Saturday Racing Tips: Worth the Risk at Cheltenham for Sam Team

It's a busy Saturday ahead across Britain and Ireland with six meetings down for decision, including day two of the November Meeting at Cheltenham.

They are joined over jumps by cards from Navan, Wetherby and Uttoxeter while the Flat racing is from Lingfield early in the day and Wolverhampton in the evening.

Amongst our trio of Saturday selections is Good Risk At All as he looks to build on a pleasing start to life as a chaser when he visits Cheltenham for trainer Sam Thomas and rider Sam Twiston-Davies.

Good Risk At All – Cheltenham 13:45

The third race on Cheltenham's card is the Listed From The Horse's Mouth Podcast Novices' Chase over an extended three-miles and it offers a nice opportunity for GOOD RISK AT ALL to build on a pleasing start to his chasing career for trainer Sam Thomas.

He came in for strong market support last month at Carlisle (2m4f, soft) and was starting to turn the screw on main market rival Giovinco when that adversary departed three fences from home, leaving Good Risk At All to come home with 16-lengths to spare over the re-opposing Alaphilippe.

Giovinco has won since at Aintree and having been a useful hurdler last season, Good Risk At All already looks destined for better things over the larger obstacles.

He wasn't stopping last time and should have plenty more to come, while he's relatively untested at this distance and it's a plus that Thomas is exploring it so soon.

Another plus is the presence of red-hot Sam Twiston-Davies in the saddle, with a recent strike-rate of 27-per-cent showing how well he is riding. He passes on the chance to partner Weveallbeencaught for his father, Nigel, in this race and can be rewarded with a win in the Cotswolds.

Zanahiyr – Navan 14:05

Grade 2 action from Ireland on Saturday comes via the Lismullen Hurdle at Navan, a race in which Gordon Elliott saddles three of the six contenders and where ZANAHIYRlooks extremely well placed to land the prize.

Still just a six-year-old, Zanahiyr has plenty experience and ended last season tackling a quartet of Grade 1 races in Britain and Ireland that ended up being won by Constitution Hill and State Man.

He finished 3½-lengths in arrears of Constitution Hill at Aintree over this distance in April.

Zanahiyr gave weight and a beating to race-fit Run For Oscar in last month's comeback win at Punchestown and that race fitness can be pivotal as he meets returning trio Sire Du Berlais, Home By The Lee and Bob Olinger now. The first-named pair would ideally want three-miles and Henry de Bromhead's charge was a pale shadow of himself last season. This looks tilted in Zanahiyr's favour.

Molly Ollys Wishes – Wetherby 13:19

Two-time Wetherby winner MOLLY OLLYS WISHES may well be good enough to defy top-weight and prolong her unbeaten record at the West Yorkshire for Dan Skelton in the Slingsby Gin Peak Cap & Pearls Handicap Hurdle over just shy of two-and-a-half-miles.

After gaining her second Listed win here (two-miles) last October the mare was winless in five further starts last season but had some tough assignments along the way including at the Cheltenham and Aintree festivals in the spring.

She was well held in last month's comeback in the Silver Trophy at Chepstow but takes a drop in class now and has been eased a further 3lb by the handicapper.

First-time cheekpieces are added, while Tristan Durrell takes 5lb off in the saddle. Molly Ollys Wishes may have too much for these rivals at a track she clearly enjoys and there's value for punters in this Betfred Super Extra Place Race (four places).

Check out our other Horse Racing Tips here.