Alan Thomson, the former Racing Editor at the Daily Record, puts up five tips at Cheltenham and Doncaster on Saturday. View selections below.
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BREWIN’UPASTORM (3.00) promised much as a bumper winner and he can begin to make his mark over hurdles by landing the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham. Olly Murphy’s gelding wasn’t knocked about in fourth behind prolific winner Champ at Newbury last month and is expected to improve. Henderson has decided to run Warwick winner Birchdale instead of Champ, so that could be a tip in itself, while impressive course and distance winner Jarveys Plate sets the bar high. His stable is going through a quiet spell.
ELEGANT ESCAPE (2.25) can further enhance his growing reputation by scooping the Betbright Cotswold Trial Chase. Colin Tizzard’s six-year-old landed some tasty bets in the Coral Welsh Grand National at Chepstow, building on his second to Sizing Tennessee in the Ladbrokes Trophy, formerly the Hennessy Gold Cup, at Newbury. Elegant Escape finished third to Presenting Percy in last year’s RSA Chase, another creditable effort. Frodon is a legend and has a few pounds in hand on official ratings. He has never won over this far but, to be fair, hasn’t been stopping in his races up the Cheltenham hill.
PAISLEY PARK (3.35) has been a revelation for Emma Lavelle, winning all three starts this season under Aidan Coleman. They team up again with obvious prospects of extending that sequence in the Cleeve Hurdle, coming on the back of a staying-on victory from West Approach at Ascot before Christmas.
Doncaster features the Sky Bet Chase, with Warriors Tale bidding to go one better than last year when pipped by Wakanda. He is 6lb higher having won the Grand Sefton Chase at Aintree early last month and may not concede the weight to DINGO DOLLAR (3.15). Alan King’s seven-year-old was a smart novice chaser last season and the handicapper has taken a chance by keeping him on the same mark after finishing third to Sizing Tennessee and Elegant Escape in the Ladbrokes Trophy.
LADY BUTTONS (2.40) is one of the most versatile horses in training and this recent course winner over fences is fancied to land the Grade 2 mares’ hurdle. She is probably at her very best over today’s minimum trip.
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Tally Ho
Alan
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