Today’s FREE Horse racing tips: The Betting Spy’s top picks for Saturday’s racing at Cheltenham and Doncaster
The Betting Spy is back with his top tips for Saturday's racing where the action at Cheltenham takes centre stage
That 3m6f test suited Colin Tizzard's seven-year-old perfectly but he is no one-paced plodder.
He was third behind Gold Cup favourite Presenting Percy in last season's RSA Chase and this stiff 3m1f+ with the steep climb to the winning post should suit him ideally. His target is the Gold Cup and a win here should book his place in the big-race field - although there may not be too much Elegant about it!
Frodon looks likely to be sent off favourite and he is clear on official ratings. His handicap form at the track is tip-top but it is all at around two and a half miles and he has yet to prove he stays.
That doubt plus the defeats he has suffered when stepping out of handicap company are enough to put me off at the forecast prices.
Terrefort progressed at a rate of knots last season but all his wins have been on testing ground and he ran a shocker on his return when miles behind Elegant Escape at Sandown.
Nicky Henderson's other runner, Valtor, bolted in at Ascot on his first run for the yard.
But he was 33-1 that day and the feeling that he may have been flattered remains as the form has not worked out well.
Minella Rocco is well treated on his second in the 2017 Gold Cup but has been bitterly disappointing since.
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Olly Murphy has made a huge impression since starting training and he has never made any secret of how highly he regards BREWIN'UPASTORM.
The six-year-old can prove his quality by landing the novice hurdle at 3.00. He looked classy when making a winning debut over obstacles at Huntingdon and was chucked in the deep end on his second start when facing Group 1 company in the red-hot Challow Hurdle at Newbury four weeks ago.
He showed signs of greenness in that muddling affair but stayed on well for fourth and will have learned plenty.
He can book his ticket to the Festival by beating another of Nicky Henderson's top team of novices, Birchdale.
He won cosily at Warwick and the form has worked out but he is up in class and, although he is a great prospect, may find this too tough at this stage.
The other big player is Jarveys Plate, so impressive when winning here on New Year's Day. But the rise in grade and the 5lb penalty mean Jarveys has more on his . . wait for it . . . Plate!
The staying hurdle division is crying out for a new star - perhaps that is why the new kids on the block, Paisley Park and Midnight Shadow, have dominated the early betting for the Cleeve Hurdle (3.35). Both are progressive.
Paisley Park battled on well to win the Long Walk at Ascot last month by two lengths from Western Approach, and Midnight Shadow impressed when winning the 2m4f+ Relkeel here but may not be as effective over this trip. And both have 6lb penalties for those wins.
The one to be with is AUX PTITS SOINS, who won a 3m handicap here in tremendous style last time.
He ran off a mark of just 141 that day but Midnight Shadow's last handicap win was off that same rating. Aux Ptits Soins looked set for stardom when winning the Coral Cup at the 2015 Festival but he has been plagued by injury and has raced just eight times since.
If Dan Skelton can keep him sound he could yet make up for lost time.
Black Op is the other interesting runner, returning to hurdling after struggling to get the hang of jumping fences. He is one to keep an eye on.
I spy an eyecatcher...
At Lingfield on Wednesday BEQUEST made a promising debut in a modest 6f novice event for three-year-olds.
The filly, trained by Ron Hodges, was easy to back and shaped like the experience was needed but started to get the hang of things in the final furlong and ran on nicely to take third.
She is related to some useful sprinters and, from a yard not noted for first-time-out winners, is sure to do better, possibly much better, in time.
The big race at Doncaster is the Sky Bet Chase at 3.15 and have a few quid on DINGO DOLLAR.
Trainer Alan King has a great record in the race and has an ideal candidate in Dingo Dollar, who boasts winning track form and ran a blinder when third in Newbury's Ladbrokes Trophy last time, having gone for home too early before holding on for third.
This shorter trip on faster ground should see him to better effect. He runs off the same mark which is generous as the second and fourth have won good races since and the fifth has been second in Grade 1 company over hurdles.
Warriors Tale was second in this last year but is best on softer, O O Seven scraped home last time and will find this tougher off 5lb higher whilst Art Mauresque, Willie Boy and Calipto have yet to convince as three-milers.
Federici, fifth last year, is fairly treated and could reward each-way thieves.
On the all-weather at Lingfield I must drum up support for MAJORETTE in the 2.30, a typically competitive Class 6 sprint handicap.
The lightly-raced mare caught the eye when a slightly unlucky fourth over the course and distance last time in a similar event that is proving very strong form for the grade.
The first two have run well since whilst the fifth, First Link, and sixth, Agueroo, have both won at the Surrey track since.
Agueroo reopposes on worse terms and is up against it. Majorette has been dropped 1lb, has a decent draw and a useful 3lb-claimer on board. She should go very close.