Five Saturday races that could provide massive Cheltenham Festival insight

Cheltenham's Trials day meeting is not just a fancy name but lives up to its billing. In the last decade, a total of 25 runners have tested their credentials at the famous course in late January before going on to a Cheltenham Festival win in March.

However, festival winners can come from anywhere and there are a couple of likely warm races that could offer key pointers for what to expect when the tapes drop at Prestbury Park in no more than two months' time.

These are five key races to keep at the forefront of your mind on Saturday for Cheltenham Festival clues.

12.45 Cheltenham

JCB Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 2), 2m1f

Why it matters

This Triumph Hurdle trial has supplied two winners at the festival in the last decade and both were fairly comfortable winners of this Grade 2.

Peace And Co did not ultimately progress to much outside of his juvenile hurdling season, but he proved his liking for the New course with a three-length success in 2015 before following up in the Triumph.

Iceo was an easy winner at Kempton last month and runs at Cheltenham on SaturdayCredit: Edward Whitaker

Defi Du Seuil was even more convincing when winning by nine lengths in 2017 before winning the Triumph, and there is every chance a leading contender could emerge from this season's eight runners.

The horses to watch

Iceo and Pied Piper are available at 14-1 for the Triumph and remain unbeaten over hurdles, while Interne De Sivola – a general 20-1 for the same race at the festival – boasts good course form courtesy of his win here last month.

Recent Cheltenham Festival winners

Peace And Co (2015, 1st), Defi Du Seuil (2017, 1st)

1.20 Cheltenham

Timeform Novices' Handicap Chase, 2m4½f

Why it matters

The first of two handicap chases over 2m4½f on the card, this contest for novice chasers has chucked up six winners at the festival in the last decade including in 2020, when Simply The Betts and Imperial Aura finished first and second before subsequently winning the Plate and the novice handicap chase.

The novice handicap chase no longer exists at the festival, but several of the eight runners in this year's race could end up following the Simply The Betts route to the Paddy Power Plate if putting in a good performance.

The horses to watch

Imperial Alcazar, a general 16-1 for the Plate, has yet to strike over fences but both efforts were respectable and he was sent off just 11-2 for the Pertemps Final last season, while Oscar Elite, who has also yet to win over fences, was second in the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle last season.

Recent Cheltenham Festival winners

Rajdhani Express (2013, 7th), Irish Cavalier (2015, 3rd), Un Temps Pour Tout (2016, 4th), Mister Whitaker (2018, 1st), Simply The Betts (2020, 1st), Imperial Aura (2020, 1st)

1.35 Doncaster

Watch Off The Fence On attheraces.com Lightning Novices' Chase (Grade 2), 2m½f

Why it matters

It is not just races at Cheltenham you need to watch on Saturday as there is some strong action at Doncaster, including the Sky Bet Chase and the River Don Novices' Hurdle.

However, if festival clues are going to emerge anywhere it could be in a select field of three for the Lightning Novices' Chase.

Will smart chaser Third Time Lucki be able to reinvigorate his Arkle claims at Doncaster?Credit: Edward Whitaker

This race provided the 1-2 for the Arkle last season as Shishkin led home Eldorado Allen on Town Moor and then proceeded to do the same at Cheltenham. Lightning winners Vaniteux (2016) and Mister Fisher (2020) also went on to run respectably in the Grade 1 novice chases at the festival.

The horses to watch

Willie Mullins has a strong handle on the top of the Arkle market with Blue Lord despite the news Ferny Hollow will miss the race, but one of Third Time Lucki (16-1 for Arkle), Do Your Job (100-1) and For Pleasure (40-1) could join Edwardstone at the top of the British team with a dominant win here.

Recent Cheltenham Festival winners:

Shishkin (2021, 1st)

1.40 Fairyhouse

BetVictor Solerina Mares Novice Hurdle (Grade 3), 2m2½f

Why it matters

This Grade 3 has a magnificent roll of honour including Honeysuckle and Shattered Love. Although both of those high-class mares won at the Cheltenham Festival the following season, Laurina and Limini are the two to make a more immediate impact after winning at Fairyhouse.

Allegorie De Vassy: ante-post favourite for the Mares' Novices' Hurdle runs at Fairyhouse

Both trained by Willie Mullins, Laurina and Limini won the Solerina and followed up in March in the Mares' Novices' Hurdle.

The horses to watch

Mullins is represented in this year's race by French recruit Allegorie De Vassy, who is already the 9-2 ante-post favourite for the Mares' Novices' Hurdle after winning her Irish debut at this course on New Year's Day. Ireland's champion trainer also runs Braganza (33-1), Brandy Love (8-1) and Grangee (10-1).

Recent Cheltenham Festival winners

Limini (2016, 1st), Laurina (2018, 1st)

3.05 Cheltenham

Welsh Marches Stallions At Chapel Stud Cleeve Hurdle (Grade 2), 3m

Why it matters

A whopping seven runners have contested the Cleeve in the last decade before winning at the Cheltenham Festival in March. Perhaps unsurprisingly, five of the seven – Big Buck's, Cole Harden, Thistlecrack, Paisley Park and Lisnagar Oscar – went on to win the Stayers' (formerly World) Hurdle having finished no worse than fourth in the Cleeve.

Champ: strongly expected to follow up his Long Walk Hurdle victory in Saturday's CleeveCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

However, the other two festival winners to run in the Cleeve – The Druids Nephew and Un Temps Pour Tout – used the race to prepare for the Ultima Handicap Chase. They finished fifth and fourth in the Cleeve, although there does not appear an obvious candidate to make such a switch from this season's line-up.

The horses to watch

Champ is strongly expected to follow up his Long Walk Hurdle win before potentially running in the Stayers' Hurdle, a race for which he became favourite after Klassical Dream could finish only fourth in the Galmoy Hurdle at Gowran Park on Thursday.

Champ is a top-priced 11-4 for the Stayers', while previous winners of that race Paisley Park and Lisnagar Oscar are available at 33-1 and 66-1.

Recent Cheltenham Festival winners

Big Buck’s (2012, 1st), Cole Harden (2015, 4th), The Druids Nephew (2015, 5th), Thistlecrack (2016, 1st), Un Temps Pour Tout (2017, 6th), Paisley Park (2019, 1st), Lisnagar Oscar (2020, 3rd)

Three Stayers' Hurdle contenders, including 50-1 and 66-1 outsiders

Read more:

Confirmed runners and riders for the Cotswold and Cleeve on Saturday

These are the Cheltenham Festival hopes to note now NRNB betting is here

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