Cheltenham Saturday Preview

The first race of the day at Prestbury Park sees a superb field of chasers head to post with most of them looking to get their campaigns off to a stellar start.

The horse that takes the eye for us is the Colin Tizzard trained West Approach who on his last run of the season failed to land a gamble at Sandown but still retains plenty of ability.

He has been used over both hurdles and fences frequently during his career with his past performances at Cheltenham being to a good standard.

The yard has made a good start to the season and at a nice each way price should not be overlooked.

The Mastersons Holdings Class 2 Hurdle over two miles looks a decent race with proven hurdlers from last season making their return to jumps racing.

Trainer Peter Fahey has an interesting runner with Soviet Pimpernel who is a very lightly raced gelding that has already won on both his starts this season.

Before that he raced twice last season placing in both his events in bumpers but having now won over hurdles on his last start he has to be taken seriously in conditions he likes.

Duke Of Navan in the Randox Health Handicap Chase over two miles is our selection for this contest with the Nicky Richards trained veteran an overall smart performer.

In his final race of last season he fell but before that put in some nice performances and if correcting his jumping in the off season should go well here.

He finished second in this exact race last season in similar conditions which shows he goes well fresh and that might be the big thing he has over a lot of these horses.

The Pertemps Hurdle Series Qualifier over three miles sees some favourites at Cheltenham last season come back for another crack at the whip.

With a decent field of runners going to post we have two selections and the first is the top weighted Tobefair who finished last season in tremendous form with two seconds and a win.

He finished second behind a smart gamble at the festival last season in the race he is qualifying for in this contest which if getting back to that form straight away makes him the one to beat.

Potters Legend is another gelding we are fond of in this one with the Lucy Wadham trained nine year old winning on her final start of last season at Haydock that reads well form wise.

The Class 2 three mile Novice Hurdle contest only sees five go to post and from the pack David Pipe's Ramses De Teilee is our pick.

The seven year old gelding endured a successful season last term with his second in the Welsh Grand National at Chepstow the highlight of his season.

He is a proven stayer on all sorts of ground making him very versatile and although not fairing well in the English Grand National now back at three miles should bring the best out of him.

The penultimate selection of the day at Cheltenham comes in the Novice Chase and Whatmore for trainer Henry Daly has superb chance off the back of his seasonal debut.

He made an appearance back in May at Market Rasen winning cosily in Class 4 chase and now having some time off he will be fresh for a big run.

Champion Jockey Richard Johnson takes the ride which is always a bonus but this seven year old looks a highly progressive gelding that could have a fine season over the bigger obstacles.

The final runner of the afternoon comes in the Class 2 bumper and Mustang Alpha for trainer Jamie Snowden on his stable debut looks a value bet.

He raced in a maiden point to point in Ireland and won nicely over three miles, he was then bought for £135,000 at the Doncaster sales in May.

The yard think a lot of this newcomer and if handling the softening surface could turn out to be a smart bumper horse for the season.