Saturday horse racing tips: Harry Allwood's three best bets

Best odds: 5-4.

This six-year-old caused a minor upset when winning a maiden hurdle on his debut over obstacles at Cheltenham in November, although it didn't appear a surprise to connections who were rather complimentary about their exciting prospect afterwards plus advised there was going to be plenty more improvement to come as he gained experience. 

He was pitched into Grade One company on his next outing at Aintree and while he was beaten 15 lengths into third, the ground was testing that day, and Cannock Park only faded late on. A 67-day absence afterwards probably signalled that it took him a while to recover from his exertions there, too, and he fared much better in the G2 Premier Novices' Hurdle at Kelso on his latest outing.

The winner of that contest is held in high regard and the runner-up, Jango Baie, won the Formby Novices' Hurdle (which Cannock Park finished third in) earlier this season.

Cannock Park has by far the best form next to his name here and although he has to concede weight to all his rivals, he should be good enough to get back to winning ways, especially with conditions in his favour. 

Best odds: 15-8.

Dan Skelton, who has been operating at a strike-rate of 22 per cent this month, has his team in flying form, and this looks a good opportunity for Heltenham to strike gold again at Newbury.

The seven-year-old was a rapid improver over fences last season, and landed this race with ease off a rating of 123 12 months ago, after which Skelton mentioned the Coral Gold Cup as a potential future target.

Interestingly, in a stable tour published on racingtv.com at the start of this season, Skelton said: “I could see him being one for the Coral Gold Cup next season for us, but I’m not sure he is that horse this season".

The selection still looked a big, raw horse last season and I'm not surprised his handler has decided to gradually step him up in grade.

After winning what was a pipe-opener over hurdles at the start of this season, Heltenham endured a gruelling race in testing conditions at Aintree on his next start, and I expect that's why he disappointed when returning to hurdling again in January. 

However, he looked a shade unlucky not to score when a staying-on second at Kempton (where he was forced to switch at a crucial stage) next time out before winning the BetVictor Greatwood Gold Cup over this course and distance this month.

The handicapper has raised him 6lb since, but cruised into the lead on the bridle there and appeared to idle when in front, and was definitely value for more than the winning margin suggests.

This contest doesn't look any stronger than that one, and he should take all the beating if he's in the same form on Saturday.

Best odds: 5-1.

Plenty you can make a case for here, but none more so, in my opinion, than Liberty Lane who should have plenty more to offer this season with just seven runs under his belt.

Karl Burke's charge looked a potential Group performer when bolting up on debut in October 2022 on soft ground, and while he failed to land a victory on his next four starts, he produced some useful efforts in defeat, including when second behind Royal Ascot winner Waipiro (who he was conceding 7lb to) and he also ran well in the Dante.

His connections have always said that this son of Teofilo wants give underfoot, and he relished the return to soft ground when winning a strong handicap over this course and distance off a rating of 97 in September. You can also easily excuse his next effort in the Cambridgeshire where he would have found the ground far too quick.

He returns on a rating of 102, but he's had a gelding operation since his last run, which will hopefully enable him to settle better (he raced keenly on each start last season), and will relish these conditions. 

The four-year-old also had the outside draw (albeit stall one) when victorious here last season, and I'm hoping similar tactics are repeated here from one of the widest draws in stall 20 where he just slots in behind the leaders.

The biggest concern is that this is his seasonal debut, and his fitness has to be taken on trust, but Karl Burke has had three winners, two seconds and a third from his past nine runners, and this is sure to have been his early-season target for some time.