Key horses to follow on Racing TV on Saturday

There is a stack of brilliant National Hunt action to enjoy on Racing TV this weekend with a first sighting this season of the Grand National fences at Aintree, the rescheduled Grade One Ladbrokes Champion Chase to enjoy at Down Royal as well as the West Country Weekend from Exeter and Wincanton on Friday and Saturday.

Ahead of all the action, here are five horses to keep on side.

Trainer: Gary Moore Race:BoyleSports Grand Sefton Handicap Chase (2.45pm Aintree, Saturday).

It’s hard to believe that Nassalam is still a six-year-old having already run 16 times under Rules. He failed to win last term, but he ran some fine races in defeat, including when third at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day.

He ultimately shaped as a non-stayer when beaten on two starts over an extended three miles at both Cheltenham and Aintree and the drop back to two miles and five furlongs looks a good move.

A solid jumper in the main, the idiosyncrasies of the Grand National course could well be made for him and with age on his side, there is no doubt that he has yet to reach his ceiling.

Trainer: Joe Tizzard Race:Boodles 'Rising Stars' Novices' Chase (1.50pm Wincanton, Saturday).

Chasing has always been the long-term plan for the six-year-old who flattered to deceive over hurdles following a positive start for team Tizzard.

Having pulled some muscles last season, connections decided to wait until this term to go novice chasing and they were rewarded with a deeply impressive debut over fences when JPR One cruised to victory in a three-runner novice handicap at Newton Abbot.

The Rising Stars has been the plan since and, whilst the classy Knappers Hill and the unexposed Doyen Star are both names to note, JPR One failed to reach his potential over hurdles and chasing could really be the making of him.

Trainer: Joe Tizzard Race:Betway Novices' Hurdle (1.45pm Exeter, Friday).

The €82,000 purchase caught the eye on debut with a brilliant performance at Warwick with the manner in which he quickened clear of particular interest.

A 13-length winner, he kept on really strongly all the way to the line and while the form has taken a few knocks he still looks capable of any amount of progression.

In a recent stable tour with Graham Clark, Tizzard said about the four-year-old: “he has got all the potential in the world. He won a bumper for us by 13 lengths at Warwick in a real good time. He is schooling away, and he looks the business.”

Trainer: Dan Skelton Race:Betway 'Future Stars' Silver Bowl Novices' Chase (2.55pm Exeter, Friday)

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 at Aintree last time out, but the form of that race looks particularly strong given the likes of Maximilian, Iroko and Stay Away Fay all filled the placings.

He looks to have the size and scope to make a chaser and his early-season target is the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase. The only concern is the fact that he sometimes needs his first run of the season, but in the words of his trainer, “he is possibly the most exciting novice chaser we’ve got.”

Trainer: Gary Moore Race:Betway Haldon Gold Cup (3.30pm Exeter, Friday).

The nine-year-old enjoyed a coming of age season last term, landing the Desert Orchid Chase before enjoying Grade One glory in the rescheduled Clarence House Chase at Cheltenham.

He was firmly put in his place when well-beaten in both the Champion Chase and the Celebration Chase, but despite having to carry a penalty the Haldon Gold Cup looks a perfect starting point for the new season.

Gary Moore’s stable star is arguably still on the upgrade and this doesn't look the strongest renewal of the Betway Haldon Gold Cup, with the pick of his form marking him down as a leading player.