Rory Delargy

DONCASTER SATURDAY

3:40 SKY BET HANDICAP CHASE (Listed) 2M 7F 214Y

Bigbadjohn has been underrated by the handicapper by the looks of things, and makes most appeal contesting his first handicap. Rebecca Curtis’ gelding was simply too good for Our Kaempfer at Newbury before chasing home Thistlecrack at the same venue, and both of those pieces of form suggest he should be a fair bit higher in the weights than he is, even if taking the view that he’s flattered by his proximity to the Gold Cup favourite last time.

The visual impression he’s created has been backed up by the clock, and he should be hard to beat granted normal luck.

CHELTENHAM SATURDAY

12:35 TIMEFORM NOVICES’ HANDICAP CHASE 2M 4F 166Y

This is always an informative race and should be again this year with Champers On Ice looking the pick, for all the trip may be marginally on the sharp side for him. The seven-year-old grey ran a cracker to be second to American in listed company at Warwick two weeks ago, an effort which appears a career best, and David Pipe will be surprised and delighted to have been dropped 3lb for that run. Such generosity is rare in the game, and the son of Robin Des Champs can take advantage.

Of the outsiders, one who is definitely a better model now chasing is Dark Flame, and he makes each-way appeal at a forecast price of 14/1. The fact that his trainer Richard Rowe is on the unfashionable side won’t harm his chances, but could help his price.

1:10 HUGO’S RESTAURANT BARBADOS TROPHY HANDICAP CHASE (Grade 3) 2M 4F 166Y

It’s not that long ago that Paul Nicholls was making bullish noises about Saphir Du Rheu’s Gold Cup prospects, and while he’s yet to deliver on early promise, he’s not exactly gone backwards, and finds himself on a workable handicap mark. He ran pretty well on his reappearance at Ascot before departing early in the Hennessy, and it’s a brave man who judges him to have gone at the game on those runs.

He probably hasn’t been helped by switching from fences to hurdles in the last two campaigns, and with a clearer run at things this season, may finally blossom when least expected.

As always, I will be tempted to throw a couple of quid at Thomas Crapper, for whom the ground is perfect, but the spectre of rain tomorrow again overshadows him. Robin Dickin’s course regular frequently shapes better than the result in his races, and will pop up one day at a big price.

1:45 SPECTRA CYBER SECURITY SOLUTIONS CLARENCE HOUSE CHASE (Grade 1) 2M 62Y

The absence of Ar Mad and doubts about how much rain will fall make this difficult, but as long as we are spared a deluge, then Special Tiara is fancied to turn over Un De Sceaux, who still looks vulnerable at the highest level. On balance, the Mullins horse is just the pick, but there was only a nose between the pair when they followed Sprinter Sacre home in the Champion Chase last March, and that is probably the most relevant piece of form on offer.

This test on the new course is slightly stiffer, but that in itself won’t separate the market leaders, and the deciding factor may be whether the ground eases significantly.

If it does, then Special Tiara will be compromised, but it’s debatable whether the precipitation forecast will change the going significantly, and that would put the market leaders on something close to an even footing.

2:15 BetBright TRIAL COTSWOLD CHASE (Grade 2) 3M 1F 56Y

It will be interesting to see if anyone tries to act as spoiler to Thistlecrack here - the logic being that putting constant pressure on him will cause cracks to appear in his jumping. That approach backfired in the King George when Colin Tizzard’s star was taken on by stablemate Cue Card, and it was the latter who cracked.

For me, far too much has been made of Thistlecrack’s one serious error to date, and he has been nothing short of breathtaking in both starts since, winging fences as if he was born to do it. It’s true that being as brave as he is might be courting disaster, but that’s not the impression he’s given either at Newbury or Kempton, and he was happy to pop his way up the straight in the King George when asked.

This represents a longer trip than he’s tackled before, and that has been proffered as another potential chink in his armour. I accept that he might not stay an extended trip, but someone’s going to have to get him off the bridle to prove that theory, and it’s more likely that whoever attempts to make the race a war of attrition will holler enough before the son of Kayf Tara.

2:50 GLENFARCLAS CROSS COUNTRY HANDICAP CHASE 3M 6F 37Y

At a big price, Valadom will give punters a good spin for their money, and Richard Hobson’s grey enjoys bowling along around here. He was an easy winner of a handicap chase at Bangor in November (when this contest was abandoned), and is only 4lb higher now, so can be expected to return to form after a spin over hurdles more recently.

4:00 galliardhomes.com CLEEVE HURDLE (Grade 2) 2M 7F 213Y

Unowhatimeanharry will continue to take the beating in this division, but West Approach was running a fine race in the Long Walk when unseating at the last, and looks an attractive each-way bet with Ruby Walsh a most interesting booking. It was Walsh was who started Thistlecrack on his remarkable run a couple of years ago, and there has never been a better jockey over hurdles at this track. His experience and racing brain will maximise West Approach’s chances of making the frame, and the place part of the bet will pay better than a blind punt on the favourite, who nonetheless merits maximum respect.

4:35 STEEL PLATE AND SECTIONS HANDICAP HURDLE 2m 179y

Best bet of the day comes in the shape of Le Rocher in the concluding handicap. Recommended here last week when Ascot was frozen off, his chance is even clearer now on the basis of his form in finishing second to Clyne at fog-bound Haydock. A smart enough juvenile, he seems to retain all that talent, and possibly a bit more than he’s yet to show, and the official handicapper’s guess as to what he showed last time looks wide of the mark.

RECOMMENDED

CHAMPERS ON ICE 12.35 Cheltenham - 1pt win @ 10/1 (general)

SPECIAL TIARA 1.45 Cheltenham - 1.5pts win @ 9/2 (various)

WEST APPROACH 4.00 Cheltenham - 1pt e/w @ 20/1 (Stan James, Hills)

LE ROCHER 4.35 Cheltenham - 2pts win @ 8/1 (general)