Saturday Channel 4 Racing Preview

National Hunt enthusiasts will have another opportunity to witness the exuberant VILLAGE VIC (Best price 7-1) attack the Cheltenham fences this afternoon and the selection rates a decent bet to atone for an agonising defeat at the Cotswold venue last month. Unbeaten in both starts on Cheltenham’s New course, the flamboyant nine-year-old will be required to repel a series of challengers again should he still be thereabouts at the last fence, but the fact that the contenders will be forced to jump six fences from the top of the hill should play to his strengths. Aso, fourth to Village Vic in the BetVictor Gold Cup, looks a major threat as he was scruffy at the final two fences a month ago and is entitled to improve markedly for his first start of the campaign.

Wholestone and West Approach seem to tackle each other every time there is a meeting at Prestbury Park and they look sure to be closely matched again back at three miles today. Choosing between the pair isn’t easy so in these circumstances it sometimes pays to look beyond the obvious and AMI DEBOIS (Best price 14-1) fills the criteria. Backing the six-year-old does come with the disclaimer that he would need the forecast rain to be totally effective, but if conditions do ease then he rates excellent value given the improvement he has made with the tongue tie applied this season. He is only the price he is this morning because of official ratings and the horse he slammed at Haydock last time bolted up at Bangor yesterday.

Connections of THE NEW ONE (Best price 7-2) have temporarily shelved a chasing campaign to try and complete a notable hat-trick in the stanjames.com International Hurdle. The decision could prove to be a masterstroke by Nigel Twiston-Davies who continues to pin the utmost faith in his likeable hurdler who was again on the premises in last year’s Champion Hurdle won by Annie Power. Admittedly, the selection has a little to find with My Tent Or Yours on that running, but The New One is a brilliant horse fresh and, as a dual previous winner of this race, appeals as some value against the likely favourite. There have been five occasions when The New One has raced after a break of three months or more and he has won all five so he appears a viable alternative to My Tent Or Yours, especially if the ground eases significantly.

Formerly trained by David Loder, MIDNIGHT TOUR (Best price 4-1) looks to have stepped forward again for the switch to Alan King and appears the one to beat in the finale. She travelled for fun before putting a reasonable Hereford contest to bed with a sparkling turn of foot last time and won’t mind if the ground eases significantly. I am loath to put JESSBER’S DREAM (Best price 8-1) up as the chief danger as she really does need a deluge to be truly effective. However, if the rains arrive she must surely have a big chance as she looked desperately in need of the race at Kempton over a trip which sapped her stamina and this looks more of a suitable examination.

O O SEVEN (Best price 4-6) heads north in search of better ground and is difficult to oppose despite his prohibitive odds. Burton Port won this race for Nicky Henderson some years ago and his representative sets a strong standard following his authoritative Cheltenham victory last month. Connections enjoyed success at the track yesterday and they head to Town Moor instead of facing Thistlecrack at Kempton on Boxing Day.

CLIFFS OF DOVER (Best price 4-6) has proved a revelation since joining Paul Nicholls and is difficult to oppose given he is one of the premier juveniles seen either side of the Irish sea this winter. There is a slight concern he has been off for six weeks though, especially as he was flying when we last saw him, but he should still be good enough to see off the Irish challenge and Alan King’s UK debutante Timoteo. Zig Zag, runner-up to stablemate Landofhopeandglory, could be the value for the forecast.

Read Sam Turner's tips every day in the Daily Mail or at www.dailymail.co.uk/racing