'We're hoping he'll shape up to be a horse for the Kauto Star' - your cheat sheet for Saturday at Cheltenham's Showcase meeting

Saturday's card at Cheltenham brings the course's two-day Showcase meeting to a close and should be a highly informative fixture for the season ahead. James Stevens and Robbie Wilders have your five-minute primer for the card, which features on ITV.

Race in focus: 1.10 Cheltenham

By James Stevens

The Golden Miller's switch from Grade 1 to novice handicap at the Cheltenham Festival means this race may well provide some sort of insight for March.

Improvement may be needed in the five months before then but this is a 16-runner field packed with potential and those likely to be better chasers than hurdlers.

Crest Of Fortune tops the betting and weights and brings Graded-level quality to it. He was third in the Sefton at the Grand National meeting last season for Anthony Honeyball. Quite bizarrely, his dam Ravello Bay also produced Pour Les Filles, who is favourite in the following race.

Honeyball said: "He was a nice horse last season and we were delighted with his third in the Grade 1 at Aintree. He's got the size and scope of a chaser and we couldn't be happier with him at home. He's schooled well and we're hoping he'll shape up to be a horse for the Kauto Star [Novices' Chase] at Christmas."

Three key horses for punters

By Robbie Wilders

Zurich (1.10)

The majority of interesting runners in the novice handicap chase are yet to jump a fence in public and returning from absences. Cheltenham is a tricky place to start for a chasing debutant, so Zurich is taken to put his experience over fences and race sharpness to good use.

Henry de Bromhead has had plenty of success at this meeting in recent years and wasted no time in sending this six-year-old over fences after three runs in France for former connections (one on the Flat, one in a bumper and one over hurdles).

Evidently still learning his craft, Zurich showed improved form on his comeback with a strong-staying victory over 2m1f at Killarney this month, a race he correctly picked up in the stewards' room after meeting interference.

Victory seemed unlikely for much of the way. Zurich hit an in-running high of 400-1 on Betfair and shapes as if he will relish an extra three furlongs.

Recommendation: back each-way with firms paying an extra place

Zurich13:10 Cheltenham

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Jky: Darragh O'Keeffe Tnr: Henry De Bromhead

Nassalam (2.20)

Class counts for plenty in handicaps and Nassalam, who ran in the Gold Cup only four starts ago before struggling off an unrealistic mark of 161 in the Grand National, has finally come back down to a workable rating after a string of sub-par showings.

It wouldn't be the biggest surprise if Nassalam bounced back under solid 5lb claimer Freddie Mitchell in the 3m1f handicap chase, with midweek rain doubtless welcomed by his team.

Nassalam: the Welsh National winner goes well fresh Credit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

Nassalam still has time on his side to recapture the brilliance he showed when winning the Welsh National by a street two seasons ago. Bar his two career-defining victories at Chepstow, he has reserved his best efforts for Cheltenham and he has gone well fresh in the past.

Punters should be mindful of Nassalam bombing out once more, but juicy odds are worth snapping up win-only in anticipation of a resurgence.

Recommendation: back win only

Prince Zaltar (2.55)

There was plenty to like about Prince Zaltar's eased-down winning stable debut for Dan Skelton at Newton Abbot in September and he catches the eye in the Pertemps Hurdle Series Qualifier.

Off a basement mark, this race-fit eight-year-old is an appealing alternative to those at the upper end of the handicap, who may be ring-rusty after time away and whose teams could have half an eye on the Final in March.

Although Prince Zaltar is 3lb wrong at the weights, he benefits from Harry Atkins' 7lb claim, and recorded his joint-highest Racing Post Rating on his sole visit to this track when a good sixth of 20 in a 2m5f handicap hurdle at the 2023 November meeting.

The return to three miles will suit Prince Zaltar, who won a staying chase at Punchestown in the summer for his previous trainer. It is unlikely Skelton has got to the bottom of him.

Recommendation: back each-way with firms paying an extra place

Prince Zaltar14:55 Cheltenham

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Jky: Harry Atkins (7lb)Tnr: Dan Skelton

Going update

The ground at Cheltenham is good to soft and it is forecast to remain dry throughout Saturday.

Four of the best quotes

Joe Tizzard, trainer of Kasino Des Mottes (1.45)
We bought him after he won his point to point, and he’s been doing everything right at home. We’ve decided to start him off in a novice hurdle and find a bit out about him.

Willy Twiston-Davies, joint-trainer of Gowel Road (2.55)
He’s ‘Mr Consistent’. He has come back in good form and has been working well. The aim is to get him qualified for the final, but we might go chasing afterwards.

Evan Williams, trainer of Patriotik (2.55)
He’s a nice horse and we want to qualify him for the final. He’s progressive. It will be interesting to see how he performs and then we’ll take a view about whether to go chasing. He’s not the biggest.

Gary Moore, joint-trainer of Give It To Me Oj (3.30)
He’s well clear on ratings and is fit from the Flat. All being well, he should win.
Reporting by Richard Birch

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