ITV Racing Cheltenham And Lingfield Preview

One of the most exciting events on the Saturday card is the Grade Two Novices' Chase and on his debut Quel Destin makes obvious appeal for the inform Paul Nicholls yard.

The five year old was a superstar over hurdles landing five races in a row in the 2018/19 season, including races like The Grade Two Triumph Trial at Cheltenham, another Grade Two event at Doncaster and then finally landed his first Grade One at Chepstow in the Finale Juvenile Hurdle.

He has been hit and miss since then, running on the flat and over hurdles, but last time out he got back to winning ways at Bath in a 13 runner handicap event and if taking to the bigger obstacles could be an interesting runner.

The feature race of the day on ITV is the 2 mile 4 furlongs Paddy Power Handicap Chase and in this 17 runner Grade Three event we have two strong each way contenders.

The first is the Nicky Henderson trained Mister Fisher, who this season has been tipped to really break the mould and have a breakthrough campaign over fences.

Having been a smart horse over hurdles, landing races like the Grade Two Supreme Novices' Hurdle Trial at Haydock, he stepped over fences last term and had a pleasing year.

Having finished second at Warwick on chasing debut, he went to Cheltenham in a decent Novices' event and used the step up in trip to full effect when winning nicely.

He then went to Doncaster and landed the Grade Two Novices' Chase and used that to finish a strong fourth in the Grade One Marsh Novices' Chase at the festival.

He starts his season off in this Handicap event and if being tuned up has to be on the shortlist, being a course and distance winner and proven in better company.

Our second runner at a bigger price is the likeable Slate House for Colin Tizzard, with the trainer finally starting to churn out winners after a slow start.Slate House has not been shy of winning at Cheltenham, landing hurdle events and chase events last term including an impressive Novices' Chase event last term.

He looked sure to be the winner in this event last term when taking a fall two out and although being hard to back since then, has a live chance at a double figure price.

He was put into much better company on his last two starts and was outclassed in the Grade Two Cotswalds Chase and the RSA at the festival, but before that was seeking a hat-trick after wins at Huntingdon and at Kempton in the Grade One Kauto Star Novices' Chase and returning to that form makes him respected.

The Listed Handicap Hurdle over three mile is a wide open affair and the horse that takes the eye is the inform Kim Bailey trained Dandy Dan.

The seven year old is fairly unexposed for his age and runs over hurdles on Saturday for the first time since 2018 having placed in six of his last seven chase events, winning three of them.

The gelding made his seasonal return at Sedgefield in the 3m5f Durham National Handicap Chase finishing a nice second and now 5lb lower, dropped in trip and over smaller obstacles, he has to be a live player.

The first race from Lingfield on the all weather is the Listed Churchill Stakes over 1 mile 2 furlongs and Dubai Warrior for John Gosden will be very hard to beat.

The son of Dansili is at home on the all weather, especially at Lingfield having raced over 10 furlongs twice at the track and won on both occassions.

His turf record is nothing to shout about having raced on the all weather six times during his career, he has gone on to win five times and finish second in his other.

Having won the Winter Derby over course and distance in February, he now drops into Listed company and looks the one to beat.

The penultimate event on Saturday at Cheltenham sees the Class 3 Intermediate Handicap Hurdle over 2 miles 5 furlongs and Son Of Camas For Nicky Henderson is not without a chance.

The five year old, having landed one of his two bumpers made his hurdles debut last term and got off the mark in fine style at Newbury, looking like a potentially smart horse.

Since then he has been seen twice in tough company, finishing third in the Grade One Tolworth Hurdle behind Fiddlerontheroof and last time out stepped up to the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle at the festival and was pulled up when well beat.

This event is much lesser than both of those and it looks a perfect opportunity to get back on track.

The final runner from Lingfield on Saturday comes in the Listed Golden Rose Stakes over six furlongs and Sir Michael Stoute's runner Jovial has a live chance.

The three year old filly will be ridden by Tom Marquand which is a bonus and although needing to improve on her recent form, should go close getting back to this surface.

Her turf form is hit and miss, Placing in a Listed event at York over seven furlongs and last time out at Newmarket again placing in Listed company.

her stand out piece of form this term was when she scored over course and distance back in June and if finding that form could be overpriced.

One of our best bets of the day comes in the lucky last with the Listed two miles bumper showing off some potential superstars and Elle Est Belle is arguably the pick of the bunch.

The daughter of Fame And Glory made a superb debut at Aintree last month seeing off six runners with ease, landing the event by close to six lengths.

The filly looks an exceptional recruit for Dan Skelton, having been bought for €42,000 this year and in this event looks one of the more likely winners if coming on for her first experience.