Why Saturday's big races at Kempton and Warwick should not be missed

Saturday's ITV4 coverage comes from Warwick and Kempton and could feature Altior in the newly titled Silviniaco Conti Chase.

But this weekend is also typically informative with clues for the remainder of the season, whether for the Cheltenham Festival, Aintree or other high-profile Saturday fixtures.

Here are the races you should pay close attention to:

Kempton

2.05 – Unibet Silviniaco Conti Chase (Grade 2)

This 2m4½f contest is run as a Grade 2 for the first time and has attracted a select entry worthy of its rise in class. Dual Queen Mother Champion Chase winner Altior is one of six entered, with Ryanair Chase hero Frodon and last year's winner – when it was a Listed contest – Top Notch also in the mix.

Altior: entered for the Silviniaco Conti Chase at Kempton on SaturdayCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

This race has not had a massive impact on the Cheltenham Festival under its previous grading, although God's Own finished third two years ago before filling the same position behind Altior in his first Champion Chase win.

Waiting Patiently beat God's Own in 2017 and subsequently won the Grade 1 Ascot Chase, a route Balder Succes (2015) and Captain Chris (2014) had also taken with the same outcome.

2.40 – Unibet Lanzarote Handicap Hurdle (Listed)

Soul Emotion is the highest-rated runner among the 25 entries for the Lanzarote Hurdle at Kempton, a Listed handicap over 2m5f.

The Lanzarote has had an impact of sorts at the Cheltenham Festival, with recent winners William Henry (2018), Modus (2017) and Micheal Flips (2010) finishing fourth, sixth and fourth in the same season's Coral Cup, while 2016 Lanzarote third Ibis Du Rheu went two places better in the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle.

Ibis Du Rheu (right) won the Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle in 2016

Interestingly, the last three winners of the £100,000 888Sport Heroes Handicap Hurdle at Sandown on the first Saturday in February all placed in the Lanzarote before their success at the Esher course.

Lord Napier (2019), Topofthegame (2018) and Lord Of The Island (2017) finished third, fourth and third at Kempton before thriving for the step up in trip to 2m7½f at Sandown, while Topofthegame also finished second in the Coral Cup that season.

Furthermore, Chesterfield benefited from a drop in trip after the 2017 Lanzarote to win at Aintree and then follow up in a thrilling Scottish Champion Hurdle.

Warwick

1.50 – McCoy Contractors 2020 Construction News-Awards Finalist Hampton Novices' Chase (Grade 2)

The Hampton Novices' Chase joins the Silviniaco Conti Chase on its first year at Grade 2 level (from Listed) and has attracted nine entries, including Ladbrokes Trophy second The Conditional, the Colin Tizzard-trained Highest Sun and unbeaten novice Two For Gold.

Ok Corral has failed to kick on from his win here last January and was pulled up in the National Hunt Chase when fancied. However, 2018 winner Ms Parfois fared better when second to Rathvinden at Cheltenham before another fine effort in the Grade 1 Mildmay Novices' Chase at Aintree when runner-up to Terrefort.

Black Hercules won at Warwcik for Willie Mullins in 2016 before dropping in trip to triumph in the JLT Novices' Chase.

Rocky Creek was successful when it was a Class 2 novice in 2013 but showed he was Graded class next time out in the Reynoldstown at Ascot.

2.25 – Ballymore Leamington Novices' Hurdle (Grade 2)

If you are so short for time you can only take in one race on Saturday, make it the Leamington Novices' Hurdle.

Colin Tizzard holds a strong novice hurdle hand and could enhance that with Harry Senior, while Tea Clipper, Whatsupwithyou, Keen On and Shan Blue are also among the 12 entries.

Although the last two winners have been pulled up at the Cheltenham Festival, Willoughby Court (2017) and The New One (2013) both won the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle.

Furthermore, the winners in 2016 (Thomas Hobson), 2015 (Three Musketeers), 2014 (Deputy Dan), 2012 (Cotton Mill) and 2011 (Court In Motion) all placed in a Grade 1 novice hurdle at either Cheltenham, Aintree or Punchestown's spring festivals.

Looking beyond the winners has spotted long-term improvers or big-pot winners, with Stayers' Hurdle champion Paisley Park second in 2018. Splash Of Ginge finished third in 2014 before his Betfair Hurdle success.

3.00 – McCoy Contractors Civil Engineering Classic Handicap Chase (Grade 3)

The 3m5f Classic Chase is usually a war of attrition and which has supplied two Grand National winners in the last seven seasons.

One For Arthur won this as a 14-1 shot in 2017 before obliging at Aintree at the same price three months later. Auroros Encore was fifth at Warwick in 2013 and caused a shock when winning in Liverpool at odds of 66-1.

It has also been a good trial for leading staying events like the Eider, the Scottish and Midlands Nationals as well as races at the Cheltenham Festival.

2013 Grand National winner Auroras Encore finished fifth in the Classic Chase three months earlierCredit: Alex Livesey

Last year's third Crosspark won the Eider before falling narrowly short in the Scottish National, while the third in 2018 Missed Approach won the Kim Muir.

Shotgun Paddy was a regular in the Classic Chase and won it in 2014 before he was a neck second in the National Hunt Chase, the same year Classic Chase fifth Any Currency went even closer in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase when beaten a short head by Balthazar King.

Last season's National Hunt Chase winner Le Breuil, The Conditional, Becher Chase second Kimberlite Candy and 2019 winner Impulsive Star all are among 20 entries for this year's race.

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