Five horses to follow from our experts on Saturday

Tipster: Dan Overall.

Best odds: 11-2.

Tipster: Dave Nevison.

Best odds: 11-4.

READ: Dave Nevison's Saturday tips: "he has quite a bit up his sleeve"

Dan Skelton looks to have another lightly-raced potential improver on his hands with this five-year-old who bolted up in an early season maiden hurdle at Warwick when we last saw him in May. His handicap mark of 119 is based on the strength of a very promising debut in an above average event for that track.

Backing unexposed Skelton runners is definitely not for value seekers, but it is hard to work out just how much improvement some of the yards runners have in them and this one could definitely have quite a bit up his sleeve.

Tristan Durrell has really come of age this season and it is no drawback having him taking over from Harry Skelton, who is at Ascot. With the yard in such form, I do not have much concern about his fitness after an absence.

Tipster: Johnny Ward.

Best odds: 9-1 (each-way).

Tipster: Alex Scott.

Best odds: 22-1 (each-way).

READ: Festive racing: five best bets across five meetings

Five of the 11 declared runners for Saturday’s Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot are aged eight or above and I think it is the oldest horse in the line-up that is being underestimated.

Yes, others probably have room for more improvement, but we still don't know how good Lorna Fowler’s ten-year-old is over three miles and the way he saw out the two and a half miles on testing ground to win the Lismullen Hurdle at Navan last time (which was a career best) suggests he has every chance of getting home at Ascot over further.

With so little jumping in the closing stages at Navan and in what was a strongly-run race, it turned into a real test, with his finishing speed percentage of just 94.16 the highest in the contest.

He is ground versatile and is incredibly consistent, barely ever running a bad race. With no standout performer in this division, I fancy this veteran to reward each-way backers at a decent price.

Tipster: Harry Allwood.

Best odds: 9-1 (each-way)  – Advised at 10-1 ante-post.

READ: Saturday's ante-post tips: a big-race double for Pauling?

Ben Pauling’s charge was a narrow winner of this contest 12 months ago (off a 7lb lower mark) when pulling 17 lengths clear of the third, Be Aware, and the runner-up Kabral Du Mathan boosted that form when finishing second in valuable handicaps on his next two outings off an 8lb higher mark. That rival also bolted up on his seasonal return in November, so last year’s race looks a strong piece of form. 

Fiercely Proud failed to sparkle on his next two outings, although did have excuses on both occasions, and was probably feeling the effects of his exertions in this contest. 

The six-year-old returned this season with a promising effort in the Unibet Greatwood Hurdle, the same race he contested en route to victory in this race last year, and was beaten a similar distance again in November. That outing should have him primed for a repeat bid on Saturday.

A chasing campaign was mentioned in various stable tours at the start of the season, but I expect connections believe they have a strong chance of landing another valuable prize over hurdles, with a rating of 135 potentially underestimating Fiercely Proud based on the strength of his form, and the fact he should have more to offer this season. 

The selection handles give underfoot, so any further rain should not hinder him, and Pauling has hit top form in recent weeks, now operating at a 32 per cent strike-rate over the past fortnight. 

She was the best of these in bumpers and gained almost nine lengths with her jumping when winning on her hurdling bow at Newbury despite being awkward (lost 4.39mph) at the final flight. The pair who chased  her home have both won since.