Saturday Horse Racing Tips: Katie Midwinter's best bets including 25/1 fancy

• Katie Midwinter has fancies across the tracks including Cheltenham

• Exciting novice makes appeal for Paul Nicholls

• Strong stayer could be suited by new challenge

• For the latest Betfair Racing odds click here

• Bet £10 get £10 every weekend up to Cheltenham

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Exciting action on Cheltenham's Festival Trials Day is the main event on Saturday, with Doncaster providing competitive chases as well as a couple of Grade Two contests too. The staying novices will take centre stage up north as well as the mares in the Yorkshire Rose, with familiar names contesting the Great Yorkshire Chase. 

At Prestbury Park, fans will be treated to a number of mouthwatering clashes, most notably in the International Hurdle in which Sir Gino and The New Lion are set to clash. The latter will be suited by the extra test of stamina in likely softer conditions, but the Nicky Henderson-trained favourite should have too much class for his rivals, bidding to retain his unbeaten tag. 

In the previous race, the Betfair-sponsored Cotswold Chase, which has been won by some old favourites such as Many Clouds, Frodon, Santini, Native River and Ahoy Senor over the past ten years, Grey Dawning should prove tough to beat if he holds his ground. He was superior in the Betfair Chase, winning comfortably, and, if he is to enhance his Cheltenham Gold Cup credentials, this should be another victory for him. 

It may not be completely simple for the likeable grey however, as the inclusion of defending champion L'Homme Presse, having had the benefit of a recent run and in his favoured ground, makes for an intriguing contest.

The Irish-raiders will be sure to play their part too. Spillane's Tower, top class on his day, has only 2lb to find on official ratings with the favourite, and the enigmatic Flooring Porter, who can be as enthusiastic from the front as he is talent, bidding to defy a 486-day break for a Gavin Cromwell yard in better form that in recent months.

There should be plenty of clues on offer ahead of the big spring festivals this Saturday on a thrilling afternoon of action not to be missed.

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Cheltenham, 12:40 - Back Minella Yoga @ 11/53.20

Minella Yoga made a successful start for Paul Nicholls when beating odds-on favourite Act Of Innocence at Newbury last month, prevailing by three-quarters-of-a-length to his promising older rival, who had the benefit of experience.

As a three-year-old in the contest, he was in receipt of plenty of weight, and put in a solid opening effort for his new connections. In November, the son of Study Of Man comfortably won a Fairyhouse Academy Hurdle, beating Apache Peak, second since, by five-lengths, with a few others who have run well subsequently, including Hygge, further behind.

There should be plenty of further improvement to come from the gelding who is a half-brother to the imposing Ninth Titan, a winner over hurdles for Willie Mullins and once a runner in the Prix du Jockey Club won by St Mark's Basilica, and he makes the most appeal in this field.

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Doncaster, 12:55 - Back The Last Cloud E/W @ 16/117.00

At odds of 16/117.00, The Last Cloud could represent each-way value in this competitive Grade Two for Patrick Neville. He already has previous experience at this level, when a staying on fourth to Fortune De Mar at Cheltenham in October, and emerged with credit when stepped up to Grade One level in the Formby over Christmas.

Stepping up in trip here could suit the stunning grey, who is by Cloudings, sire of a number of strong stayers including the brilliant Grand National winner Many Clouds. On his dam's side, Senior Chief is a notable stayer who finished sixth in the Aintree showpiece last season.

Hugely progressive during the summer, recording three successive wins at Perth and rising from an opening mark of 108 to his current rating of 129, The Last Cloud remains open to even further improvement and this step up in distance could bring out the best in him.

A likeable gelding who is certain to catch the eye in the paddock, The Last Cloud could prove worth keeping on side as he is a horse with great potential and can progress beyond his current rating.

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Cheltenham, 13:15 - Back Donnacha E/W @ 11/112.00

Eight-year-old gelding Donnacha has made a good start to life over fences for Nigel Hawke. He has won two races and finished among the first three in four others since embarking on life over the larger obstacles.

The likeable gelding is on an unchanged mark of 132 following a second-placed effort to Lunar Discovery at Chepstow, having previously been narrowly denied by promising Joe Tizzard-trained gelding U Cant Be Serious. He's 10lb higher than his last win but that was a convincing success at Chepstow in only his fourth start over fences, and he remains open to further improvement.

In two previous runs at Prestbury Park, Donnacha has finished second to Impose Toi and third to Go Dante in competitive big field handicap hurdles. On only once occasion has he failed to finish among the first four in his 18-race career to date, when finishing 11th of 21 runners in the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury a couple of years ago.

Consistent and tough, Donnacha has the ability to put in a competitive effort in this race and shouldn't be discounted at a price of 11/112.00.

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Lingfield, 13:43 - Back Balon d'Or E/W @ 33/134.00

Balon d'Or is now only 2lb higher than his last success and should be capable of making his presence felt from this rating.

He has been competitive from a much higher mark in the past, winning from a mark of 76 in 2024, and, at this level, should fare better than in recent runs with cheekpieces replacing blinkers.

The five-year-old son of Kodiac has had some excuses in recent outings, and, if able to settle and enjoy a favourable trip, he's on a mark from which he can strike for Simon Dow under in-form rider Paddy Bradley.

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Cheltenham, 13:50 - Back Where It All Began E/W @ 22/123.00

Where It All Began will be suited by the softer going at Cheltenham and any extra rain prior to the off will be in his favour too. He's now only 2lb higher than his last winning mark on rating of 125, putting him in with strong claims at the weights if the spark can be reignited by this new challenge. 

His recent form leaves a lot to be desired, but he has had some excuses and the ground hasn't been to suit very often. He's now 10lb lower than when fourth to Inothewayurthinkin in the Kim Muir a couple of seasons ago and when eighth in the Irish Grand National behind Intense Raffles. 

Improvement is certainly required, but Where It All Began, who has cheekpieces on for the first time in almost two years, has plenty of talent and is a strong stayer, capable of plugging on well in the closing stages. If it does become testing, he should thrive in conditions and could take well to these fences.

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Cheltenham, 13:50 - Back Tommie Beau E/W @ 12/113.00

Tommie Beau was in the process of running a big race as the 10/34.33 favourite here earlier last season before taking the wrong route. He is 15lb lower on that occasion and is another contender who should be suited by the softer conditions.

The likeable performer is 12lb lower than his last winning mark and 7lb below his narrow defeat to Musique De Fee at his beloved Cartmel last May. He hasn't been in the best of form recently, but has dropped to a lenient mark as a result, making him dangerous to rule out.

Having had prior experience on this course and with the softer conditions likely to bring stamina to the fore, Tommie Beau makes plenty of appeal for Seamus Mullins and Paul O'Brien, and would be a deserving winner following his unfortunate outing in a cross country race previously.

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Doncaster, 14:05 - Back New Order E/W @ 12/113.00

Charlie Longsdon-trained New Order has been in good form following his reappearance at Bangor-on-Dee earlier this season. He put in a good effort in defeat when narrowly denied by Welcom To Cartries at Sandown, before being only beaten a length-and-three-quarters when third to some talented rivals in Herakles Westwood and Katate Dori at Cheltenham.

From an unchanged mark of 125, the son of Yeats is a horse to note. He remains on an upward trajectory over fences, making only his ninth start as a chaser under Rules with point winning experience in his favour too, three from eight currently with a second and third to his name.

The eight-year-old has proven stamina and appears on a workable mark from which he can be competitive, making each-way appeal at odds of 12/113.00 under David Bass. Following a Blue Monday earlier in the week, New Order could land the spoils on Saturday and add another success to his record.

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Doncaster, 14:38 - Back Harsh E/W @ 25/126.00

Harsh has stamina to prove but isn't a forlorn hope if able to stay this extra distance in his second start for Mickey Bowen.

The six-year-old grey remains open to further improvement as he bids to get back on track following some disappointing efforts, but has shown enough ability in the past to suggest he can be competitive from his current rating.

He finished second to Mirazur West in a Cork chase last spring, having previously finished fourth and sixth in respectively big field handicap hurdles from a rating of 125.

As a juvenile, he finished fourth to Lark In The Mornin at the Cheltenham Festival, outrunning odds of 40/141.00, following a comfortable maiden victory over Evening's Empire. The grey also landed a handicap hurdle at the Punchestown Festival from a rating of 119, and, in only his eighth start over fences, may be a horse to keep onside.

Whilst his pedigree wouldn't suggest he definitely needs this step up in trip, his sire Dark Angel has produced winners over three miles and Harsh has stayed on well over two-and-a-half-miles in the past.

At the prices, Harsh is too big to ignore and, if able to prove his stamina credentials, could be well treated at the weights under James Bowen.

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Cheltenham, 16:10 - Back Heads Up @ 4/15.00

John McConnell-trained Heads Up was an impressive winner of a bumper last term, landing a Punchestown contest by 24-lengths over Shesakindofmagic. He then finished second to Kalypso'chance in a Listed Navan bumper, finishing ahead of Classical Creek, before chasing home Bambino Fever in the Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival. 

A two-length winner of his maiden hurdle this term, Heads Up was sent off as the 7/42.75 favourite when second to exciting subsequent Grade One winner No Drama This End in testing conditions and torrential rain at the November Meeting. 

With plenty of Cheltenham form in his favour now, Heads Up could make it third time lucky following two second-placed efforts at the track. He's a talented performer with plenty of potential and he could prove to be the best of this field under Danny Mullins.

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Newcastle, 18:35 - Back Pit Boss E/W @ 13/27.50

Despite being an 18-race maiden, Pit Boss shouldn't be discounted for Liam Bailey in this 7f contest. Cheekpieces replace blinkers as he bids to land a first career success in the hands of Billy Garritty.

The son of Ardad has threatened on multiple occasions including over this course-and-distance when beaten a head by Eden Storm in November. He has finished second over 6f since too, running on well from the rear as he often does. 

His usual patient running style makes him a difficult horse to win with as his record shows, however, he does possess ability and has proven in the past that he's capable of posing a threat from his current rating at this level. 

If things fall favourably for Pit Boss, he holds leading claims at the weights and this could be his time to finally strike.

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