Nick Luck’s William Hill blog: Cheltenham and Doncaster tips

William Hill ambassador Nick Luck previews a bumper Saturday’s action across William Hill’s Showcase Saturday at Cheltenham and the William Hill Futurity card at Doncaster.

Saturday, Cheltenham

WEVEALLBEENCAUGHT makes appeal in the Cheltenham TV opener on Saturday (1.10). Considered smart by previous connections, he showed flashes of real talent, but ultimately let the side down. That said, he’s a big unit who may only just be maturing, ran well on his new stable debut, and has shown form here that entitles him to be in the mix off this mark.

MILLFORCE can take the three-mile novices’ hurdle (1.45), invariably a decent test despite the small field. He’s looked a thorough stayer on good ground in points and under rules and, although his latest effort is nearly good enough as it stands, he should be much happier going left-handed.

SOME SCOPE can continue his trainer’s creditable record in races like this (2.20). This is still a young horse, but I was impressed with the way he travelled here in April in decent enough company. That showed he could hack a stern pace on a track like this, but he’s still running off a very low mark.

GOWEL ROAD is interesting in the Pertemps Qualifier (2.55). He was sixth in the Final in March, a reproduction of which will see him placed at least, but he’s capable of better than that, and his overall profile strongly suggests two things: that he can run well off a break and that – even though he can be a bit sluggish – he is probably better on a sounder surface.

BOTTLER’SECRET should be pretty difficult to beat on these terms in the Masterson Hurdle (3.30). While `I think Royal Way is a horse who could make a big impact this season further down the track, the selection has achieved too much in Graded company to think he’s obviously vulnerable at these weights.

Saturday, Doncaster

ARCTIC VOYAGE can take another step up the ladder in the William Hill Prospect Stakes at Doncaster (1.30). He has proven stakes performers to beat, but there are very few that can ease through bad ground as well as he did at Nottingham. As a half sibling to Lady Bowthorpe and Speak in Colours, he should do a lot better still.

DESIGNER looks primed to go well in the sprint handicap (2.05). Second in this from a higher mark two years ago, he hasn’t really lost his form albeit lightly enough raced. He ran well last time, gets a nice pull in the weights from a few of these, and it seems significant that Jamie Spencer takes over.

HOTAZHELL has more to offer and is overpriced in the William Hill Futurity (2.40). He looked for all the world as though another furlong would have seen him better Henri Matisse in the Irish Futurity, then took the Beresford in commanding fashion. An even sterner test should suit, and he’d dangerous to overlook.

MAKE YOU SMILE looks a promising horse, and can confirm that in the Horris Hill at Newbury (3.10). HIs debut success over course and distance in bad ground could scarcely have worked out better, and the yard has sufficient juvenile depth this season to know whether diving straight into a Group race is appropriate.

SALT BAY is a pretty frustrating customer, but might get his day in the St Simon (3.45). His best run of the year was on easy ground over this course and distance, and would give him a big shout here. He’s looked a bit lazy and unwilling on occasions, and is just the sort who could have one fine day in the added blinkers.