Cheltenham Saturday

1.15 Quintessentially Mares’ Handicap Chase (Qualifier)

2m 4f 127y

This looks a tremendously competitive race with no standout, but there are significant positives with Kalista Love and she’s a fair bet to make it three wins from her last four starts. She won over hurdles at Ffos Las in April, beating a trio who all won next time out, and fourth-placed Realta Liath did most for the form when successful on her chase debut at Fontwell.

Realta Liath is open to improvement and merits respect, but given that Kalista Love also improved when winning on her own chasing bow at Warwick last month, she looks well treated meeting her old rival on the same terms as when over 10 lengths ahead of her at Ffos Las.

Gavin Cromwell’s Me Wee Bonny Lass shaped better than the result when sixth at Navan last time, going on well at the finish having been out of her ground in a race run at a modest gallop. She could be underrated on that although I’d prefer to see a couple more winners from the yard before backing them again.

1.50 Support The Hunt Family Fund December Gold Cup

2m 4f 127y

The Paddy Power Gold Cup is likely to provide the key to this with track, trip and field size all similar. Vincenzo fared best of a quartet who ran in that race and lock horns again and I thought he was better than the result, keeping to the inner down the hill when the other principals were taken wide for better ground. He was two lengths in front of Hoe Joly Smoke then and can confirm the form despite a 2lb pull at the weights.

The other horse to bear in mind from the Paddy Power is Es Perfecto, who pulled up before the last but had looked a big danger two fences earlier and clearly blew up on the day. He will strip fitter and could outrun big odds now.

2.25 Read Meg Nicholls’ Blog At BetMGM.co.uk Handicap Chase 2m 62y

Excelero has won at two miles, two and a half furlongs but raced too freely without his usual hood over two and a half miles at Worcester on his chase debut (jumped well) and looked suited by the return to two miles when beating Mister Cessna by nine and a half lengths at Warwick last time.

That was a three-runner contest and some will assume the form is flimsy, but Exceleo set a fair gallop and outjumped his rivals to win with something up his sleeve. I think he deserves full credit for beating a progressive gelding (Mister Cessna went into Warwick on a hat-trick and was beaten on merit) and with the headgear back on last time and retained now, he can cement that positive impression against more exposed rivals.

Of particular interest in siding with Excelero is the current form of Jane Williams. At the time of writing, her last 21 runners have yielded six winners and eight seconds, and there are few yards in better form.

3.00 Albert Bartlett (Bristol) Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2)

2m 7f 213y

Conman John made a positive impression when making all on the Old Course in October and should be up to winning under a penalty, with main rival Call Me Hugo winning an ordinary novice at Ffos Las which has not worked out.

The race he won at Cheltenham wasn’t the deepest, either, but he and the second (winner since) quickened clear of the others after the last and Conman John is sure to learn from that experience, where he showed signs of greenness.

3.35 Download The BetMGM App Mares’ Handicap Hurdle 2m 4f 56y

Jubilee Alpha would probably have beaten Sweet Caryline at Wincanton last time but for a rare blunder when closing in at the penultimate flight and although 4lb higher for that effort, she has a lot of class and appeals as the likeliest winner, in an open contest. Dangers abound, with Newbury EBF Final winner Siog Geal likely to progress again, and Ben Clarke’s Game Colours appealing as the each-way angle in the race.

Game Colours produced an excellent time figure when second over two miles and a furlong here at the April meeting (better than Jubilee Alpha’s for winning a listed event at the same fixture) and that despite plenty going wrong for her. Having been kicked at the start, she lined up away from other runners and covered plenty of ground before getting outpaced at a crucial stage.

She kept on really well when meeting rising ground, though, and was closing down King William Rufus all the way to the line. She is reunited with Sean Bowen here, aboard when she beat the useful Rula Bula by 17 lengths at Lingfield in February. In need of the run on her return, she remains well treated - just 1lb higher than for her second here in April, where she gave the impression she was crying out for a return to this trip.

Doncaster Saturday

2.05 Bet365 Pennine Handicap Chase 2m 7f 214y

Prince Zaltar was of similar merit over hurdles and fences for Philip Rothwell, winning a three-mile handicap chase at Punchestown in June. He’s already a better performer since being switched to Dan Skelton early this autumn, adding to his wins at Newton Abbot in September and putting up a career best when second to Kikijo in a handicap hurdle at Cheltenham last month.

The winner has boosted that form by defying a 7lb rise at Sandown last weekend and Prince Zaltar can run off the same mark in this chase, having himself been raised 3lb over hurdles for that latest effort. He’s capable of winning again over hurdles, but the switch to fences is a shrewd move in view of his lower mark in this sphere.

2.40 Bet365 Doncaster Mares’ Hurdle (Listed) 3m 84y

World Of Fortunes has previous form here, winning a listed novice hurdle here in March for Liam Kenny and she looks the value to overthrow likely hot favourite Kateira with Kenny’s son James now on the licence at their Ballydarragh stables.

She was trying to concede 7lb to the useful Millstream Lady when beaten half a length in another listed hurdle at Limerick on her most recent start. That effort is backed up by the clock, and she has less to find with Kateira than the betting would imply.

Recommended

Kalista Love 1.15 Cheltenham – 1pt e/w @ 11/1 (Bet365 – 5 places; 10/1 general)

Vincenzo 1.50 Cheltenham – 1pt e/w @ 9/2 (SkyBet – 4 places; 4/1 general)

Excelero 2.25 Cheltenham – 2pts win @ 4/1 (general)

Game Colours 3.35 Cheltenham – 1pt e/w @ 9/1 (general – 3 places)