Who To Follow Over The Jumps This Saturday

The horse that takes our eye in the Grade Three Ladbrokes Hurdle is the Emma Lavelle trained De Rasher Counter and this seven year old gelding looks to be a big improver for a inform yard.

De Rasher Counter made his seasonal reappearance at Uttoxeter finishing sixth of 11 runners that was more used as a prep run to blow away the cob webs and it certainly did that.

The gelding should be much fitter and stronger for that run and he has an added advantage on some of the field having been a course winner last season.

The step up in trip will be welcome for Emma Lavelle's runner with three miles previously proving to be a really steady stamina test for him and at 11/1 he is a very nice each way price.

Jockey Dave Crosse only has one ride on the Newcastle card tomorrow and that makes him hot property especially on his ride in the final contest of the day.

He gets the leg up on Kilfilum Cross for trainer Henry Oliver and this eight year old was superb last season in his first year over fences with the pinnacle of his campaign coming at the Cheltenham festival when finishing second in the Kim Muir.

He made his seasonal debut at the end of October at Stratford finishing third of 12 in a nice prep run that should prime him perfectly for this contest.

Philip Hobbs has been in fine form at the start of this season like he was last year and with that in mind we believe he is worth following at Newbury on Saturday.

He has a few decent entries on the day and we like the look of two of them, starting in the second race of the day with Westend Story.

This eight year old could turn out to be a superstar horse with the form line he holds when finishing fourth last season behind Defi Du Seuil, Topofthegame and Black Op at Exeter.

He has only raced once since then in October which was a come back run to set him up nicely and get him fitter for this contest.

The other one from his yard we like is No Comment in the last race of the day and this eight year old ran to a fair standard over fences last season with his stand out run coming at the Cheltenham festival when finishing fifth of 23 runners in the Kim Muir.

He made his seasonal debut at Hereford and finished a modest third in an average event but should be stronger for that run and poses a big each way threat.