Horse Racing Tips: Selections for round one of the Betfair Tipstars' Battle

Every week from now until the Festival, you will have the chance to build a free bet pot of up to £30, by simply betting £20 across the week in order to qualify for a free £10 bet, credited on March 14. Get the full lowdown on the offer by clicking here.

The winner of our first Tipstars' Battle from the start of the National Hunt season, Chris Loader, returns to defend his title against four new rivals from the racing world - we introduced them earlier this week. One Tipstar will be knocked out each week before a showdown between the final three.

So, without any further ado, on to how the quintet will be using their £20 qualifying pot this weekend...

Chris Loader - @Luckyloader15

NAP: Back Aucunrisque in the 15:00 at Kempton @ 4/1 - £6 each-way

I feel the market may have underestimated Aucunrisque who has been progressing well over hurdles and looks ready for the step up in grade.

The son of No Risk At All was very impressive when conceding a 7lb penalty to his rivals at Wincanton last month and he recorded a good time. Furthermore his win at Plumpton has been franked and he was holds an entry in the County Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival next month.

His trainer Chris Gordon trained the winner of this race in 2020 with Highway One O Two and he looks to have an outstanding candidate in this year's renewal.

NEXT BEST: Back The Big Breakaway in the 15:37 at Kempton @ 15/2 - £4 each-way

The Big Breakaway may not have lived up to expectations this season but I thought his latest performance where he finished third over hurdles at Newbury earlier in the month was a step back in the right direction.

The seven-year-old gelding looks to be on a handy mark and he was rated 1lb higher when he finished second over this C&D last season behind Shan Blue in the Grade 1 Kauto Star Novices' Chase.

If he can bounce back to that form he looks a lively contender with the fitting of a first-time tongue tie and cheekpieces.

Colin Tizzard took this prize with a similar type in Mister Malarky in 2020 and with the yard having a better season I think he can add this valuable handicap to his career tally.

Melissa Jones - @fillyonform

NAP: Back Marty Byrde in the 16:35 at Chepstow @ evens - £10 win

With track experience under his belt already and the ground to suit, John Flint's runner can score on home turf.

Sent off a big price for his December debut at the Welsh venue, he was keen mid-pack in a race dominated by prominent runners. Five weeks on, the son of Blue Bresil showed the benefit of that experience when he made the odds on favourite pull out all the stops.

That was a likeable, professional display and the pair finished 23 lengths clear of their Exeter rivals. The going can be quite a test for younger horses at this track, so it is a big plus he has already performed with credit on heavy.

NEXT BEST: Back Ballybreeze in the 13:08 at Chepstow @ 15/8 - £10 win

Sam Drinkwater's charge is a little quirky but he has more than enough ability to win this race.

Well-supported on his last couple of starts, the six-year-old's runs have not met market expectations. On Boxing Day, his Wetherby assignment looked a good opportunity for the unexposed performer. And while favourite backers will have been disappointed with third, the front two have taken three races between them since.

The tongue tie is discarded which connections clearly felt didn't make much difference last time, while Danny Burton takes 5lb off. He has ridden four out of his five winners for the stable this season.

Abbeigh Harris - @Abbeighx

NAP: Back Fantastic Lady in the 14:25 at Kempton - £10 win @ 4/1

A winner on her last two starts and having previously won at this distance, I'm going for Fantastic Lady for the Henderson yard under Nico de Boinville.

Henderson hasn't won this race since 2004, which is one of the concerns, however I think the yard definitely has a fighting chance this year to break that drought.

The ground should suit her as her last two wins have been on good or good to soft, which is the case at Kempton at the time of writing.

NEXT BEST: Back Phoenix Way in the 15:37 at Kempton - £5 each-way @ 10/1

Winning last time out, my next choice is the JP McManus-owned Phoenix Way, ridden by Kevin Brogan.

I think he has a great chance at placing in this field; he seems to like good to soft/soft ground so the weather should be a help here.

He has some strong opposition to come up against in this race such as Annsam and Chris Loader's pick, The Big Breakaway, but for some each-way value he looks to be a good pick based on form.

Chris Baker - @ChrisBaker1984

NAP: Back Tone The Barone in the 13:30 at Lingfield - £10 win bet @ 7/2

Tone The Barone was beaten at odds on by the re-opposing Strong Power over this course and distance last time out but can reverse the form on Saturday.

Conceding lots of weight in that handicap, this Stuart Williams-trained sprinter hit the front at the furlong pole before weakening close home. He will run off level weights here and looks to have the class to win in Listed company.

Prior to his recent run here, he was an impressive winner at Wolverhampton on his return from a break. He comes in to this race with an overall record of six wins from just ten All Weather starts, including one success already over the five-furlong trip at Lingfield.

NEXT BEST: Back If You Dare in the 15:10 at Lingfield - £10 win bet @ 4/1

This sprint handicap can go to the Charlie and Mark Johnston-trained colt If You Dare. Beaten by just a short head over this course and distance on his racecourse debut last year, he has won three of his seven subsequent All Weather starts.

The latest of those came last month at Southwell, where he seemed to relish the drop back in trip and made all under Joe Fanning. With the speed for six furlongs but proven stamina over further, he should once again be able to make a bold bid from the front. Marks Bear is feared most.

Marc Hryhorskyj - @MarcHryhorskyj

NAP: Back Caswell Bay in the 13:43 at Chepstow @ 12/1 - £5 each-way

My first selection is Evan Williams' Caswell Bay, who I am happy to forgive the last under-par run over course and distance. As a result, Caswell Bay has been dropped another 3lb by the handicapper and must be competitive off a mark of 106.

Caswell Bay's last victory was off a mark of 115 over C&D. All of his wins have come in this grade of class 4, and this looks a below-average affair.

NEXT BEST: Back Navajo Pass in the 16:10 at Kempton @ 11/1- £5 each-way

The second selection is Navajo Pass, a likeable sort for Donald McCain, who ran ran well for a long way at Haydock and will appreciate the step up in trip at Kempton on Saturday.

The Haydock run was a good piece of form behind Tommy's Oscar, who is an each-way alternative to Honeysuckle in the Champion Hurdle.

Navajo Pass has been dropped 3lb for that run to a mark of 137. He is currently 12lb below his last winning mark and is down in grade. The booking of Brian Hughes is positive, and the Donald McCain yard is operating at a 30% strike rate 8-27.