Our Timeform analysts reveal their best bets for this afternoon at Cheltenham, Doncaster and Kelso.
O'MOORE PARK - 13:10 Cheltenham (Dan Barber)
‘Banker’ would be stretching it to say the least but there's more to recommend O’Moore Park in Cheltenham’s opening novice handicap chase than current unflattering odds might suggest. For one, O’Moore Park has held his own in much stronger handicap chases over these big fences, most recently finishing sixth to the primed Madara in the Plate. Not many leave Mullins a maiden but contesting some hot races played a part in that and there was a bit to take from his debut for his new trainer at Uttoxeter recently considering he's no two-miler these days. Back here at a more suitable trip, and with Sean Bowen taking over from the stable’s conditional, he can become the latest Keighley-trained horse to give a good account of himself at the meeting after a winner and runner-up on Showcase Friday.
SOCIETY SOLDIER - 14:10 Kelso (Phil Thompson)
Lightly-raced mare Society Soldier shaped with plenty of promise in just three starts over hurdles last season, winning on her first try beyond two miles at Ayr before catching the eye from an unpromising position in an extended three-mile handicap there in April, leaving the impression she was ahead of her opening mark; with a breathing operation since and the yard in good form, it looks significant that connections now switch her to fences from the same mark.
JANEY MACKERS - 15:55 Doncaster (Simon Baker)
Janey Mackers has been off the track since finishing third at the Chester May meeting on her reappearance, but that might just be because David Menuisier has been waiting for testing ground for her. She'll get that here, and she returns from her break with the stable in fine form and Rossa Ryan up for the first time since they teamed up to win a Newbury handicap just over 13 months ago. Janey Mackers actually broke her maiden at this meeting back in 2024, and the return to this fixture could be another pointer to her being primed for this assignment.
TURNDLIGHTSDOWNLOW - 16:05 Cheltenham (Kieran Clark)
An interesting novice that includes the return of Derryhassen Paddy and chasing debut of Catchinsavo, both placed in Grade 1s as novice hurdlers, though the stats are against the latter with only 3 making their first start over fences here successful since 2023, that fact that two of those were a dual Stayers' Hurdle winner and a subsequent Gold Cup runner-up showing the task that Catchinsavo faces. With it an unknown if Derryhassen Paddy will be sent forward having been held up on his debut in this sphere there's a potential tactical edge for Turndlightsdownlow who shaped with encouragement last time, looks an assured jumper and, with the yard in great nick following a winner at the opening day of this two-day fixture, looks to have been underestimated in the betting considering he's twice the price of fellow pacesetter Butch Cassidy.
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