Oli Bell had an 8/1 winner in last week's Saturday Yankee - this time his selections run at Cheltenham and Doncaster.
1430 Cheltenham - COUNT MERIBEL
I’m going with Count Meribel for my first selection of the day. Nigel Twiston-Davies’s horses are flying at the moment and I thought this one won really well at Ascot last time out, when making all. The five-year-old looked a very progressive type there and has won on soft ground as well, so he is versatile and should have no issues with the conditions. The horse he beat at Carlisle two runs ago – Kildisart – has since franked the form since by winning at Ascot, where Count Meribel was particularly impressive. He stays well and could be very hard to pass in what is a competitive race.
1445 Doncaster - ACT OF VALOUR
Act Of Valour looks a good bet to claim victory in this Grade Two heat. Sam Twiston-Davies was on The Opening Show recently and put this horse in his £20 challenge ahead of his first career victory over hurdles at Newcastle. Sam was particularly bullish about him that day and said he works very well at home. He won in the style of a very good horse there and will again take a lot of beating.
1505 Cheltenham - MELON
The New One is going for his fourth victory in this race and is likely to challenge towards the head the market but I’m tipping Melon. Willie Mullins’ Irish raider is the new kid on the block compared to the Twiston-Davies stable stalwart and fellow big name ten-year-old My Tent Or Yours. For all that Nicky Henderson’s classy former Christmas Hurdle winner retains his undoubted talent, Melon may be able to surprise him in terms of legs. John Constable is certainly worth keeping an eye on, especially having won twice over hurdles in the summer and entering the race fresh from an unsuccessful spin on the Flat in October. However, if the ground is testing, that will be a big negative against him.
1520 Doncaster - SEGO SUCCESS
I really like the look of Sego Success in this one. He ran well at Warwick on his most recent start in October, finishing a couple of lengths behind Beggars Cross. Alan King’s nine-year-old enters the race, which he won two years ago, in good form and Wayne Hutchinson is in the saddle again. He handles any ground conditions and looks well-treated.
