Five Horses To Watch Out For This Weekend

The 2015 Champion Hurdle winner Faugheen, looks to have turned over a new leaf, having won the Champion Stayers Hurdle at Punchestown in April.

He won it in stunning fashion as well, dismissing stable companion Penhill - who won the English equivalent at Cheltenham a month earlier, by nearly fifteen lengths.

Mullins undecided by going chasing or remaining over hurdles at a longer distance, and this race (Morgiana Hurdle) will be a key indicator in making that decision.

Has been smashed up in the early ante post betting.

Mister Whitaker - who won the Close Brothers Handicap Chase at the Festival earlier this year, now lines up in the BetVictor Gold Cup Handicap Chase.

He returned to the scene at Carlisle last week when taking Listed honours in an intermediate chase, beating some of last year's top novices in Cyrname and Rene's Girl comfortably enough. He will come on for that run as well, and the jump up to Grade 3 level should not prevent any further progress.

He loves it round Prestbury Park, having also won here back in January in his festival preparation run, and will be hard to stop here.

After Altior misses out, the star name that remains in the Shloer Chase field is the Alan King-trained Sceau Royal, who returns to action jumping straight back in at the deep end.

He was sadly ruled out of Cheltenham though injury, but his early season form was immaculate.

Four wins from five, which included winning the Henry VIII Novices Chase at Sandown at December, before winning a valuable Grade 2 at Doncaster in the new year.

More to come hopefully, and great to see him back.

Things did not go to plan last year with the Philip Hobbs-trained Defi Du Seuil.

However, the 2017 Triumph Winner - who was unbeaten as a juvenile, is back and now has conditions in his favour, when he lines up in the Arkle Trial Novices Chase.

He has got the rain he wants, and this will be his first start over the larger obstacles, which many would of thought would of been the plan this time last year.

Trainer Hobbs also had a season to forget last year, but has returned in good order with a handful of winners in the last fortnight, and could have another this weekend.

Arguably, the headline act this weekend is the return of the Tiger!

Last year's Grand National sensation, makes his seasonal reappearance in the Glenfarcas Cross Country, which will form the route back to Aintree to defend his crown.

He has won at the Festival at Cheltenham three times, including over the cross country course earlier this year, and will be hard to stop if bouncing back to his best at the first time of asking.

Does not however set the world alight at this time of year, and patience may be needed with him.