers and his only runner at his local track is Murphy. He has some useful bumper form when splitting Riverside Theatre and Dee Ee Williams at Kempton in 2008. This keen going sort has yet to race over hurdles on quick ground and despite an absence of nearly 600 days the yard is more than capable at readying one. If he can get to the lead and settle he could prove hard to catch.

Hamilton Selections: Celestial Dawn 2-10, Hyperlink 2-40, Golden Creek 3-10, Spinatrix 3-40, Hills Of Dakota 4-10, Jonny Delta 4-40 and Srimenanti 5-10

Plumpton Selections: Bathwick Scanno 2-00, Trovare 2-30, Aghill 3-00, Beaubrav 3-30, Ladyvie 4-00, Murphy 4-30 and Surfboard 5-00

Uttoxeter Selections: Know The Rules 2-20, American Art 2-50, Teshali 3-20, Kikos 3-50, Castlerock 4-20, Pumboo 4-50 and Upper Deck 5-20

Fairyhouse Selections: Empress Of Rome 2-15, Cabin 2-45, Haseen 3-15, Raphael Santi/ Tamaam Namoose 3-45, No Trimmings 4-15, Apolskapart 4-45 and Sailors Warn 5-15