Doncaster Saturday

1.30 Skill Step Group Handicap 5f 3yd

Francisco’s Piece is a risky proposition, having failed to make the frame as a three-year-old, and the obvious conclusion is that Adrian Keatley’s colt hasn’t fully trained on. On second glance, however, there is more encouragement, especially back on testing ground, which he’s yet to encounter this year.

As a juvenile, Francisco’s Piece had form figures on softer than good of 112234, with his best effort arguably coming when runner-up in a heavy-ground nursery at Haydock off a mark of 97, and he backed that up with placed efforts in listed company at Redcar (second to Candy in the Two-Year-Old Trophy) and Deauville on a similar surface. His preference for testing ground means that he’s been hard to place this year, but his mark has fallen from 97 to 87 and he has shaped better than the bare result at Ayr and York on his last two starts, forced to race closest to the dead rail last time and unable to get competitive from a poor position. The negatives are firmly factored into his price and Francisco’s Piece is worth a dabble in the conditions.

2.05 William Hill Futurity Trophy Stakes (Group 1) 1m

The booking of Christophe Soumillon means that Benvenuto Cellini has been all the rage for the Futurity, but I just prefer Hawk Mountain of the Ballydoyle runners; that colt impressed when winning the Beresford Stakes at the Curragh last time by three and a quarter lengths from Geryon, showing much-improved form on that first run on soft ground. The ground will be very testing at Doncaster and an ability to handle it is a prerequisite, so I’d rather be with him than the favourite, who is unproven on softer than good.

2.40 William Hill Prospect Stakes (Listed Race) 6f 2yd

Karl Burke continues in fine form with his juveniles, landing valuable prizes in the last week with Shayem and Pearl Fortune, and he holds the key here with Lam Yai, having the strongest form credentials in the contest. The daughter of Lucky Vega is a half-sister to a heavy-ground winner and has herself shown a preference for plenty of cut, winning her maiden on soft. Lam Yai showed much improved form when a fine neck second of 14 to Catching The Moon in the Group 3 Firth of Clyde Stakes at Ayr last time and a repeat of that effort should be more than good enough to win at this slightly lower level.

The danger may be Spanish Waltz, who has raced only on soft or heavy ground to date, winning a Pontefract maiden last time, but there has to be a question as to what he achieved in beating Ryefield, who has been stuffed before and since that one solid effort, including in a class 5 nursery at Nottingham a couple of days ago.

Cheltenham Saturday

1.10 William Hill Novices’

Limited Handicap Chase

2m 4f 44yd

Several of interest down the line, but the narrow verdict goes to West Away, representing last year’s winning stable of Ian Donoghue. The son of Westerner was a dual hurdles winner for John McConnell and has caught the eye in three chase starts for new connections, running well on debut but let down by his jumping at Wexford in July. He jumped much better at that venue when second to Ashdale Flyer there last time, looking the likeliest winner until getting tight to the final fence. A close fourth off a mark of 129 on his previous visit to these shores, he can do better still as a chaser and looks very interesting from the same mark here. He has a similar background to last year’s winner Lisnamult Lad and, like that horse, will be wearing the combination of a tongue-tie and cheekpieces for the first time in this contest.

The swift transition from hurdles to fences also makes Kdeux Saint Fray interesting. With a win and a second from two point-to-points, he has valuable experience already in the bank, and that foundation was put to good use with victories at Ascot and Catterick over hurdles. The Grade 2 Classic Novices’ Hurdle here at the end of January proved too stiff a test, but enabled him to get some valuable course experience, and he was in no way overawed in the paddock that day, standing out as one who would relish an early switch to fences. He arrives here with the yard in form, and is already proven fresh.

Springs A Girl is another with the build for fences and made a pleasing debut over the big black ones at Worcester, finishing just a length behind a race-fit Breaking Cover. She responded well to pressure, finishing strongly from a moderate position and, while it’s possible that she’s flattered by her proximity, her efforts are fully backed up by the clock and she should pay her way as a chaser.

1.45 William Hill’s Final One Standing Novices’ Hurdle

2m 7f 208yd

Pour Les Filles has the best form going into this contest, but not by a lot, and what his latest easy win at Downpatrick is worth is open to question. He’s not achieved much more than Soldiers World has to date and the latter seems an improved performer for the fitting of a visor in recent starts. Soldiers World improved from his hurdles debut when a good second at Listowel last time, going on well at the finish. His trainer, Declan Queally, is a name worth noting, and I’d expect Soldiers World to progress again with the visor - missing when well held on debut - retained here.

2.20 William Hill Best Odds Guaranteed Handicap Chase

3m 1f

Rock My Way stands out on course form, having finished runner-up to Haiti Couleurs in the National Hunt Chase here in March. He’s undergone wind surgery for the second time, which could bring improvement, but Joe Tizzard’s recent runners have been shaping as if in need of their first outing, including a couple at Kempton last week who are usually ready to go fresh. At around 5/1, that’s enough to look elsewhere, accepting that he will go well if fully revved up.

Anything Ian Donoghue sends over deserves respect. Dunboyne represents the yard this time, and Donoghue has turned his fortunes around since a switch from Gordon Elliott, winning over hurdles at 66/1 first time up, before taking the Ulster National and finishing fourth in the Irish Grand National. He’s still on a fair mark and should arrive fit and primed for a big run, so gets the vote at the overnight odds.

Ballycamus, trained by Twiston-Davies, shaped well when second at Chepstow in the Native River Handicap on reappearance, looking the winner between the last two fences before being outstayed by a fitter rival. He’s never raced at Cheltenham, but handled Chepstow’s undulations without issue and should strip fitter for that run, so is worth considering for exotics.

2.55 Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle (Series Qualifier) 2m 7f 208yd

The one that jumps off the page as being undervalued at the early odds is Electric Mason, and he appeals as the sort to progress well for a test of stamina over hurdles. A useful novice last winter, he ran well when fifth to The New Lion in the Grade 1 Challow Hurdle. His form rather petered out in the spring, but the result is that he’s on a very fair mark on the form he was showing a year ago. From the family of Grand National winner Ballabriggs, he is bred to appreciate stiffer tests than he was set last season, and I am very confident that a step up to three miles will bring about further improvement in Chris Gordon’s six-year-old.

Ma Shantou was a good third to Yellow Car in the River Don at Doncaster last season and travelled as well as anything before flattening out late in the Albert Bartlett here in March. He’s another who should strengthen up in his second season and appeals as the main danger from a mark of 129, which looks more than workable.

3.30 Masterson Holdings Hurdle 2m 87yd

Impossible to oppose Give It To Me Oj in the Masterson Holdings Hurdle, although there won’t be much value offered. An impressive winner of a novice handicap at Sandown on the final day of last season, he’s shown further progress on the flat since, and has scope to improve further.

Recommended

West Away 1.10 Cheltenham – 1pt e/w at 16/1 (general – 4 places)

Dunboyne 2.20 Cheltenham – 1pt e/w at 18/1 (Paddy Power – 5 places, Hills ¼ odds 4 places)

Electric Mason 2.55 Cheltenham – 1.5pts e/w at 22/1 (Paddy Power – 6 pl, 20/1 general)

Francisco’s Piece 1.30 Doncaster – 0.5pts e/w at 28/1 (Bet365 – 4 places, Hills ¼ odds 3 places)