Saturday Racing Tips: Each-way the play on Trials Day

After the abandonment at Fairyhouse, it's all about Trials Day at Cheltenham for me on Saturday.

The home of National Hunt racing puts on eight events, including five Grade 2s and three fiercely-competitive handicaps, and I've got a few each-way selections for your consideration.

13:15 Cheltenham - Javert Allen each-way @ 11/2

During a difficult time for the yard, Jagwar went close on seasonal reappearance in the December Gold Cup over course and distance 42 days ago, and the seven-year-old Cheltenham Festival hero is very much the one to beat on Saturday.

However, that's reflected in his price and given he's not the most convincing jumper in the world, I'm happy to take him on - with JAVERT ALLEN.

Jane Williams' seven-year-old was a beaten favourite on both starts this season, but that's not a slight on the son of No Risk At All as he is working out exceptionally well.

At Aintree in November, he was five lengths behind Mambonumberfive, who was rated just 128 at the time, in fourth. The winner is 18lbs higher today, after a couple of wins including the G2 Wayward Lad Novices' Chase at Kempton over Christmas, and is targeting the Arkle in March.

The runner-up Highlands Legacy won at Windsor last Sunday off a higher mark and will go up again once the BHA handicapper makes his assessment - while Glengouly (fourth on Merseyside) landed the aforementioned December Gold Cup and is 12lbs higher today. The fifth-placed Jour d'Evasion, four-and-a-half lengths adrift of the selection, made it three wins in three subsequent starts at Warwick on Friday, winning off 13lbs higher.

Javert Allen's second to Ryan's Rocket, who was in the process of running a big race before falling at the eighth fence in the Desert Orchid won by Clarence House runner-up Thistle Ask over Christmas off six pounds higher, is very smart form too.

He receives 21lbs from the favourite at HQ on Saturday and if he enjoys the step up to an intermediate trip on soft ground, I expect him to prove a huge danger. He looks a smashing each-way bet at the prices.

13:50 Cheltenham - Iceo Madrik each-way @ 7/1

I must admit, I'm not a huge fan of these Cross Country races, but I can't help but feel like French raider ICEO MADRIK is another brilliant each-way prospect at current prices.

David Cottin's eight-year-old was seven-and-a-half lengths behind the reopposing Final Orders, who's up nine pounds, and just over three lengths adrift of J'Arrive de L'Est, who's got a three-pound rise to contend with.

The selection is unchanged at 130 and ought to be a lot more comfortable in these conditions, so I can see him running a huge race against the top two in the market.

16:10 Cheltenham - The Blue Room each-way @ 6/1

Finally, another each-way play at Cheltenham - THE BLUE ROOM in the Grade 2 novices' hurdle over 2m4½f.

Held in high regard at Olly Murphy's Stratford yard, the six-year-old son of Order Of St George opened his account over timber at the first time of asking, beating Dan Skelton's Double Measure at Chepstow in November.

Clearly, that wasn't the best version of the runner-up, rated 125 after a modest run in a Grade 2 at Haydock a couple of weeks later, but at the same time, the trip won't have been ideal for the selection either.

He was pitched straight into Grade 2 company, up in trip, for the Winter Novices' Hurdle at Sandown in early December and he finished a clear second to the impressive No Drama This End, favourite for the Turners at the fast-approaching Cheltenham Festival.

Despite finding himself in rear after making a mistake two out, he made eye-catching headway up the straight to finish a clear runner-up, despite failing to trouble Paul Nicholls' stable star. No disgrace in that, mind.

There ought to be more to come and in a competitive but tricky-looking field involving horses with questions to answer, he looks another good each-way shout to me.

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