Timeform

Saturday Racing Tips: Key Timeform data you need to know including a Horse In Focus

  • Timeform
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  • 3.00 min read
Horse racing at Newcastle
The runners drive for the line at Newcastle

Timeform highlight three horses of interest at Cheltenham, Doncaster and Newcastle on Saturday.


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Punctuation top rated on first start for new yard

Punctuation had an excellent campaign for Fergal O'Brien in 2022/23, winning on three occasions including when showing useful form to land a competitive handicap hurdle at Aintree's Grand National Festival.

He wasn't in the same sort of form in three starts over hurdles last season but the handicapper has eased him in the weights as a consequence and he is now only 4 lb higher than when a decisive winner at Aintree.

He looks well treated on that Aintree form and heads Timeform's weight-adjusted ratings by 4 lb on his reappearance and first start for Nicky Henderson. He hasn't run since winning a Flat handicap at Goodwood in May for O'Brien, but he starts out with Henderson's team among the winners. 

Potters Charm has strong claims on ratings

The only novice hurdlers rated higher than Potters Charm with Timeform this season are Romeo Coolio, The Yellow Clay and The New Lion so Nigel Twiston-Davies' contender unsurprisingly has a clear edge over his rivals in the concluding Grade 2 novice hurdle at Cheltenham on Saturday.

Potters Charm has to carry a 5 lb penalty for his Grade 1 win in the Formby Novices' Hurdle at Aintree last month but, even so, he still sets a good standard on Timeform's weight-adjusted ratings and comes out 6 lb clear of the next on the list, Gamesters Guy. 

That performance at Aintree was of similar merit to Potters Charm's wide-margin win here on the Old Course on his penultimate start and they represent the two best pieces of form on offer.

He's up against some progressive rivals but Potters Charm also has the Timeform 'small p' to show that he's likely capable of better.

'Horse In Focus' Northern Cracksman can confirm recent promise

Northern Cracksman is still searching for a first win but he has offered plenty of encouragement since joining Lawrence Mullaney from Brian Ellison and shaped much better than the result might suggest the last twice.

Northern Cracksman was only ninth at Southwell on his penultimate start but he was unlucky not to finish much closer as he looked full of running but had no room inside the final couple of furlongs.

He endured another luckless passage when fourth at Wolverhampton last time as he was short of room and stumbled on the turn for home but kept on well in the straight without ever threatening. 

It's possible he may have gone close to winning the last twice granted better luck and his efforts should be marked up. He was given Timeform's Horse In Focus Flag to mark him out as one to be interested in and he also heads Timeform's weight-adjusted ratings by 3 lb here.


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