Nick Luck’s blog: A bumper Saturday in store

A bumper Saturday for racing fans to enjoy with a host of races in front of the ITV cameras in England, Ireland and Scotland.

Nick Luck has been busy beavering away and has 11 selections…

Sandown

GUNSIGHT RIDGE can follow up his recent course and distance win in the TV opener at Sandown (1.15pm) at 3/1. That was a really tidy performance, for which he received rave reviews from rider Aidan Coleman. He remains open to further progress and ought not to have too many issues with this faster ground.

GLOBAL CITIZEN is overpriced at 6/1 in the Contenders’ Hurdle (1.50pm). He ran extraordinarily well behind Tommy’s Oscar at Haydock given how hard he attended the pace, and he runs genuinely when his breathing isn’t bothering him. The front of the market looks pretty shaky here.

L’HOMME PRESSE looks a perfectly good favourite in the Scilly Isles (2.20pm) at 4/5. Not only has he travelled smoothly through his races this season, his jumping has been immaculate. While Pic d’Orhy is no pushover, his jumping has been significantly chancier than the selection and stable form remains a worry.

BORN PATRIOT can go close in a smart handicap hurdle (2.55pm) at 9/1. He’s been off since an excellent second in October in a race he might have won but for jumping errors. He might need to run very well here to ensure a run in the Pertemps final and Kevin Brogan’s three pound claim will help in a race of fine margins.

FIVE STAR GETAWAY (10/3) can win again in the Masters Chase (3.30pm). A likeable and enthusiastic pace pusher, he hasn’t been clobbered by the handicapper for his Kempton success, while the second that day, Fortescue, has run very well subsequently in better company. Decent ground suits and this track has played to his strengths before.

Leopardstown

VAUBAN gets the nod in the first ITV4 Grade 1 from the Dublin Racing Festival (1.35pm) at 13/8. He pushed Pied Piper very hard on his hurdling debut and might well have won had he not been hampered consistently from the last to the line. That was a very smart effort, backing up his progressive form from the Flat.

KEMBOY might be favourite or joint favourite for the Irish Gold Cup (3.15pm), but he’s not a bad price at 3/1 and I make him a clear pick. He has never run a bad race at this track, which seems to suit him so well and, although the theory could run that Frodon will compromise his chance on the front, it should be noted that Kemboy won a Savills very impressively with a hold up ride. He is not entirely one-dimensional.

Musselburgh

GLEN FORSA can win the first of the three televised races from Musselburgh (2.05pm). He has been running with credit for his new stable in better races, is in calmer waters here, and should appreciate a lesser emphasis on stamina at 4/1.

DIOCLETIAN (13/2) is a bit of a punt in the Scottish County Hurdle (2.40pm), but the front of the market looks very shaky here, and this horse remains pretty unexposed over hurdles. Even on this sharp track, he needs to settle better, but he is not too badly handicapped and could easily improve for a breathing operation and a switch to a more NH-orientated stable.

STEP BACK is a big price at 10/1 in the Edinburgh National (3.45pm). There was just enough in his comeback to suggest that there’s a bit of life in him yet, he’s gradually coming down the weights and he should absolutely love a marathon on a sound surface. He’s low mileage for his age.

Wetherby

AHOY SENOR is not completely bombproof, but ought really to deal with his three rivals in the William Hill Towton (2.30pm) at 4/7. Track configuration and ground should suit exceptionally well.