15:00 Saturday

A change of pace from the graded action as we have an ultra-competitive three-mile handicap to get stuck into for the 15:00 on Saturday.

Fine Margin would be a worthy favourite in my book on his Haydock run and I will be backing him too, but at a bigger price I like the chances of WILL DO (14/1 on bet365). Initially, Sam Ewing was booked for the ride but a late switch sees Jack Kennedy on instead, which can only be a good sign.

A promising novice, he was well backed on handicap debut when tiring late on at Navan in gruelling conditions. In my view, he went through the race better than one of the current market leaders, Canal End, and there should be more to come from a mark of 128.

16:10 Saturday

Of the market leaders in the 16:10 Ryanair Handicap Chase, I’d be siding with The Folkes Tiara but REBEL GOLD (25/1 on Sky Bet) makes appeal at a massive price. While he’s now at veteran status, he was as good as ever last season, winning the Dan & Joan memorial and a Grade 3.

Sandwiched in-between those efforts was a gallant fifth in this race last season. In my view, he probably left his race behind in the Dan & Joan memorial and did too much too soon out in front.

He's on the same mark as last year, but based on his campaigning this season, I suspect this has been a long term-target. The booking of Conor Stone-Walsh is notable, as he is great value for his five-pound claim and has already tasted big two-mile handicap chase success this season.

16:40 Saturday

In what could be the strangest bumper ever seen, YOU OUGHTA KNOW (9/1 on bet365) is taken to emerge from the 16:40 on Saturday with his Champion Bumper credentials enhanced.

In theory, all he has to do to accomplish that is to finish third to Redemption Day & A Dream To Share, neither of whom can run at Cheltenham, but I think he can shake up the front two.

 

Very impressive in two summer bumpers, the form of those races has worked out well and while the absence to some may be a concern, it was always the plan to give him a break.

The decision to stick to bumpers is interesting and, to me, it indicates a belief that he can cut it at this level. Saturday will be informative, but I’m hopeful he’ll acquit himself well.

15:50 Leopardstown

Last year, we saw Gaelic Warrior win this emphatically at 10/11 as a five-year-old. And while ZENTA (10/1 NAP on bet365) won’t be such a short price, I think she has an outstanding chance.

Like Gaelic Warrior, she was a juvenile last season; and a classy one, at that, finishing third in the Triumph Hurdle behind Gala Marceau and Lossiemouth before winning the Grade 1 at Aintree.

They attempted to utilise her four-year-old allowance over fences this season, and while she ran with credit in a Grade 2 on chasing debut, I think it was sensible to shelve those plans with her allowance diminishing and her novice status intact (connections also have Dinoblue).

She reverts to hurdles on a mark of 138 for the 15:50 on Sunday, which for a Grade 1 winner who ran two leading Mares’ Hurdle contenders close at Cheltenham, could prove very lenient.

She is entered in the Mares’ Hurdle, herself, so all being well, she could run there after this.