Saturday Racing Tips: Key Timeform data featuring a trio of Horses In Focus

• Galopin des Champs can enhance superb Leopardstown record

• Mr Vango will relish testing conditions at Sandown

• The Green Man can add to course tally at Newcastle

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Leopardstown, 15:30 - Division leader Galopin des Champs should be tough to beat

Galopin des Champs may be a ten-year-old but he is still Timeform's highest-rated horse in training and very much the one to beat in the Irish Gold Cup, assuming Leopardstown passes its 8am inspection.

Galopin des Champs was foiled by Inothewayurthinkin in his bid for a Cheltenham Gold Cup hat-trick, but he showed he's still a top-notch chaser when slamming Spillane's Tower by 22 lengths in the Punchestown Gold Cup on his final start of the campaign.

He also produced an encouraging effort when third behind Affordale Fury and I Am Maximus in the Savills Chase over this course and distance on his belated reappearance, earning the Horse In Focus Flag from Timeform's reporter to mark him out as one likely to be of firm interest next time with the run under his belt. That was the first time Galopin des Champs was beaten over fences at Leopardstown, with his seven previous course wins including three victories in the Irish Gold Cup. He unsurprisingly has Timeform's Horses For Courses Flag to highlight his effectiveness at the track. 

Galopin des Champs comes out 3 lb ahead of Inothewayurthinkin on Timeform's weight-adjusted ratings but has fewer questions to answer than his old rival who flopped in the Savills last time.

Sandown, 15:42 - Strong-staying Mr Vango can repel challengers

Sandown is another course that needs to pass an early-morning inspection but one horse who will relish testing conditions should racing get the green light is Mr Vango.

He was one of last season's big success stories and showed run-by-run improvement to win valuable staying handicaps on all three starts, claiming the London National at Sandown, the Peter Marsh at Haydock and the Midlands National at Uttoxeter.

He couldn't quite extend the winning sequence in the Becher Chase on his reappearance at the start of December, but he produced his best effort yet on Timeform's figures and went down fighting by just a short head. 

That effort earned Mr Vango the Horse In Focus Flag, while he also has the Horses For Courses Flag as a consequence of his London National success on his only visit to Sandown. He's a relentless galloper who will appreciate the testing conditions placing the emphasis on stamina, and he could prove difficult to overhaul.

Newcastle, 17:55 - The Green Man can make amends for unfortunate defeats

The Green Man is enjoying an excellent campaign on the all-weather and his recent efforts suggest that he's capable of adding to his tally. He won three of his last five starts at Newcastle before the turn of the year and has caught the eye on both outings in 2026, finishing placed in a couple of mile handicaps at the same venue.

He was beaten only a short head and a neck in third on his penultimate start and looked unlucky not to win given he met trouble in running when making headway and then finished with a flourish when in the clear close home.

He also earned the Horse In Focus Flag when runner-up last time in a race that didn't develop in his favour as, despite staying on well, he was unable to get on terms with one who benefited from dictating a steady tempo.

He remains fairly treated off the same mark as last time - he heads Timeform's weight-adjusted ratings by 2 lb - and has the pace to cope with this drop in trip as he won over course and distance in December.

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