Lucky 15 Tips: Final Orders to call Cheltenham tune again

Saturday is a day laced with quality racing, with the Festival Trials card at Cheltenham the standout offering.

The Cotswolds venue is joined over jumps by action from Doncaster, Uttoxeter and Fairyhouse while all-weather cards are from Lingfield in the afternoon and Newcastle in the evening. Below are my Lucky 15 selections for Saturday's action, with the focus on Cheltenham.

13:15 Cheltenham - Jagwar @ 15/8

JAGWAR didn't jump as efficiently as his connections would have hoped in the early stages of last month's December Gold Cup here and, as a result, found himself towards the back of the field in a contest dominated by all-the-way winner Glengouly.

The Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero inmate still very much leaves the impression he is a work in progress and he should come on from what was his first run since The Festival here last March.

He was nudged up a pound for his strong-finishing third last time and, given the way he was powering home, a better start could see him atoning now.

13:50 Cheltenham - Final Orders @ 7/2

Gavin Cromwell has endured a testing season, but the Gold Cup-winning trainer will have been thrilled with Thursday's Gowran Park treble, round off by landing the feature Thyestes Chase.

His yard may kick on now with the DRF looming and a big spring to come. FINAL ORDERS took to the Cross Country challenge like a fish to water here last month, dominating for Keith Donoghue, who rides this course better than anyone.

He's 6lb worse off with runner-up J'arrive De L'est in this rematch but it may not matter. Final Orders got on roll as a novice over fences, winning five on the spin, and he may well add a second Cross Country win now.

15:00 Cheltenham - Sir Gino @ 4/9

Many observers believe SIR GINO could be the best horse in training.

Nicky Henderson's unbeaten star defied a year on the sidelines to win the Grade 1 Christmas Hurdle at Kempton and he's the ante-post favourite to win the Champion Hurdle back here in March having defeated reigning champ Golden Ace with ease in that comeback.

Now he meets last year's star novice, The New Lion, though Dan Skelton's charge has something to prove after falling in the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle on his seasonal return, possibly when held.

He should bounce back from that run, but taking the measure of Sir Gino may be asking too much.

16:10 Cheltenham - Heads Up @ 9/2

John McConnell's UK raiders are always to be noted and it was a statement that he sent Listowel maiden winner HEADS UP here for a November Grade 2 on just his second hurdles start.

He had to settle for second best that day behind No Drama This End, winner of the Grade 1 Challow at Christmas for Paul Nicholls and now favourite for the Turners back here in March.

Moneygarrow, fifth in that November contest, gave the form more substance with his graded victory at Windsor last Sunday.

Heads Up has plenty of scope for better and he gets the excellent Danny Mullins for company in this competitive Cheltenham Trials Day finale.

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