AHEAD of an outstanding nine race card at Cheltenham we must mention Altior, who won at four Cheltenham Festivals for Unibet Ambassador Nicky Henderson. Altior has had a severe bout of colic and it was great to read that his former trainer Nicky Henderson had been to visit him yesterday evening and that Altior seemed much perkier. There is a long way to go on his recovery, though this was most encouraging.

Saturday represents a special Festival Trials day at Cheltenham with the Grade 1 Clarence Chase having been unable to take place at Ascot transferring to Prestbury on this occasion. Edwardstone and Energumene are both in the field, as is the supplemented Editeur Du Gite who joins them after his Desert Orchid success. Editeur Du Gite will make it a true test, though Champion Chase winner Energumene Unibet 8/15 is preferred to his main market rival Edwardstone as the winner.

In the Cleeve Hurdle the fantastic Paisley Park is looking to win this Grade 2 for the fourth time and this brilliant 11-year-old has been resurgent this season making him a worthy favourite at Unibet 5/4 to secure an emotionally charged victory.

At Doncaster, Epatante, trained by Nicky Henderson, is Unibet 1/4 on to take the Grade 2 Rose Mares’ Hurdle and she has too much class here for this field.

Enjoy whether at the races or watching #athome on ITV Racing or Racing TV.

Cheers

The Wine Tipster

12.40 Cheltenham – Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase (3¼m)

Snow Leopardess couldn’t go with them in the Veterans’ Final at Sandown when running in snatches and this wonderful mare may return to form with a spin over these fences, as this might be just what is required at this stage of her career. We know this Becher Chase winner has the ability and if she can really get into a rhythm in the right position then a big run is most definitely not out of the question with trainer Charlie Longsdon in fantastic form.

Unibet 11/1 each way

1.50 Cheltenham – Handicap Chase (2½m) 

Fugitif (nap) is taking his chance here rather than going for the Clarence House, which is far more sensible. He couldn’t have won any easier at Chepstow last time on Welsh Grand National Day in the soft, after taking the lead four out over a distance a furlong shorter than this trip. He has that Cheltenham experience too, having finished second to the smart Amarillo Sky (winner again next time, form looks solid) here at the November meeting over the minimum distance, when doing all his best after the last as he stayed on well up the hill. Fugitif hasn’t always looked the most straightforward, however he is maturing and progressing all the time, with this smart chaser looking to have a strong chance of making this appearance at Prestbury a winning one.

Unibet 9/2

Precious Eleanor was marked up in my Unibet blog at Sandown’s Unibet Tolworth meeting where she found the ground too deep, having not stayed three miles at Market Rasen on seasonal debut. The return to Cheltenham will really work in her favour as she jumped for fun here in April and made a decent field look pedestrian over this trip. Precious Eleanor’s only other start at Cheltenham saw her finish runner-up and she can easily outrun her price.

Unibet 18/1 each way

2.25 Cheltenham – Cotswold Chase Grade 2 (3m 1f)

Protektorat can give the Skelton team another Saturday winner in what is a strong renewal of the Cotswold Chase. This eight-year-old finished third in the Boodles Gold Cup and really stepped up this season with his win in the Grade 1 at Haydock in November with an authoritative performance. There have been questions about his stamina, however the Skelton team were quick to mark up the Cotswold Chase after his Haydock success and we certainly still haven’t seen the best of Protekorat, who can hold off Noble Yeats on his first appearance at Cheltenham.

Unibet 6/4

3.15 Doncaster – Handicap Chase (3m)

Mister Coffey was marked up in my Unibet blog when he was second at The Festival for Unibet Ambassador Nicky Henderson in the Kim Muir. Mister Coffey is 0-6 over fences with four seconds and a third, whilst his mark of 140 suggests this talented individual is more than capable of talking a big Handicap Chase with Nico de Boinville in the plate.

Unibet 7/1 each way.  

3.35 Cheltenham – Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle (2½m)

War Soldier is going for a three-timer after his Newcastle success and he then impressed at Haydock when winning on the soft. He certainly looks like he has plenty of potential and he will handle the tacky conditions better than many in the field.

Unibet 14/1 each way