ITV Saturday Warwick and Market Rasen Preview

The first race of the day on ITV is the Grade Two Hampton Novices' Chase over three miles and although only three runners the event looks a hot contest.

The six year old won a good Irish bumper on his final start two seasons ago and since then has moved to Tizzard's yard and made his debut last season at Chepstow in the Grade Two Persian War Novices Hurdle.

He was gambled on massively for that contest but could only finish a decent second just being outstayed by third in the 2019 Champion Bumper, Thyme Hill.

He then made his second start in England at Wincanton when again in another battle with Edwardstone and he finished second again.

In what looked his big chance to get off the mark he headed to Sandown in heavy conditions and he did not disappoint bolting up, he then went over course and distance in the Grade One Tolworth Hurdle and landed his first black type event.

The son of Stowaway was then sent to the Supreme Novices Hurdle where he never got into the race and ultimately disappointed.

Sent chasing this term by Tizzard he could only finish second on debut at Ffos Las behind If The Cap Fits, but used that experience to get off the mark next time out narrowly at Exeter.

He took a step back when being well beaten by Caribean boy two starts ago, but that was on ground he is not comfortable with.

Last time out he got his perfect conditions at Ascot in the Grade Two Noel Novices' Chase, but again could only finish second behind the smart Allart on debut for Nicky Henderson.

He is a live player in this event with the ground expected to be very wet again, but he needs to be at his best and be able to get past this seconditis and hopefully the step up in trip can do that.

Market Rasen host a decent card on Saturday with three live races on ITV and the first of them is the two miles 125 yards handicap hurdle.

Edwardstone for Alan King looks the one to beat in this event dropping back down to the smaller obstacles after a poor chase debut last time out.

The gelding finished second to Chantry House in a bumper two seasons ago and was then sent over hurdles and was unbeaten on his first two starts winning at Wincanton on debut seeing off Grade One winner Fiddlerontheroof.

He backed that up at Aintree when seeing off Harry Senior that since went on to land a Grade Two at Cheltenham, but then ran below par in a four runner Grade Two at Haydock to finish second.

He then stepped up to the Supreme Novices' Hurdle and finished a fair sixth of the 15 runners, being beaten by better horses on the day but still running to a high level.

Back again for this season he was pitched straight into the deep end finishing fifth in the Grade Three Greatwood Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham.

After the chase debut did not work out when last seen, King has now moved him back over hurdles where he should be more comfortable and for horse who possess some serious past form, this should be a doddle even off top weight.

The Ballymore Leamington Novices' Hurdle over 2m5f is one of the feature events at Warwick at the weekend and we believe to have sniffed out some big value.

Jay Bee Why for trainer Alan King looks a live contender at 8/1 in this event, with his price only going to shorten before the off with plenty of non runners expected at the latest declaration stage.

The six year old back in October 2019 landed a 10 runner point to point and from that was bought for £68,000 and given to leading dual purpose trainer Alan King.

King in January of last year gave the gelding his debut in a hot bumper at Newbury which saw Your Darling and Flinteur Sacre finish first and second, but unfortunately the youngster could not get involved.

He was not seen again that season and returned this term over hurdles over course and distance at Warwick and was an easy as you like winner of a 17 runner maiden.

He took the event by close to 10 lengths, loving the soft conditions and staying every inch of the 2m5f which makes you believe he will come on again for that performance.

At a bigger price in the event is the Olly Murphy trained Lord Of Kerak and from an each way stand point we can't get away from him.

Olly Murphy has finally this season got the winners firing out with some smart winners over the last few weeks and is hoping Lord Of Kerak can keep the good run going.

The six year old was sent straight over hurdles in October at Uttoxeter and finished a good second behind the smart Wilde About Oscar, who has since franked the form.

Next time out he went to Sandown and again was close up behind Adrimel to finish second and that was at a time when Murphy's horses weren't firing.

He finally got off the mark last time out back at Uttoxeter when stepped up in trip to 2m4f for the first time in his career and it suited him down to the ground.

Although he has to reverse the form with the favourite Adrimel, Murphy's horses are now in better form, he is getting 3lb off him and he is four times the price.

The second race of the day from Market Rasen is the 2m7f hurdle and it sees some very familiar faces head to post and we like the Colin Tizzard trained Vision Des Flos.

Although looking at this eight year olds form recently he does not set the world alight but now dropped down in class and back over hurdles he should give a better running than he has recently.

It has not worked for him over fences over the last year but looking at his hurdles form he has a Grade Two win to his name at Fontwell and a second behind Buveur D'Air in a Listed Hudle.

He has won over this distance before and although finishing ninth last time out it came in Grade One company and these horses are not to that standard.

The feature event at this meeting every season is the Grade Three Classic Handicap Chase over 3m5f and Dan Skelton seems to have the winning ticket with Captain Chaos.

The 10 year old has been a veteran in these sort of races and even though his form figures recently don't make for fond reading, he is a live player in this event.

In this event you need a horse that will stay every bit of the trip on soft ground and Captain Chaos is proven at doing just that when finishing a good second in the race last term.

This season he heads into the event on 2lb higher than he was this time last term and with blinkers fitted it should spark a revival.

The 14-times Irish Champion Trainer Willie Mullins is sending just his second ever runner to Market Rasen On Saturday in the same race he won last year with Panic Attack.

Mullins sent a surprise runner to the Linclonshire based track last term in this Listed event and saw his mare land the event with ease.

The handler is looking to do the same this season with Grangee, who has only been seen once to date winning a bumper over two miles at Galway by close to seven lengths.

It could be another master stroke by the Irish trainer and with how well the trip did last time, it is worth taking notice of again this year and we think the price on offer makes her an attractive bet.

The final selection from us at Warwick with us avoiding the bumper in the last comes in the Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle over 3m1f and Imperial Alcazar for Fergal O'Brien is an interesting entry.

The seven year old looks to have a stand out chance in this event if bouncing back to last seasons form having finished a tame ninth of 17 runners on seasonal debut in the extremely tough Grade Three Stayers' Handicap Hurdle at Haydock.

Last term the son of Vinnie Roe raced four times, winning twice and placing in the other two, with his second behind Protektorat at Cheltenham by a head looking like solid form.

He should be much better for his first run of the season and getting better conditions at Warwick should see him in the mix, especially down 1lb from his last run.