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

One trainer

With Cheltenham fast approaching, Tom George's yard appears to be peaking at the right time, with four winners from his last 14 runners, and he looks primed to take advantage with some good chances at Newbury on Saturday.

Classy performer Clondaw Castle will come into the calculations of many ahead of the William Hill-sponsored Greatwood Gold Cup (3.15) following an impressive victory earlier this month at Warwick, while Singlefarmpayment also looks to hold a good chance in the veterans' chase.

With stable stars Summerville Boy, Black Op and The Worlds End holding festival chances, a good weekend here would mean George enters his final preparations for jump racing's biggest week on a high pitch.

One jockey

All eyes will be on Richard Johnson at Newbury as the champion jockey looks to claw back more lost ground on championship leader Brian Hughes.

Johnson returned to saddle with a double at Musselburgh on Thursday following 37 days out of action with an arm injury and looks to hold good chances with all five rides.

Hughes has a typically packed schedule at Kelso and will be keen to put more distance between himself and his title rival following his successful appeal against two separate stewards' sanctions.

One horse

With many of racing's leading stars on ice until the Cheltenham Festival, attention can momentarily switch to Aintree and a potentially big Grand National clue when five-time Grade 2 winner Definitly Red heads to Kelso for the William Hill Premier Chase (3.22).

Brian Ellison redirected his stable star from Doncaster's 888sport Grimthorpe Chase in favour of a slightly weaker race at the Borders course but still hopes the test will prove an ideal prep for a second tilt at the National in April.

The 11-year-old was pulled up in the 2017 running but he is now in the midst of a campaign specifically designed around National success and is currently a general 20-1 shot to achieve it.

One race

The William Hill-sponsored Greatwood Gold Cup at Newbury is shaping up to be one of the most competitive handicaps of the season so far.

There is class oozing from the 13 runners on show of which the three Paul Nicholls-trained chasers – San Benedeto, Mont Des Avaloirs and Secret Investor – currently head the market.

The likes of Bennys King, Clondaw Castle and Domaine De L'Isle all boast impressive handicap wins this season, while Grade 2 winner Bags Groove's lofty price of 14-1 advertises the strength in depth of the field.

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