The Daily Star’s top tipster fancies a former bumper-winning mare trained by Alan King to score in the big novice hurdle at Newbury (3.00)
CHARISMA CAT (3.00) is set to pounce in the Grade Two BetVictor British EBF Mares’ Novices’ Handicap Hurdle at Newbury.
Alan King’s top bumper performer has taken well to hurdles, opening her account on her third start over obstacles in January.
Although her jumping was sketchy in the early days, she’d learned plenty by the time she posted an excellent second to the useful Khrisma in a hot novice last month.
The half-mile step up in trip should see her in an even better light on this handicap debut.
Getawhisky is another potential Dan Skelton plot job after finishing an eye-catching fourth behind Charisma Cat last time under a patient ride. She rates a big danger.
Trinity Street , a 20-1 poke, has twice finished behind Charisma Cat but has run well in all three hurdles and should enjoy the step up in trip.
HOLLYGROVE CHA CHA (1.00, nb) has the moves to master her rivals in the BetWright Beeswing Mares’ Hurdle at Kelso.
A strong field lines up for this Listed heat, but Jamie Snowden’s six-year-old looks the best of them and can give weight away to her eight rivals.
She enjoyed the return to hurdles last time when storming home in a Listed contest at Warwick, taking her record to four from six in this sphere, and the way she pulled clear suggests she could be even better over today’s three miles.
At bigger odds, MOUNTAIN MOLLY (1.30) is worth a roll of the dice in the BetWright Handicap Hurdle.
Lucinda Russell’s mare has slipped a few pounds in the weights and looked like she was coming to the boil when an improved fifth last time.
JP McManus’ KHRISMA (2.10) is progressive and is a favourite to be with in the BetWright Herring Queen Series Mares’ Final.
The Nicky Henderson-trained mare had Charisma Cat and Getawhisky – two major fancies for today’s big race at Newbury – behind her when winning a novice hurdle at Market Rasen.
Dan Skelton looks set for another good day with DIAMOND DEALER (2.40) his best chance of success at the Borders track.
He’s been a big improver since joining the yard, making all to win his first two over fences and getting outstayed when beaten a short head over three miles.Today’s drop in trip will suit and he could be hard to peg back.
The Skelton team can also get on the board at Newbury with promising hurdling debutant GAMBINO (1.15).
His Flat form is decent – he was third to the imperious Constitution Hill on the former Champion Hurdler’s Flat debut – and he’s fancied to make a perfect start over obstacles in the Castle Windows Newbury Anniversary Novices’ Hurdle.
Henderson saddles two who catch the eye at the Berkshire track, starting with THEWOODCORNER (1.50) in the Get Best Odds Guaranteed At BetVictor Novices’ Handicap Hurdle.
The French import won on his second UK start in a race that’s working out nicely, while MADAME SPEAKER (3.35) showed promise when runner-up on her racecourse debut and can go one better in the Goffs Hundred Grand Bumper with Sean Bowen getting the leg-up.
The BetVictor Handicap Chase is wide open but PRARIE WOLF (2.25) is at the top of his game and is tipped to make it three wins in his last four outings.
Bangor also gets in on the ITV action with the Virgin Bet Handicap Hurdle and this looks like another race set to go the way of Skelton via IN THE AGE (3.20).
Jason Heavey’s Saturday tipsNEWBURY1.15 Gambino1.50 Thewoodcorner2.25 Prairie Wolf 3.00 Charisma Cat3.35 Madam Speaker4.10 Kotmask4.45 Havaila
KELSO1.00 Hollygrove Cha Cha (nb)1.30 Mountain Molly 2.10 Khrisma2.40 Diamond Dealer 3.13 Cadell3.48 Gaelic Rover4.23 Barito
BANGOR ON DEE1.07 Tommy Pickles 1.37 French Emperor 2.15 Bo Cruz2.45 An Buachaill Rua3.20 In The Age 3.55 Jiair Madrik4.30 Eric Carmen
SOUTHWELL1.43 Mount Ruapehu2.20 Create2.53 Timber Twelve 3.28 Welbury4.03 Baandee4.38 Clearpoint (Nap)5.13 Velvet Red 5.43 Habrdi
NEWCASTLE5.00 Rastnet 5.30 Starglow 6.00 Recency Bias 6.30 Kingofthecarnival7.00 Mr Nugget7.30 Alfa Duplicate 8.00 Brave Traveller8.30 Instant Bond