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Paul Ferguson two selections from Cheltenham for us on Saturday; Stellar Notion at 1:15 and Value At Risk at 3.00. Compare odds and bet.

A high-class bumper performer in Ireland last season Value At Risk (3:00) made a hugely impressive debut over timber on his first start for Dan Skelton and can follow up in this afternoon’s Grade 2 Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle.

The six-year-old beat a subsequent winner by 22 lengths at Newbury last month, impressing with both the way he went through the race and also with the way he put daylight between himself and his rivals in the closing stages.

This looks a fairly deep novices’ hurdle, but the selection is a horse of considerable potential and he can provide his young trainer with a first Cheltenham success.

Earlier on the card Stellar Notion (1:15) is taken to complete the hat-trick in the Timeform Novices’ Handicap Chase.

Tom George’s imposing seven-year-old improved on his debut at Leicester to score at Kempton on Boxing Day, a race he appeared to have put to bed early in the straight.  The son of Presenting then began to idle a little in the closing stages and made an error at the last, so probably had much more in hand than the official margin might suggest.

He has another 8lb rise to contend with and also needs to prove he can act around an undulating track (the latter comments apply to Value At Risk who finished only midfield in last season’s Champion Bumper) but he could be difficult to peg back if getting into a rhythm under Paddy Brennan.

Saturday’s selections:
1:15 Cheltenham: Stellar Notion; 4/1 William Hill
3:00 Cheltenham: Value At Risk; 6/4 William Hill

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