ITV Racing Saturday Preview - 04/02/23

Twinjets was a smart winner in bumpers as he was unbeaten in two starts before being sent hurdling. He was the odds-on favourite over the smaller obstacles for the first time, but could only manage a sixth-placed finish.

He left his hurdling debut form behind him when cosily landing a Leicester maiden hurdle in December. The 6-year-old then followed up to make it 2/2 in quite taking fashion when stepping up in trip at Plumpton last time out.

Has two Grade 1 novice entries at Cheltenham and is a very promising type, so he may well be entering handicaps on a good mark and can make it three on the bounce here.

The worthy favourite with the best-looking form and has an opening BHA mark of 121 which could prove lenient in a contest such as this

In what is a very competitive-looking contest, we have sided with Third Time Lucki who certainly represents a lot of value in this eight-runner field.

He is a two-time Grade 2 winner as he won over 2 miles at Cheltenham in 2021 and Doncaster last year. Also has experience running in Grade 1 races so if he can recapture his old form he can play a part in this handicap chase.

Since going chasing, he has decent form behind the likes of Edwardstone as he has finished behind him on a few occasions. Steps down in trip here which should suit and is one of the highest-rated horses in the race.

Can defy carrying a weight of 11-11 if running to his best, and has a good chance at a bigger price.

Gerri Colombe could be one of the best bets of the weekend as he has yet to taste defeat in 7 career starts. Took the step up to Grade 1 company last time out when winning the Faugheen Novice Chase at Limerick with ease.

Likely even more to come and can remain unbeaten here which would take it to 8 wins in 8 career starts. It is rare that you come across an Irish winner in this race as he would only be the second if he goes and wins.

He beat three rivals trained by Willie Mullins last time out so with so much to like about him, he is easy to make a case for and should remain unbeaten after this weekend.

Remastered is not getting any younger, but he is proving to be in great form as of late winning two of his last three starts.

He is a smart chaser who is enjoying an excellent season, winning at Aintree over hurdles in November and then was sent back over fences in a 3-mile Kempton handicap 39 days ago beating Tile Tapper by 4 3/4 lengths.

Has a fine attitude and must have a big chance here reverting to this sphere off a 4 lb lower mark than when successful over the larger obstacles last time out.

The 10-year-old has never been better and must catch the eye of punters this weekend.

His hurdles mark is also 10 lb lower than his chase figure which further enhances his chances here.

As this is a 15-runner handicap, we have opted to pick out two in the race and our second selection and one at a bigger price is Storm Nelson.

He has hit a rich vein of form and currently looks better than ever this term after he had 329 days off the track. The 10-year-old is on for 3/3 here as he won over 3 miles at Carlisle and then at Ayr (3m).

Wind surgery seems to have done him the world of good and he can put up another bold bid going up a further 6lb. Albeit it is a stronger race, he can overcome this career-high mark of 134 and makes strong claims.

This looks like one of the most competitive races across the card at Sandown this weekend and Laskalin looks to represent some value in what is a tricky-looking affair.

He won on seasonal reappearance after a 286-day break at Ludlow over 3m2f beating Tide Turns by 3 lengths. That horse has since gone on to win next time out so going off that form, it looks strong.

Next time out saw him finish third when well fancied to make it 2/2, but things did not go quite to plan as he did not find much in the final few strides when two out.

Ground conditions may have played a part that day and he looks to prefer what he will likely get on the weekend so a chance is given to him to reproduce what he showed two runs ago.

With only the six runners declared for this race, we have taken a chance at one that is a bigger price compared to a few others in this lineup.

Bear Ghylls was fourth in the Grade 1 Ballymore Novices' Hurdle at the 2021 Cheltenham Festival before having a lengthy absence of 592 days off the track.

He did not run too bad considering it was his first run for ages when third on what was his chase debut in a Class 1 at Carlisle.

Trainer Nicky Martin has had 76 days to get him right after he was disappointing when stepping up in trip last time out, but he can defy top weight with fellow rival Drumbear here and can be in the mix at the very least.

Has to be respected as he can bounce back from his latest outing.

This could be the case of Slipway being the best horse in the race and he can go on to defy a mark of 140 plus carrying a top weight of 12-0.

He never won in five career starts over hurdles, but since going chasing he has won a few races including the race before his break and then again on seasonal reappearance.

Ben Pauling's 8-year-old was victorious over this trip at Perth last year when beating Dubai Devils by 2 1/2 lengths. Slipway is a horse that goes fairly well fresh and he proved that again after a 197-day break.

Stayed on strongly in the run-in and beat ten other rivals last time out so stepping up in Class here should not be an issue.

Won with a bit in hand so could well make it 3/3, boasts strong claims once more.

Nayati has been in solid form as of late winning three of his last five races. He had a mighty layoff of over 1000 days but returned better than ever scoring readily at Perth over 2 miles last year.

He seems to perform well on any sort of ground too which can only be a positive for him, therefore this further enhances his claims here and he looks set for a big race.

Won over course and distance last time out in a Class 2 event and the form has been boosted so a 3 lb rise looks more than fair for him on this occasion.

A key player who can put it up to his rivals once more.

Ballygrifincottage is an exciting prospect who won all three completed starts in points and quickly transitioned into a useful hurdler last campaign.

He showed he could stay when winning over 2m7f last year albeit over hurdles, but then comfortably stayed a similar trip on chasing debut posting an RPR of 147.

Ran behind some very good performers in graded events at Cheltenham over the smaller obstacles and it would be no surprise to see him win this.

Tongue strap goes on for the first time and it looks like he will make it 2/2 over fences.

The Skelton's can land another graded contest here with Ballygrifincottage.

Galopin Des Champs probably put in one of the finest rounds of jumping we have seen on his chase debut in 2021 as he was so slick and ended up winning by a whopping 22 lengths.

He was a 3-mile Grade 1 novice hurdle winner and took that ability right with him when he went and won the Grade 1 staying novice chase here 12 months ago.

Punters will have nightmares thinking back to last year's festival as he was set for an easy win when coming down at the last in the Turners Novices' Chase.

He was absolutely costing along and looked set to beat Bob Olinger so it was unfortunate that happened as he would have won with ease.

Bounced back and readily made amends at Fairyhouse when winning the Grade 1 Gold Cup Novice Chase beating Master McShee by 18 lengths.

The current Gold Cup favourite stands out in this and tries 3 miles for the first time as a chaser. Should cement his place at the top end of the ante-post market for this year's Cheltenham Festival Gold Cup in March.