Saturday Racing Tips: Skeltons to scoop another sizeable prize

This Saturday features the conclusion of Cheltenham’s Christmas Meeting, Irish racing at Fairyhouse and action from Doncaster, Lingfield, Newcastle and Wolverhampton too.

I’ve studied the cards and landed on four Cheltenham-centric Saturday racing tips – including a 7/4 Nap in the opener at HQ.

12:10 Cheltenham - One Horse Town @ 13/8

I think the Triumph Trial that opens the card at Cheltenham on Saturday is weaker than the one run at the November Meeting, so I expect ONE HORSE TOWN to go in again for Harry Derham.

The three-year-old son of Threat extended his unbeaten record to four-from-four with a ready success in that Grade 2 contest, pulling over three lengths clear of Dan Skelton's well-regarded Precious Man. The third-placed Kate O'Riley was a further four-and-a-quarter lengths adrift.

Aside from the 127-rated Minella Study, who I think is flattered by his Listed victory at Wetherby in October, the selection's closest rival according to the betting is an unraced Skelton horse who sports a tongue tie. Irish raider Cinammon Coco has plenty to find too.

I respect Macshadow Des Crai for Nicky Henderson. The Jeu St Eloi gelding brings to the table a couple of smart bits of form in bumpers over in France, including behind recent Sandown winner Macktoad who looks another serious juvenile for Gary & Josh Moore. He caught the eye in defeat on hurdling debut before crossing the Channel and could have a lot more to offer for new connections. If fit, he can make his presence felt.

This ought to concern him and the two at the top of the market - and it's a confident vote for One Horse Town here.

12:55 Doncaster - Spadestep @ 11/8

I was sweet on the chances of Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore's SPADESTEP in a novices' handicap chase at Wetherby around a fortnight ago, but unfortunately he was a non-runner at the 11th hour on account of the ground (soft).

The six-year-old son of Jukebox Jury - a half-brother to Grade 2 winner Tommy's Oscar - diverts to Doncaster instead and conditions look more suitable, so I'm keeping the faith.

He was a £50k purchase after winning a point-to-point in October last year, before finishing runner-up by just a neck in a couple of novice hurdles at Carlisle and Perth. It was at the third time of asking, in a non-event at Hexham a couple of months ago, that he opened his account in that sphere.

Connections wasted no time in sending him over fences and it looks a wise decision, for his second in a novices' handicap chase at Aintree just over three weeks later was a very good run.

The winner, Jordans Cross for Anthony Honeyball, was for me the winner in waiting before falling at the last in a competitive affair at Cheltenham's November Meeting off six pounds higher next time out, and I still think a fair bit of the third-placed Gentleman Bill, despite him fluffing his lines at Haydock recently. That wasn't his true running.

Spadestep is entitled to plenty of improvement and should be difficult to beat up just two pounds in a lower grade at Donny.

13:50 Cheltenham - Hoe Joly Smoke @ 11/2

The feature race of the afternoon is the December Gold Cup - a handicap chase over 2m4½f - run in honour of the Hunt Family. A nice touch.

Cheltenham Festival winner Jagwar is sure to be popular on his return to action, but Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero have made a slow start to the season and this big, strapping chaser might well need the run.

There's plenty to take him on with, too, including HOE JOLY SMOKE for the all-conquering Skeltons.

The seven-year-old has been knocking on the door in these lucrative handicaps this season, and Saturday looks like a good opportunity for him to get over the line.

I've already said why I'm happy to leave Jagwar at the prices, and I fancy the selection to reverse Paddy Power Gold Cup form with Vincenzo. He's a couple of pounds better off, has Harry Skelton taking over in the saddle and will appreciate the switch to the New course over half-a-furlong further.

That gives him a favourite's chance as far as I'm concerned and I'll be very disappointed if he's not, at the very least, involved in the finish.

15:00 Cheltenham - Carlenrig @ 11/2

It's team Skelton again for me in the penultimate race of the day - a Grade 2 novices' hurdle over three miles. It's officially titled the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle, but I can't get behind that. That's in March. Anyway...

Dan's five-year-old CARLENRIG was a 15-length winner of an English point-to-point 12 months ago and he debuted under rules in a maiden hurdle at Chepstow this November, finishing second to a nice horse of Sam Thomas' called Rocking Man.

The latter, sent off 5/6f, was behind the likes of Queensbury Boy and Jurancon in bumpers, so for me it was a very encouraging start for the selection.

Especially considering the yard's novice hurdlers have been coming on, at times quite significantly, for a run. He wasn't knocked about that day in Monmouthshire.

Carlenrig is entitled to any amount of improvement and I wouldn't be that surprised if he progresses enough to put it up to the 135-rated Conman John, who sets a decent, but not unrealistically high, standard.

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