ITV Racing Preview From Cheltenham And Lingfield

The first of the the Grade three Chase contests at Cheltenham on the Saturday is the 3 mile 3 furlongs contest and Big River for trainer Lucinda Russell looks to have a solid chance.

Staying seems to be the game for this nine year old finishing a strong fifth in the Scottish Grand National when last seen showing clear stamina.

Before that at the Cheltenham festival he finished a smart fourth of 24 runners in the Grade 3 Ultima Handicap over slightly shorter than this and anything matching that run sees him in the frame.

The feature race of the day at Prestbury Park is the BetVictor Gold Cup Handicap Chase over 2 miles 4 furlongs and Slate House for Colin Tizzard will take all the beating if running to standard.

The seven year old back in 2017 landed back to back hurdle contests at Cheltenham taking to the track superbly but since then had lost his way.

However, on his seasonal bow he bounced back to form with an 11 length win over course and distance also on heavy ground although up in the weights represents a big chance.

Arguably the feature contest of the meeting is the Listed Churchill Stakes over 1 mile 2 furlongs and Lord North for John Gosden is massively the one to beat.

The three year old has really come to life at the back end of this season landing the 30 runner Cambridgeshire Handicap and then a classy second in tough conditions at Ascot on British Champions Day.

He stepped into a Listed contest for the first time when last seen and handled the conditions well to score again at Newmarket in a nice event.

He is having his all weather debut today but looks a class above this field and should go well.

The Listed Big Buck's Handicap Hurdle over three miles is always a tough affair and the horse we think can run a big race is the Dan Skelton trained Hear No Evil.

The seven year old gelding finished fourth of five at the back end of October in his first run in nearly two years having been off the track for some time.

He will come on for that run and the further he has gone in the past the better he has been meaning this step up in trip should be the making of him.

The penultimate race of the day comes in the last of the three Listed events on the card with the Golden Rose Stakes Showing off a solid field of runners.

We have sided with the Stuart Williams trained Royal Birth that has been superb consistent of late with two wins and a smart second in Class 2 and 3 events.

The gelding should handle the step up in class being one of the most experienced runners in the field and also having course and distance form.

In the intermediate Handicap Hurdle over 2 miles five furlongs we like the look of Remastered for trainer David Pipe with the gelding sure to come on for his run.

He ran at Chepstow in a really competitive Grade Three handicap on his seasonal debut and it was a bit much for him first time but should now be fitter for the run.

His last two wins have come on heavy ground which will see him revel in the conditions and the further he has raced in the past the better he has seemed to go.