Dave Nevison top tips: best bets for Saturday's action

The cold snap is doing its best to get in the way of what promises to be a superb weekend of racing. Hopefully, the elements relent a bit as I’ve got four fancies among a string of good handicaps.

Joe Tizzard’s eight-year-old chaser disappointed on the face of it on his reappearance. He trailed home after going off 5/2 favourite but he might not have been quite as fit as connections felt and, in any case, he didn’t see out the 3m 3f trip.

I am inclined to forgive him, not least because it was only on the run-in that he faded out of things after jumping well.

He ended last season finishing a creditable third in the Topham after previous good efforts in competitive chases. He jumped well enough around here when fourth in this race last year, plus when filling the same position in the in the Mandarin Chase on New Year’s Eve.

If he has improved - as the money for him last time suggests he may have done - then he could represent a solid each-way option.

The application of a tongue strap has helped Brentford Hope win three of his past four runs over hurdles and his emphatic reappearance win over course and distance suggests he may finally live up to the reputation he has always had.

He bolted up by 16 lengths and unsurprisingly has gone up 11lb in the weights. He wasn’t experienced enough for the Swinton Hurdle last season, but he might well be up this Intermediate event and clearly his Flat speed is a great asset.

I’d imagine his excellent trainer Harry Derham must already have the Betfair Hurdle in February in mind but winning the Gerry Fielden can be a useful stepping stone to that race.

Won the Topham last year in good style, battling back on the run in after being headed. He is 2lb out of the weights here but he has a lot of positives in what is always the best pre Christmas handicap chase of the season.

Bill Baxter is the right age (8) for this and was only beaten once over fences last season (very likely to win but fell at Hereford) and as he showed at Aintree is clearly a very good jumper.

He returned in the Carlisle event often used as a trial for good races and ran well giving weight away in a small field. He perhaps surprisingly missed Aintree’s autumn meeting and looks very much to have been aimed at this event.

Bill Baxter’s pace-setting running style looks ideal and if he gets into a good rhythm towards the head of the field he could have some of the slower, staying types in a bit of trouble off his low weight. The race sponsors go 20/1.

I am not concerned he is slightly out of the weights as he’s capable of better yet. His trainer, Warren Greatrex, has his team in decent form.