Catching Pigeons gossip ahead of the weekend action

Fingerontheswitch can take advantage of his lightweight and win the BetBright Handicap Chase for Neil Mulholland at Kempton on Saturday. 

Mulholland has built a good reputation for producing young staying chasers over the past five years, and looks to have found another relatively unexposed sort in this gelding, despite the fact he has plenty of experience behind him. 

He has taken his time to find his feet over the larger obstacles, but produced his best effort so far to land a comfortable win at Wetherby last time. 

His past form suggests he will be well suited to this flat course and the decent ground will also play to his strengths.

Argante is just preferred to stablemate Alibi de Sivola in the opening Racing UK HD Handicap Hurdle. 

Unlucky when only sixth to another stablemate in Thomas Campbell at Ascot in November, Nicky Henderson's charge made no mistake on his only subsequent start in a much easier event at Fakenham. 

Sure to be suited by the forecast good ground, he looks nicely weighted for his first venture into a handicap and has been in good form at home in his build up to what should be an interesting spring campaign.

Elgin can see off a talented field and win the Sky Bet Dovecote Novices' Hurdle. Alan King has set some tough tasks for the five-year-old this season and he has more than proved up to the task, winning two of his four starts including a good class event on this course on Boxing Day. 

Although firmly put in his place by Neon Wolf at Haydock last time, he did well to finish second to what looks a very high class horse when conceding him weight.

He was good enough to take the fight to Harry Fry's rising star at the second last and as much as Peter The Mayo Man should be respected, he may have to give best to the selection's very useful turn of foot.

Full Shift has shown his liking for this course in the past and is fancied to follow up stablemate Ericht's 2016 success in the Watch Live On Betbright.com Racing Handicap Chase. 

His form may do little to recommend him so far this season, but he is well handicapped on his best efforts and may be worth taking a chance with now he is fitted with the combination of a tongue tie and cheek pieces for the first time.

Vinciaettis looks weighted to run a big race for Warren Greatex and Gavin Sheehan on his belated comeback in the Betfred £1 Million Cashball Handicap Hurdle at Newcastle. 

He enjoyed a good season over timber in a light campaign last term and showed when winning on his first appearance for the Upper Lambourn handler that he is very effective after a break. 

Red Hanrahan is not exactly one of Paul Nicholls' five star performers, but he is a solid handicapper and produced a good run on his reappearance last month. 

He finished a sound sixth to multiple winner Tobefair in what was a competitive event that day and gave the impression that he would be a good deal sharper for the run. He is of interest in the Pertemps Network Group Handicap Hurdle at Chepstow.

Trade Route stepped up on his debut effort when fifth on his latest start over course and distance three and a half weeks ago, and should go close in the opening sunbets.co.uk Maiden at Lingfield. 

David Elsworth's charge lost valuable ground when meeting with interference in the closing stages and can expected to make another move forward here.

All eyes are on Mutakaayeef in the feature Betway Winter Derby but Pinzolo rates a good each-way bet here from the front. He seems in the form of his life right now.

Royal Birth is another at a big price who looks set to outrun his odds when he lines up in the Betway Hever Sprint Stakes.

Different Gravey can make a winning return to timber in the totepool National Spirit Hurdle at Fontwell on Sunday. 

His chasing career has been put on hold after his jumping went to pieces at Cheltenham's December meeting, but the Henderson camp hope to get his campaign back on track with a big run in what is just about the last Champion Hurdle trial before the big race next month. 

Beaten only twice over hurdles, his form is both classy and solid, and given a clear round, he should give stablemate L'Ami Serge and last season's winner Lil Rockerfeller plenty to think about at these weights.

Greyed A proved expensive to follow over three miles at Chepstow last time, but he returns to a more amenable trip in the totepool Betting Handicap Hurdle on the same card and looks to have been found a good opportunity to return to winning ways.

Frankie Dettori jets over to Qatar this weekend to partner Arabian Spring as he chases a huge payday on Saturday. He wasn’t aboard Sir Michael Stoute’s charge in his final piece of work on Waterhall but did ride a couple of lots for John Gosden.

The master of Clarehaven should be among the winners at Wolverhampton on Saturday night with Shamrokh in the 32Red Casino Handicap.

Some of the big guns continue to tick over at Headquarters, Gosden’s Jack Hobbs looking very fresh and well as he worked in midweek. Galileo Gold came up Warren Hill for Hugo Palmer while Trip To Paris and the Dubai-bound Big Orange were other old favourites to take the eye.

Ted Durcan is continuing his rehabilitiation from injury and after playing a key role for Sir Michael Stoute out of the saddle this winter, was back riding out in the week.

Talking of returning jockeys it’s good to see Fran Berry down to ride Widnes at Lingfield on Tuesday while Charlie Hills has moved swiftly to secure Ryan Moore’s services for Traveller in the same race, the 32Red Casino Maiden.