Cheltenham Open: Saturday

There are four races from Cheltenham live on Channel 4, with the Paddy Power Gold Cup at 2.35.

1:55 Handicap Chase (Grade 3) Cl1 3m3f110y
This should be run at a good clip with Carruthers and Fair Along in the race. There are several horses I would consider National types, like West End Rocker, Galaxy Rock and Ballyfitz, but on good ground they might be slightly outpaced.

If putting in a tidy round of jumping, Reve De Sivola (10/1 Ladbrokes) must have a good chance. He finished fourth behind Gold Cup prospect Quito De La Roque at Punchestown and has placed several times at Grade level.

Paul Nicholls is enjoying a brilliant start to the season and has found an ideal race for Promising Anshan. Last time out he finished a close third at Ascot, staying on at the finish. The extra three furlongs should play to his strengths.

Selection: Promising Anshan 9/2 (William Hill)

2:35 Paddy Power Gold Cup Grade 3 Cl1 2m4f110y
Mon Parrain has been all the rage this week, backed into 5/1 (Ladbrokes) from 7/1. He has finished first and second in his two UK starts and at the age of five he has plenty of scope.

Poquelin loves it around Cheltenham and is 28/1 (Bet365) to record his sixth victory at the track. The ground was possibly too soft when fifth in last year’s race. He was fourth in the Ryanair at the festival but carries a lot of weight as a result.

Former jockey turned trainer Keiran Burke saddles Holmwood Legend, only his sixth runner since he got his license. Many will be put off by the age of the horse, but for a ten-year-old he is very lightly raced. He won the Byrne Group Plate at the Festival and the Paddy Power looks an obvious fit; he is a 50/1 (Victor Chandler) shot.

Our tipster has gone for Nicky Henderson’s improving six-year-old Quantitativeeasing; read his Paddy Power tip here.

Selection: Quantitativeeasing 20/1 (Bet365)

3:10 Handicap Hurdle (Listed Race) Cl1 3m1f110y
Having only his second start under rules, Oscargo 13/2 (Victor Chandler) could be anything. He probably didn’t beat much in his maiden and the time was nothing special, you are backing purely on potential.

My Shamwari (7/1 with Ladbrokes) closed last season with back to back wins but this is a considerable step up in distance and he will need to improve because of it.

At the bottom of the handicap, Rossmore Lad (12/1 with Bet365) could carry a featherweight to victory. A winner of his last start, it was comfortable enough to suggest a rise in class was within his sphere. Only six-years-old, he will be improving for his talented trainer Charlie Longsdon, who is enjoying a 27% strike rate this season.

Selection: Rossmore Lad 12/1 (Bet365)

3:40 Novices´ Handicap Hurdle Cl3 2m110y
Another tricky handicap hurdle to decipher with several unexposed horses. Edgardo Sol at 11/2 (Victor Chandler) ran a Topspeed rating above his handicap mark at Aintree last month. Cape Dutch at 5/1 (Boylesports) can chase him home, he is in rude health after back to back wins.

Selection: Edgardo Sol 11/2 (Victor Chandler)