Catching Pigeons gossip column: Weekend selections

1.50 Cheltenham - Cepage

Cepage, beaten only a length and a quarter by a bang on-form Frodon in this race 12 months ago, has a solid chance of going one better in the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup at Cheltenham on Saturday.

Venetia Williams clearly thinks the French import enjoys the rollercoaster of Prestbury Park. Six of his last seven outings have been at the course and he boasts a consistent record. Only twice has he finished out of the first four, and one of those was over three miles plus at the Festival in March.

His one win came at the January meeting where he produced a first class effort to beat Spiritofthegames, a very useful yardstick and second in the Paddy Power here last month. He showed last season he can run very well first time up and with his stable in good form, looks sure to run another sound race here.

1.15 Cheltenham - Ibleo

Ibleo, a stablemate of Cepage, can step up on his very sound comeback effort at Ascot in the Spreadex Handicap Chase. A winner of two of his three races last season, he has been brought along steadily by the Williams team and looked a shade unlucky not to beat Amoola Gold at the Berkshire course after a couple of sloppy jumps mid-race.

He went down by only a short-head that day and the winner has boosted the form since with a very good second over that same course and distance a couple of weeks later. Ibleo should come on plenty for the run and gets a handy 4lbs from likely market rival Zanza.

3.00 Cheltenham - Song For Someone

Tom Symonds was always highly-rated as an assistant to Nicky Henderson at Seven Barrows but I doubt the genial reigning champion trainer appreciated Song For Someone hammering his Call Me Lord in a valuable event at Ascot three weeks ago.

Symonds has enjoyed a very lucrative autumn campaign and the manner of the fast progressing five-year-old's success suggests he will be a leading player in the Grade Two Unibet International Hurdle. He seems to handle any surface and looks a very solid each-way bet.

3.35 Cheltenham - The White Mouse

The White Mouse can make the most of her lightweight in the Close Brothers Mares' Handicap Hurdle. Lucy Wadham pulled off a fine training performance to bring this six-year-old back from a 20-month absence to win a competitive handicap at Wincanton last month.

Given plenty of time to recover from those exertions, she looks capable of overcoming an 8lb rise in her handicap mark and the 21lbs she receives from high-class performer and old rival Indefatigable may just sway the result in her favour.

2.25 Cheltenham - Ask A Honey Bee

Ask A Honey Bee can regain the winning thread in the Grade Two Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle. A smart bumper horse last season, Fergal O'Brien's gelding made a great start to his hurdling career when beating subsequent dual scorer Ashton Lad at Wetherby but has just come up short on his last two attempts.

The step up to three miles should suit him a whole lot better after his slightly unlucky effort in a well-contested event at Newcastle two weeks ago, and he could prove the value bet to prevail in another fascinating race.

3.15 Doncaster - Boldmere

Boldmere, a smart novice last season, still looked in need of his second outing of the season at Bangor on his latest start and looks worth another chance in the Bet365 handicap Chase at Doncaster.

Caroline Bailey's gelding showed his liking for this course when landing a 0-135 just under a year ago and is fancied to see off his fancied Lambourn rival and hat-trick seeker Jersey Bean.

2.05 Doncaster - House Island

House Island can make a successful return to three miles in the Grade Two Bet365 December Novices Chase.

Paul Webber has always thought this winner of a valuable bumper at Newbury would make up into a fine chaser and he showed he was going in the right direction with his first win over the larger obstacles at Ludlow last month. This represents a significant step up in class but he looks the type to be suited by a more demanding test of stamina and has certainly not stopped improving.

12.12 Hereford - Optimise Prime

Optimise Prime, well beaten when fancied by connections at Newton Abbot in October only to win at 50/1 on this course six weeks later, looks to have found a good opportunity to follow up in the starsports.bet 20K Owners Club Guarantee Novices' Hurdle at Hereford.

Ground conditions will be similar this time around and talented conditional Luca Morgan's 7lb claim more than negates the penalty incurred for that previous success.