Jake Price's Free Racing Tips for Saturday at Cheltenham & Doncaster

13:50 Cheltenham - Colonel Harry - 1pt EW

Best odds of 8/1 available at time of publishing.

Whilst the drying ground at Cheltenham is not ideal in terms of providing absolute ideal conditions, COLONEL HARRY surely has huge claims in the December Gold Cup, and ever since he fell at Cheltenham on New Year's Day when tanking along in that version of this race, I have wanted to have him on side for a similar event in the future.

That fall unfortunately resulted in him picking up a cut which ended up being infected, so he sadly missed the rest of the season. Thankfully he returned to action at Aintree in November for the Grand Sefton however, and had I known that day that the ground would be soft enough and that he would be fit enough to win, then I would have been all over him – but both of those facts seemed to be questioned by connections beforehand. The idea was obviously to run as well as possible, but if he was beat then it was a perfect preparation for this race (which was outlined pre-season as his target) – but ultimately he ran a stormer at Aintree when staying on strongly to win.

I thought that a 4lbs rise for that victory back to the mark of 148 for which he was fancied in the Coral Gold Cup last season (where he did not stay) was extremely fair considering it was all but a prep-run, and this weekend he will certainly be spot on in every sense. Connections are also quite importantly running Ga Law off a mark of 154 here, which keeps our selection's weight down to 11-8 rather than having to burden top weight himself. Jagwar could be dangerous, but stable form this season would do everything it can to put you off his chances.

14:25 Cheltenham - EXCELERO - 1pt 

Best odds of 9/2 available at time of publishing.

A Novice Chaser who has impressed me a great deal so far this season due to his immaculate jumping is EXCELERO, and whilst he will clearly need to step forward again now tackling a big Saturday Handicap, there is little doubt in my mind that he is still a well handicapped horse.

Last season connections were biding their time with him over hurdles, but he did put in a notable performance at Exeter in February when winning a competitive Novices’ Hurdle at Exeter under a penalty. On his Chase debut at Worcester in October he really caught my eye however, as he jumped and travelled extremely well in the lead – but he just didn’t seem to stay the trip when fading late in the day. The form of that race has since worked out well though, with Wade Out (Listed winner next time) beating Wendigo (Grade 2 winner next time).

On balance then it was a very sensible plan to drop this 5yo back in trip to two miles at Warwick last month, and the jumping test that track presents suited him perfectly. Bounding off out in front, he pinged every fence on the way to victory – and he ended up recording an effortless 9.5 length success over a previous winner in Mister Cessna (124). A 7lbs rise in the weights to a mark of 128 is certainly fair enough, and due to the step-up in class he only has to carry a featherweight 10st3lbs.

Only 9 horses go to post here so it certainly could have been a much bigger baptism of fire now making his open handicap debut, but the fact that jumping is his biggest asset will surely only further help him be extremely competitive in a race at Cheltenham. The hood that went back on at Warwick has been retained, and Jane Williams has been enjoying a fantastic season thus far.

15:17 Doncaster – BOWMORE - 1pt

Best odds of 5/2 available at time of publishing.

The one who interested me the most in this very winnable contest is BOWMORE, and I think he has a cracking chance of landing the odds. This horse was rated as high as 138 over fences for Henry de Bromhead, but he has been a revelation back over hurdles this season having moved across to Charlie Longsdon.

On seasonal reappearance he was 2nd behind the progressive Indemnity (124) at Market Rasen, but last month with fitness on side he was a very impressive winner of the Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle at Newbury at their opening meeting. The form of that race is working out too, with the 2nd Believitanducan (125) winning next time, and the 3rd Andashan (127) finishing runner-up to Kabral Du Mathan. Even the 8th placed Celtic Art went and won at Taunton on Thursday.

Whilst he was put up 10lbs in the weights for that facile 5 length success, Daire McConville was only able to claim 3lbs on that occasion, but this time he can claim a full 7lbs which helps to negate the rise. He is effectively running off a mark of 127, which clearly would be within his reach considering Chase ratings. The ground at Doncaster is drying all the time, and they're using fresh ground on the Hurdles course too, so there shouldn’t be an issue for him in regard to conditions either.

Charlie Longsdon has been in decent form lately with two winners and two seconds (one of each at the last Doncaster meeting) from his last 12 runners. I think this lad should take the beating in what looks quite a weak Class 2 race.

15:35 Cheltenham -  SIOG GEAL - 1.5pts 

Best odds of 7/2 available at time of publishing.

This is a competitive Mares Handicap Hurdle, but the favourite Jubilee Alpha looks very vulnerable to me considering she is now up to an official rating of 141 following her 2nd place effort in the Richard Barber Memorial at Wincanton. Instead, the bet is a Horse now 15lbs better off at the weights from their meeting last season in the form of Fergal O’Brien’s SIOG GEAL.

Already a Listed placed Bumper performer at the Cheltenham November meeting last season, this Mare went on to enjoy a very fruitful Novice Hurdle campaign last season. After winning on debut at Catterick this time last year she then went to Windsor under a penalty for that aforementioned clash with the favourite, and despite the race being run over an inadequate two miles, she ran a belter in 4th place – only beaten 2.75 lengths when having Bluey (129) and Khrisma (127) ahead. Obviously with the massive swing in the weights you’d expect this 6yo to be able to reverse form this time around, but moreover the increase in distance to 2m4½f at Prestbury Park will also be in her favour.

Her season wasn’t done there though, as she then went to Market Rasen in February when 2nd to Bluey in a Qualifier for the Grade 2 EBF Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at Newbury in March. Running off a mark of 116 that day she looked to be the one to beat, and she ultimately was a lovely winner for this column – not doing a whole pile once hitting the front, but always holding La Pinsonniere (130).

She returned to action at Carlisle last month when seemingly having a preparation for this race, but it was a really nice effort against the boys when finishing 1.5 lengths 3rd behind Hartington (128) – who has since gone extremely close in the Stayers Handicap Hurdle at Haydock. Only put up 1lbs in the weights for that opening effort to a mark of 123, SIOG GEAL still looks the best Handicapped Mare in this contest, and I think she will take all the beating for a local trainer who loves having winners here.