One horse, one trainer, one jockey and one race to watch on Saturday

One horse

Buveur D'Air has won the Listed Contenders Hurdle (1.50) at Sandown for the past two years en route to Champion Hurdle glory and is a warm favourite to win it for a third time.

A shock defeat to Nicky Henderson-trained stablemate Verdana Blue in the Christmas Hurdle has not stopped the eight-year-old keeping his position at the head of the Champion Hurdle market, and this will serve as a perfect warm up for the big event at Cheltenham next month.

Facing four rivals, including Vision Des Flos and the Grade 1-placed Roksana, the JP McManus-owned gelding is clear on official ratings and fans will be hoping he shows his usual swagger.

One trainer

Willie Mullins unleashes a powerful team for the Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown and saddles several Cheltenham hopes including Champion Hurdle-runner up Melon (1.25) and last year's Champion Bumper winner Relegate (12.50).

Willie Mullins: has a strong hand for the Dublin Racing FestivalCredit: Patrick McCann

The Cheltenham Festival's all-time leading trainer has yet to assert his usual ante-post dominance, but this weekend could change that considerably.

One jockey

Barry Geraghty landed a big-race double last weekend, courtesy of Birchdale and Espoir D'Allen, and has another top-class pair to look forward to.

In the Contenders Hurdle at Sandown he partners dual Champion Hurdle hero Buveur D'Air and in the following Grade 1 Scilly Isles Novices' Chase (2.25) he rides former Triumph winner Defi Du Seuil, who was last seen finishing second to the reopposing Lostintranslation.

One race

The Ladbrokes Dublin Chase (3.10) may only have attracted a field of six, but with a Champion Chase hero and two other Grade 1 winners in the line-up, it is a race packed with quality.

Min: heads a six-strong field for the Dublin ChaseCredit: Caroline Norris

Footpad is a notable omission from the final field but Min, an eyecatching winner of the John Durkan in December, sauntered home in this last year and could help provide trainer Willie Mullins with an excellent first day of the festival.

Add in 2017 Champion Chase winner Special Tiara, the exciting Saint Calvados and Simply Ned, who has a fantastic course record, then racegoers and punters are in for a real treat.

Read exclusive previews of Leopardstown and Sandown from 6pm tonight on racingpost.com and the Racing Post mobile app