Another big Saturday and Nicky Henderson hoping this one is more than Ok

Some weekends are more significant than others and some weekends are more significant for some individuals than others. This is one of those weekends and Nicky Henderson is one of those individuals.

Ladbrokes Trophy and Fighting Fifth day is significant enough without also marking the return of the much-loved Ten To Follow, but a week after his stable star Altior met with defeat for the first time in four and a half years – and with the favourite for both races (should Newcastle survive the forecast frost) – Henderson will not want another weekend of reverses.

For Colin Tizzard it should also be a significant day. The Ladbrokes Trophy is a race he has won twice in the last three years, and he saddled the first two home last year. He has three of the top seven in the betting but, with Lostintranslation winning the Grade 1 Betfair Chase last weekend, the pressure is off somewhat.

Ok Corral has been wandering in the Ladbrokes Trophy marketCredit: Alan Crowhurst

Not so for Henderson, who like Tizzard has an outstanding record in the race with three wins since 2005 and fields a strong team. Ok Corral heads the market, although he has been wandering all week, and is backed up by On The Blind Side, while Beware The Bear, fourth last year, or Brave Eagle, who is four from five over fences, would not be the biggest shocks, even if they take more scrolling to find in the market.

Tizzard is not only playing with house money right now, he's playing up. His four-strong team all have solid claims, with Mister Malarky the shortest in the betting. That's understandable because he has that high-quality second-season chaser profile for a yard that gets further improvement from horses, but those types are often potential Gold Cup horses with a fair bit in hand. In Mister Malarky's case, he has been overlooked by the two jockeys most associated with the yard, both of whom rode him last season, and is having 3lb claimed from his back.

Elegant Escape, at the top of the weights, would have been a more obvious candidate for Jonjo O'Neill jnr's mightily handy claim, but with Robbie Power given first choice and opting for West Approach it is Harry Cobden who replaces Tom O'Brien aboard the topweight.

West Approach and Robbie Power surge clear to win the long-distance chase at CheltenhamCredit: Alan Crowhurst

Power, so cool on West Approach at Cheltenham two weeks ago, has opted to maintain the partnership with a horse Tizzard described as "a fat little sod" on the day. If he has tightened up for that run, we could be in for another Power masterclass from a rider who can seemingly do no wrong at the moment. Robinsfirth, who won the Grand National Trial at Haydock last season, is a handy fourth-string for the yard.

In one of the calendar's most prestigious prizes, others are of interest too. Willie Mullins has taken a similar path with Cabaret Queen to the one he trod with Total Recall two years ago. The 2017 winner went up 18lb for landing the Munster National and won this by a neck from a mark of 147. Cabaret Queen went up 20lb for winning the same race and lines up off 146, with Paul Townend again in the saddle. The symmetry is ominous and, while mares have something of a mixed record in this race, it would be a wonderful story for her owners if she won. The Mullins challenge is supplemented by Yorkhill, that talent turned conundrum.

And there you have it, the trainers who have won five of the last seven editions are responsible for ten of the 24 runners, six of the top eight in the betting and, most likely, the winner.

Saturday cards and betting

Buveur looking to recapture air of invincibility

The Ladbrokes Trophy may be worth more than double the Grade 1 Fighting Fifth Hurdle but Barry Geraghty – who could have been on Ok Corral for Nicky Henderson and boss JP McManus – has decided the near-certainty of a £61,897 payday aboard Buveur D'Air is a more attractive proposition than a puncher’s chance at the bigger pot, even if the meeting is the less likely to go ahead.

His soft spot for Buveur D’Air may also have been a factor and, given the eight-year-old is a best-priced 2-5 to make it a hat-trick of Fighting Fifth successes against four opponents rated upwards of 13lb inferior, the only person who learns much may well be the man on board.

Geraghty is eight from 11 aboard the eight-time Grade 1 winner and, after his defeat by Verdana Blue last Christmas, fall in the Champion Hurdle and besting by Supasundae at Aintree, added to the fact Geraghty missed his Punchestown win through injury, the rider will surely be keen to gauge what sort of feel he gets from the dual Champion Hurdle winner.

Buveur D'Air (right) quickens away from Samcro in last year's Fighting FifthCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

The Henderson camp know only too well after Altior’s reversal last weekend that even the most dominant horses can be beaten and, while Buveur D’Air does not face anything of Cyrname’s class here, Evan Williams’ Silver Streak comes into the contest with a higher official rating than Verdana Blue had when she toppled Buveur D’Air at Kempton.

When winning his first Fighting Fifth two years ago Buveur D’Air was 1-6 for a race in which he was officially 15lb better than his nearest rival – two-time race winner Irving. That he is more than double that price here under very similar circumstances just highlights that for all he really should be winning this, there are more questions for him to answer than the official weights and measures imply.

If you believe Williams' runner can ruffle the favourite then on the basic maths Lady Buttons, rated 8lb inferior to Silver Streak but in receipt of a 7lb mares’ allowance, enters the equation – but last year Buveur D’Air put eight lengths and more into horses with the quality of Samcro, Vision Des Flos and Summerville Boy. It would be great to see a similar performance this time and the Champion Hurdle market could really do with it.

Points up for grabs in Tote Ten To Follow

With the Tote Ten To Follow getting under way there is added intrigue across the day, with an interesting beginners' chase at Fairyhouse (11.50) featuring Carefully Selected, Cracking Smart and Off You Go.

Reserve Tank should score some easy points in the John Francome Novices' Chase (12.40) – complete with some additional points for winning a Grade 2 – while plenty of the other races on the undercard feature horses who could pick up points for more leftfield entries.

Newcastle's The French Furze Novices' Hurdle (12.55), although not featuring any horses in the competition, has thrown up some good types in the past.

ITV armchair guide

1.50 Newbury
Get Your Ladbrokes £1 Free Bet Today Handicap Hurdle 2m4½f

The action kicks off with a typically competitive 17-runner handicap hurdle. It is 6-1 the field and Nicky Henderson has three of the first five in the betting.

2.05 Newcastle
Betfair Fighting Fifth Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m

As long as Newcastle survives the cold weather the day's Grade 1 action comes nice and early with two-time Champion Hurdle winner Buveur D'Air long odds-on to make it a hat-trick of wins in the Fighting Fifth for Henderson.

2.25 Newbury
Ladbrokes "Where The Nation Plays" Intermediate Hurdle (Listed handicap) 2m½f

Epatante, who flopped when favourite for the Mares' Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, bids to get back to winning ways for Henderson.

3.00 Newbury
Ladbrokes Trophy Chase (Grade 3) 3m2f

Henderson and Colin Tizzard are strong in numbers with four runners apiece, but Willie Mullins could provide the fly in the ointment with his classy pair.

3.20 Newcastle
Betfair Rehearsal Handicap Chase (Listed) 2m7½f

There was clearly a mistake at the declarations stage as Henderson somehow does not have a runner here, but last year's winner Lake View Lad is back for more off a 17lb higher mark.

3.40 Newbury
Ladbrokes Handicap Chase 2m½f

Henderson's Whatswrongwithyou is only second favourite on his first start since a wind op, with the Paul Nicholls-trained Magic Saint heading the market, but all that could change if Newcastle is off and Lady Buttons is redirected.

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