Five key horses to follow on Racing TV on Saturday

Race:Follow Us on Twitter @Betrhino Maiden Hurdle - 12.28pm, Huntingdon.

Best odds: --

Tipster: Danny Archer.

A £200,000 purchase, he is related to a number of winners and looks a nice prospect.

He was a good second on rules debut behind the exciting Jango Baie. The pair pulled well clear at Ascot, with Ben Pauling's charge narrowly denied having been prominent throughout.

This looks a very winnable opportunity, and bigger targets will await this four-year-old. He was arguably too keen last time out, but should pick be able to win a novice hurdle based upon his latest effort.

Race:Betfair Exchange Graduation Chase - 1.50pm, Haydock.

Best odds: 2-1.

Tipster: Danny Archer.

Progressed rapidly through the ranks last term, backing up victories at Exeter and Kempton with a gutsy win in the Leamington Spa at Warwick in very testing ground. He was still travelling well when falling in the Sefton Novices' Hurdle at Aintree at the end of last season, but the form of that race looks particularly strong given the likes of Maximilian, Iroko and Stay Away Fay all filled the placings.

He chased home Stay Away Fay on his chasing debut, beaten two and three-quarter lengths into third. He jumped well in the main before the petrol gauge emptied and he should strip much fitter for that reappearance.

He remains an exciting prospect over fences and according to his trainer, “he is possibly the most exciting novice chaser we’ve got.”

Race:Betfair "Serial Winners" Stayers' Handicap Hurdle - 2.20pm, Haydock.

Best odds: 20-1.

Tipster: Andy Stephens.

At the general 20-1 on offer, there's lots to like about the improving Santos Blue.

He was probably a bit flattered to get within 2¼ lengths of Crambo last time out, but Ben Sutton, son of owner Nick, dropping his whip in the closing stages certainly didn’t help his cause. Throw in the fact that he's 6lb better off at the weights now plus is already proven over 3m – he was a close third to Broadway Boy over the trip at Cheltenham in the spring when given plenty to do – and the massive gulf in prices becomes even more bewildering.

Sutton, an amateur who claims 7lb, seems sure to keep the ride given the family connection. The past three editions of the race have been won by a claimer, and there's lots to like about Santos Blue's credentials.

Race:Betfair Chase - 3.00pm, Haydock.

Best odds: 10-1.

Tipster: Andy Stephens.

His record over fences at Haydock reads 1121, with his only defeat coming at the hands of A Plus Tard in the 2021 running of this race when he suffered a leg wound and was running on ground too quick for him. His second Peter Marsh Chase win, nine weeks later, off a mark of 163 marked him down as a top notcher.

His Cheltenham efforts look easy enough to overlook – it’s not his track and he’s never had the deep ground he is so effective on there – and his record fresh is encouraging. He missed last year’s Betfair Chase because of an untimely setback and was probably still short of his peak when a 14-length runner-up to Bravemansgame in the King George the following month. Venetia Williams has struck with ten of her past 24 runners (five of her beaten runners have been second) and will be hoping the mud is flying.

One negative is that his overall record in Grade One races reads 625526, being beaten at least 14 lengths on each occasion, and you could argue he’s merely a top-notch handicapper, but nothing more. He won’t want the ground to dry out, which it did two years ago when he was completely outspeeded by A Plus Tard, and he fell when we last saw him in action, in the Irish National, plus blemish-free rounds with him are a bit of a rarity.

However, it would be folly to underestimate him, given his course form, staying power and penchant for soft ground, not to mention his stable’s wellbeing.

Race:Betfair "Free Racing Multple Today" Handicap Chase - 3.35pm, Haydock.

Best odds: 7-2.

Tipster: Harry Allwood.

Nicky Richards' charge showed a useful level of form over hurdles and while he proved a shade disappointing on his first two outings over fences at the start of this year, he looked a chaser going places when recording back-to-back victories at Wetherby on his final two starts last season.

He was noticeably strong at the finish on the first of those victories (over 2m5½f) before relishing the step up in trip to three miles to score with more in hand than the winning margin suggests.

The seven-year-old was quietly fancied for the Scottish Grand National thereafter, but was a non-runner due to fast ground.

He's also closely related to Mullaghanoe River, who achieved a rating of 136 over fences, and 2021 Mares' Novices' Hurdle winner Telmesomethinggirl, so his breeding suggests he will be capable of further progress this season.

I have no doubt a rating of 128 underestimates this seven-year-old who looked in need of the outing when fourth in a bunch finish over an inadequate trip on his return to action at Ayr, and he will relish going further than three miles for the first time on Saturday.

His handler also has high hopes for him this season and the ground conditions are ideal, so there's lots to like about his chances.