Horse racing tips for Saturday: Dave Nevison's best bets

This does look a veterans’ hurdle full of exposed types on paper, but West To The Bridge arrives here on the back of a good run last time, at least, and is very well handicapped on a rating 4lb below his last winning mark.

Dan Skelton could not be in better form, either, and this ten-year-old’s return to form at Uttoxeter where he finished runner-up behind a revitalised Dargiannini, could have been due to reverting back to making the running.

He was dropped another pound after that outing, but I think the selection should have been raised a pound instead.

The cheekpieces, as well as the tongue tie, may have made a positive difference there, too, and he has won over further than this trip (albeit in a weak event) so stamina shouldn’t be an issue.

The winners of this prestigious handicap have been at a fair spread of prices in recent years and with the mass of extra places on offer, I am happy to side with one at bigger odds.

Alan King’s Frankel gelding Restitution stays very well and will certainly be well suited by the prevailing ground conditions plus he’s been generally improving steadily throughout his Jumps career.

He has won three handicaps since this time last year and was impressive at Doncaster last time out in a strong Conditional Jockey’s Handicap Hurdle where his young rider was unable to claim any allowance.

I don’t know whether Alexander Thorne is from the “Spartan Missile” family, but he looks a good rider and Alan King, along with Highclere Racing, are sticking with him in this big event, and his 5lb claim will be useful here.

I am happy to take a chance Restitution can finish sixth, at least, and he’s a best-priced 40-1 currently.

I don’t know what has kept this lightly-raced six-year-old off the track for a couple of months but I have this JP McManus-owned gelding flagged up for a strongly-run handicap in my Racing TV Tracker, and he looks set to get that here.

My view on Dan Skelton as the best target trainer around remains the same and this contest looks the perfect stepping stone for the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, with a win here likely to get him a run in that race.

He has not had a strongly run race as yet, but will do this time and, given that guaranteed pace, I am not concerned by the slight drop back in trip.

He has already scored over course and distance on this ground, so it is tough to see him not going well.

The booking of Brian Hughes for this JP McManus-owned bottom weight certainly takes the eye and he will almost certainly be better suited by this ground than the testing conditions he endured in a better race at Warwick last time out.

He certainly would have been closer but for travelling wide throughout there and he should still be improving over fences. Charlie Longsdon is having a very good season, too.