Did we see any major festival handicap winners on Saturday? Our experts think so

On a busy day of action across Britain and Ireland, there were plenty of clues on offer looking ahead to some of the major handicaps at Cheltenham, Aintree and Punchestown this spring, but who caught the eyes of our judges?

'The sort to stay ahead of the handicapper for a while'

Horse:Haddex Des Obeaux

As Tony Blair might have said, the three priorities in two-mile chases are jumping, jumping and jumping. Which makes Haddex Des Obeaux just the sort to look out for in a big handicap at one of the spring festivals. He was hugely impressive at the fences when winning at Doncaster over Christmas and just as good at Warwick on Saturday.

It is anyone's guess how much more improvement there is to come from a six-year-old who has run in only four chases – but he looks the sort to stay ahead of the handicapper for a while.
David Carr, reporter

'He wouldn't look out of place in the Martin Pipe'

Horse:Ginny's Destiny

On a day when the Skelton team's resounding return to form was spearheaded by the victory of Grey Dawning in the Leamington Novices' Hurdle, it might pay to keep an eye on the runner-up Ginny's Destiny.

Tom Lacey has had to be patient with this well-related son of Yeats, who did not even contest a bumper until he was six. But the eye was constantly drawn to how well he travelled for Stan Sheppard here, while he arguably wasn't done any favours by the coming together he had with the winner approaching the last.

Built to go chasing as his half-brother God's Own did so successfully, Ginny's Destiny might be next year's horse, although he wouldn't look out of place in a race like the Martin Pipe at the Cheltenham Festival.
Scott Burton, France correspondent

'Their handicap marks will be watched with bated breath'

Horse: Common Practice

Blood Destiny sauntered to victory from the front in the 2m hurdle at Fairyhouse and is surely on his way to the Triumph, but two Joseph O'Brien-trained horses in behind could be earmarked as potential contenders for the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle at the festival.

Common Practice: stayed on nicely at FairyhouseCredit: Patrick McCann

Both Common Practice and Nusret were nestled away towards the rear of the field and they made good late ground in the straight despite some less-than-ideal jumping.

Common Practice, who bunny-hopped the last and still got past Nusret in the final strides, could be the horse to take away from it. He already now has five hurdle runs under his belt and his form ties in with the likes of Comfort Zone and Lossiemouth. Their handicap marks will be watched with bated breath.
Owen Goulding, tipster

Saturday results, replays and analysis

Massive big-race double for our expert Spotlight tipsters

Our industry-leading spotlight tipsters found Saturday’s two big-race winners at double-figure prices – Iwilldoit at 12-1 in the Classic Chase and West Balboa – also at 12-1 – in the Lanzarote Hurdle!

Not only that, they also landed a 997-1 four-timer with their daily Lucky 15 selections as Quick Draw (5-4, Kempton) and Iroko (13-8, Wetherby) joined the pair of big handicap winners.

The Spotlight team provides expert race analysis, tips and verdicts on each horse for every race in Britain and Ireland – to get the full Spotlight experience sign up to Racing Post Members’ Club !

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Read Saturday's reports:

Classic Chase: 383 days off . . . no problem! Iwilldoit back at hisbest with return

Warwick: 'Some were under par' - Skelton fires in double to quash doubts over yard form

Lanzarote Hurdle: 'This is up there with the big ones' - Andrews revels in Kempton nail-biter

Kempton: Pic D'Orhy sets up Shishkin clash with emphatic Silviniaco Conti win

Fairyhouse: 'That was some thrill' - Danoli days evoked as Foley family celebrate with Gold

Wetherby: Brian Hughes makes course history as Richmond Lake sails home

Lingfield: 'I've thought about going abroad' - Annaf excites with easy weight-carrying win

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