Evening all,

There was a hint of winter in the air at Cheltenham on Friday. Ok, the ground was more what you would expect at a summer flat meeting, but jumps racing is most definitely back. The rain even arrived on Friday morning with 9mm falling, turning the ground from good to firm to good all over. Looking at the times I would say it was getting closer to good to soft.

There’s good action across both codes on Saturday. The highlight of a seven race card at Doncaster is the Group 1 Vertem Futurity. It’s Newbury’s final flat card of the season. The feature races of a seven race card are pair of Group 3s, the Horris Hill Stakes (1.50) and St. Simon Stakes (2.25).

Inside today’s main piece I preview few of the races on ITV4 this afternoon.

Doncaster

There’s been plenty of rain in South Yorkshire over the last couple of days and the going has gone from good to soft on Wednesday to heavy by the end of racing on Friday.

Vertem Futurity Trophy Stakes (3:35)

Auguste Rodin has a solid favourite chance especially as we know he handles soft ground. However, at shade of odds on I can happily let him win.

Epictetus returned from a 3 month layoff to finish a neck 2nd of 6 in the Group 3 Autumn Stakes (1m) at Newmarket earlier this month. Should be sharper with that run under his belt. Soft ground would be an unknown for the son of Kingman colt and it’s a concern that he will get stuck in the mud.

Stormbuster, runner-up to Flying Honours at Salisbury followed up when making all to win conditions race at Newbury (1m) last month. That was a much improved effort by the son of Dubawi. He’s from a family that do better with racing and is likely capable of better.  Like Epictetus he faces testing ground for the first time. Likely to handle conditions better and could be the one to chase home the favourite.

Carlsberg Marstons Doncaster Stakes (Listed) (3:00)

Aesop's Fables was comfortably seen off in the Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes last time, but he does take a significant drop in class here. The drop back to 6f looks a plus but I’m not sure he wants soft ground though. His stablemate Hispanic looked much improved for the fitting of the blinkers when winning at the Curragh on soft ground 9-days ago. That success came over 5f, but he should stay today’s extra furlong and looks the biggest danger to the favourite.

vertem.co.uk Handicap (4:10)

The final race live on ITV is another 5f contest but this time a Class 2 handicap. Lullaby Bay looks well handicapped if reproducing her nose 2^nd of 5 to Makanah at Musselburgh 12-days ago. Stablemate Fast Response bounced back to winning ways when beating 11 rivals at Nottingham 10-days ago. It was a career best form the 3-year-old and she’s now 2-2 on soft ground.  Up 3lb but capable of a big run if in the same form as last time.

Whenthedealinsdone hasn’t been seen at his best on his two starts but if the cards fall right, he’s a useful sprint handicapper at his best.  Vintage Clarets has bounced back to form since returning to 5f and a gelding operation. A winner at Windsor, he’s since finished runner-up at York and occupied the same position when beating all bar, the improving Chipsted in the Catterick Dash 7-days ago.

Came From the Dark looked like a smart sprinter when winning a Sandown Listed race last Summer. Not so good on three starts since and although he showed more last time at Ascot he’s still running below his best.  The 6-year-old has won on heavy ground in the past and will appreciate the drop back into handicap company. Just 1lb above his last winning handicap mark so is well handicapped if bouncing back to form.

Cheltenham

Masterson Holdings Hurdle (2:40)

Knight Salute and Pied Piper fought out a thrilling finish to the Anniversary Juvenile Hurdle at Aintree. Nothing could separate the pair at the line, but the stewards intervened to give the race to Knight Salute. Both look capable of doing better on their second season over hurdles. Pied Piper is favoured by the bookies, but Knight Salute looks a shade big at 9/4. Which is of the pair is fitter on their seasonal return will come out on top. The big two face just three rivals. Doctor Parnassus trained by Dan Skelton looks the pick of them and he’s a contender if there’s any fitness doubts with the market leaders.

888Sport Is Made To Play Handicap Chase (2:05)

A 3m 1f handicap chase gets ITV4’s Cheltenham coverage underway. The Hollow Ginge doesn’t win very often but he finished a head second in this race last year on his seasonal reappearance to add to his good record fresh. The handicapper has given him a big chance and he’s 10lb lower than 12 month ago.

Neville’s Cross made it 5 wins from 14 starts over fences when winning at Bangor in July. He’s 5lb higher in a better race but on a sound, surface can’t be ruled out. This is much better race than last time, but he’s got each way claims.

Lord Accord ran well on his first starts over fences last autumn, but his form tailed off badly in the second half of the season. He had a pipe opener over hurdles last month so has fitness on his side. On a decent mark if returning to last autumn’s best.

888Sport Handicap Chase (3:15)

Just the seven for this 2m handicap chase which is disappointing given there’s £60,000 in guaranteed prize money on offer. That said it’s still a competitive contest.

The early bird betting is headed by recent Worcester winner Clear The Runway. The 6-year-old returned from a four month absence to make it 5 wins from 7 starts over fences.  This is a deeper race on a very different track, but he remains very much on the upgrade.

Top-weight Editeur Du Gite has yet to run a bad race at Cheltenham. A winner of his first two runs over C&D. He ran a career best when a 6 ½ length 4^th of 16 at the Grand Annual Handicap Chase at the Festival in March. The ground was heavy that day and all his winning form has come on good/good to soft ground.  If he’s ready to roll he will take some pegging back.

Willie Mullins brings over Dads Lad. The 7-year-old made it 2-3 over fences when comfortably winning on handicap chase debut at Killarney in August. Merely a respectable performance when 5^th of 17 back over hurdles last time. However, he should be seen to better effect back over the larger obstacles.

Poseidon was well suited to a sound surface when trained by Charles Byrnes and is of interest on his first start for Gordon Elliott. The 8-year-old looks fairly treated on his good ground, handicap chase win at Cork last October.

El Borracho comes into the race in tremendous form and completed a hat trick at Wetherby 10-days ago. He’s a decent jumper of a fence who’s suited clearly suited to quick ground but does need to take another step forward to win.

Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle (Pertemps Hurdle Series Qualifier) (3:50)

No field size problem with this Pertemps Series Qualifier with 18 being declared to run. Previous course winner Botox Has looks to have been given a chance by the handicapper. He’s only been raised 1lb after his win in the Grade 2 National Spirit Hurdle at Fontwell in February. Two good efforts over 3m suggest he stays.

An Tailliur steadily progressive in handicap hurdle company winning three time s and looked better than ever when ½ length 2^nd of 13 at Cartmel in May. Up 2lb but ground versatile, stays 3m and goes well fresh must be high in the shortlist.

Kansas City Chief won this race last year as a 12-year-old. He’s a got a solid course record and has the benefit of a recent run. The cheekpieces left off last time return and he seems likely to give his running again.

Panic Attack improved for the fitting of the blinkers winning here over an extended 2m 4f in April before a 2 ½ length 2^nd of 16 at Haydock over 3m. Just 1lb higher here and the forecast strong pace will suit the mare.

Didtheyleaveuoutto is at his best on a sound surface. Fit from the flat when a good 3 ¼ lengths 4th of 10 to Knappers Hill in Silver Trophy at Chepstow two weeks ago. He was doing his best work at the finish last time but needed a stronger test of stamina. Not had many goes at 3m but showed he stayed when runner-up at Newbury in November.

Saturday Selection:

Yesterday was garbage there’s no other politer word to describe it.  It surely can’t be as bad today and hopefully there’s a winner or two in the above preview.

Saturday's selection isn't from one of the ITV races.

Doncaster

1:20 – Tomfre hasn’t been in the winner’s enclosure since winning over C&D in November 2020 and his form this season has been poor. That means he’s dropped down to a very tempting handicap mark.  He’s 4-9 on soft or heavy ground, 2-4 over C&D including this race in 2020 and 4-8 in October/November. So, there's plenty in the 5-year-old’s favour if he does bounce back to form this afternoon. It could be that the 5-year-old has gone at the game but at 10/1 or bigger I can happily take a chance that he hasn't.

Tomfre – 10/1 @ Bet365

As there is more live racing on ITV4 on Sunday from Aintree and Limerick I will be doing a Sunday column.

Good luck with your Saturday bets.

John