Five Horses To Follow This Weekend - 05/03/2019

Buster Valentine lost his three race unbeaten record last time out when making his Class One (Grade Two) debut, where he finished best of the race behind runaway winner Birchdale in a Ballymore trial at Cheltenham.

He did benefit after the fall of Brewin'Upastorm, but Buster Valentine from the Ruth Jefferson yard will enjoy the drop down to a Class Three to boost his confidence back up, and can seek glory in the Craigie Cup at Ayr this Saturday in one of the feature contests.

Has also won at Ayr this season his hurdles bow for the yard, before triumphing at Newcastle just before Christmas.

Low mileage, and surely a big player.

Doctor Dex could head south to Sandown for the Grade Three European Breeders Fund Matchbook NH Novices Handicap Hurdle Final, where he would be seeking a hat-trick of wins.

Very lightly raced, the 6yo will be hoping to transition up to graded level, after near effortless displays at Wetherby and Doncaster this side of the new year.

Yard in good form as Cheltenham approaches, and we may see these colours in the winners enclosure next week.

Doctor Dex surely the one to beat, should Dorking Cock revoke his entry.

Nicky Henderson has some big chances at Cheltenham and will be readying the troops at home, but he will be well aware of his chances in the feature event in Esher on Saturday, with Dream Du Grand Val bidding to prevail in the Imperial Cup Handicap Hurdle.

Sixth on his stable debut over hurdles at Cheltenham was a positive way to start, before taking things to the next level with calm successes at both Fontwell and Kelso - where he made the journey up north a worthwhile one on Valentines Day.

Has shown unique race tactics on his two British victories; whichever route he takes this time, he is sure to be a player.

Paul Nicholls is arguably in the form of his career of late - with sixteen winners in the last fortnight, and could achieve another with the grey mare Silver Forever in the Mares Listed Series Final.

Expected to miss Cheltenham in favour of this, Silver Forever has won three of her four career starts - two wins for the ten-times Champion Trainer.

She completed that memorably five-timer at Ascot last time out, where she stayed on stoutly under Harry Cobden - who picked up four of those winners.

She could be heading for Aintree after this for the National meeting, and must be considered a real danger to all in this valuable contest.

Thunder Snow is back in Meydan on Saturday to voice his claims for back-to-back Dubai World Cup's at the Carnival in the UAE at the end of March.

The 5yo was last seen viciously ridden by Christophe Soumillon in the Grade One Breeders Cup Classic at Churchill Downs in November, but plugged on for third.

Decent campaign away from the UK last term also, with a neck second on the build up to the Breeders Cup in the Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes at Belmont.

Good to see him back, and this looks the ideal preparation for him.