Saturday’s Racing Tips: Victtorino to press for Cheltenham victory

Six meetings are scheduled to take place across Britain and Ireland on Saturday, including Festival Trials Day at Cheltenham.

First off are Doncaster, Cheltenham, Uttoxeter and Fairyhouse over jumps, before two evening all-weather cards from Newcastle and Kempton.

Amongst our Saturday fancies is a chaser trained by Venetia Williams, who has likeable claims in the feature Premier Handicap Chase from Cheltenham.

13:15 Cheltenham - Victtorino @ 4/1

Venetia Williams trained the winner of the extended 2m4f Premier Handicap Chase from Cheltenham in 2013 and 2020 with Katenko and Cepage, and six-year-olds have won three of the last five runnings since 2018.

Therefore, it is encouraging that Charlie Deutsch is continuing his association with Willliams' six-year-old VICTTORINO, the only horse from that age group in the field, rather than stablemate Easy As That.

Williams also had the selection entered up in Doncaster's Great Yorkshire Premier Handicap Chase at the five-day stage, and it is an encouraging act of confidence that she has decided to drop him down in trip for this hat-trick attempt rather than remain at 3m.

He won over 3m at Ascot on soft and good ground in November and December and a 4lb higher mark seems pretty fair for such an improving type.

The son of It's Gino won two chases in his time in France at 2m1f and 2m6f, including at left-handed Auteuil, which suggests this slightly sharper test should be fine on suitable ground.

14:40 Doncaster - Welcom To Cartries @ 2/1

Paul Nicholls' representative WELCOM TO CARTRIES has promising claims in the Grade 2 3m River Don Novices' Hurdle at Doncaster.

The six-year-old routed his opposition in an Irish point before joining Nicholls in 2023.

The son of No Risk At All then went close on his hurdling debut at Ascot in November, before appreciating the step up in trip when clearing away at the end of the extended 2m5f journey back there in December.

He rallied encouragingly in that Ascot victory in the style of a stayer and should prove hard to beat if improving for the step up to 3m for the first time under Rules.

15:15 Doncaster - Sail Away @ 12/1

SAIL AWAY is a strong each-way fancy in the feature 3m Great Yorkshire Premier Handicap Chase at Doncaster.

The selection is representing the thriving yard of Dan Skelton, with Tristan Durrell taking off an invaluable 3lb with his claim in the saddle.

The imposing grey son of Martaline is 2-4 on good ground and 2-5 at 3m, so conditions should be ideal for him to resume his spring progression on this third start of the new season.

He is effectively 5lb lower (including Durrell's claim) than when sixth over this course and distance on easier ground in December, while he is only 3lb higher than when routing his opposition on better ground at Ayr in April.

Horse Racing tips, from Betfred Insights.