Paddy's Pick 5: tips for Saturday's free-to-play £25,000 game

Click here for form and odds. Selection: MCTIGUE

There’s a £100,000 bonus on offer to the connections of any horse who wins here before going on to glory in any race at the Cheltenham Festival. Emmet Mullins pulled off the double with The Shunter two years ago and it looks like he’s laid out MCTIGUE for the same double.

A smart performer on the Flat for Jim Bolger, he won his first two starts over hurdles in taking style and he now has his sights lowered after contesting graded races on his past two starts. The obvious race for him at Cheltenham will be the Boodles because the conditions of that race dictate that no horse will carry more than 11st 12lb – which he’s already been allotted. In other words, he would not have a penalty.

The progressive Deere Mark rates an obvious threat after his wins at Hereford and Kempton, while Teddy Blue, third in the Betfair Hurdle last time, should give it another good go. L’Eau Du Sud has probably got more in his locker and some Paddy’s Pick 5 players will no doubt bank on last year’s winner of this, Cormier, as he’s only 2lb higher in the ratings. However, this is a deeper renewal.

Click here for form and odds. Selection: WHATSUPWITHYOU

There can be little dispute that WHATSUPWITHYOU has been disappointing since finishing fourth to Galopin Des Champs in the Martin Pipe at Cheltenham two years ago.

He’s won just once since, when scrambling home at Uttoxeter in the spring, but every cloud has a silver lining and he has tumbled 17lb in the ratings since that fine effort at The Festival. Other positives are that he acts well on good/quick ground and that his stable has been resurgent this season.

Dargiannini was a commanding winner on soft ground at Uttoxeter last time. The 8lb rise is a less of a concern than the drying ground.

The drop in trip is not sure to suit Jay Bee Why, who plugged on to be third over 3m here last time, while the handicapper may be in charge of Lock’s Corner to judge by his defeat off a career-high hurdle mark at Huntingdon last time.

Click here for form and odds. Selection: NEMEAN LION

Kerry Lee has enjoyed a bright start to the year after a quiet time, having nine winners from 33 runners. Had you blindly put £1 on each, you would be almost £34 in profit.

Her NEMEAN LION has solid form claims here after finishing third in the Tolworth last time, having previously chased home the smart Hullnback at Haydock. A smart stayer on the Flat for Andre Fabre in his early years, he should enjoy this stiffer test of stamina.

Colonel Harry finished a place behind Nemean Lion in the Tolworth after making a bold attempt to make all. He’s since got back to winning ways and, given he jumps left, this track should suit him better than Sandown.

Feronily’s bumper form entitles him to respect but this is a tough introduction to hurdling. Snake Roll had looked a good prospect before fluffing his lines at Haydock and may be a better option than Accidental Rebel, who has a 5lb penalty for his success in the Persian War at Chepstow, and Carcai Castle, a promising type but unlikely to come into his own until sent over fences.

Click here for form and odds. Selection: SANTOS BLUE

SANTOS BLUE has looked a different proposition since switching to handicap ranks and he can complete a hat-trick of wins.

The handicapper has hit him with another 12lb rise for his latest success at Chepstow but he won in taking style and the horse he pulled clear with, No No Tonic, has since run another fine race in defeat at that track.

Nells Son is feared most. He’s 2/2 here at Kelso and ran creditably off a 2lb higher mark in a competitive race at Cheltenham last time. Dancewiththewind is also a dual course winner, scoring with something to spare here a couple of weeks ago. His connections cannot grumble with a 4lb rise.

Well Educated has thrived since joining George Bewley (four wins from six starts) but finds himself in a deeper race from a career-high mark on his first start since late October.

Click here for form and odds. Selection: LE MILOS

This race is a second preference for Zanza, who is instead set to run at his beloved Newbury. The obvious one among the other quartet is LE MILOS, who has taken his form to another level since joining Dan Skelton this season.

Impressive on his return at Bangor, he then dug deep to land the Coral Gold Trophy at Newbury. He’s been given plenty of time to recharge his batteries and this looks a great stepping stone to the Randox Grand National.

The Shunter is just about the pick of the weights but he’s yet to win much beyond 2m4f and, as a consequence, it could be that front-running veteran Wishing And Hoping poses the main threat.

He gave his connections a great thrill when landing the valuable final of the Veterans’ Series at Sandown last time and would only be 2lb better off with Le Milos if this was a handicap.

Empire Steel has Kelso form on his CV but his record points to deep ground being important to him, plus he’s got a bit on his plate on these terms.