Saturday tips from Martin Dixon: Kelso and Doncaster selections

I'd only advise small stakes here because it could be that this grade of race is just beyond Kidman, but he's in receipt of a lot of weight all round, and shaped with lots of promise on his chasing debut at Newcastle in January where he travelled powerfully and looked the likely winner early in the home straight. He also produced some eye-catching hurdles form earlier in the season, and his second at Hexham to the very progressive Chasingouttheblues (pair clear) was a cracking effort. Perhaps the wind surgery he's had since his last run will result in some improvement, too. 

A comfortable bumper winner last summer, Joecooker's hurdles form with Rebecca Menzies has been steadily progressive, and I expect there's more to come dropped back in distance here. He shaped with abundant promise when a staying-on third at Carlisle under a considerate ride in October and built on that with an easy win at Hexham next time. He then ran much better than a 15-length defeat suggests in a Grade Two Novices' Hurdle at Haydock last time, not getting home over three miles after a slight error at the second last. This trip, track and ground should be tailormade for him, and the general 11-1 available at the time of writing looks good value. 

Although I'm very respectful of other progressive novices in this race - notably Vanderpoel - I got the impression Castle Carrock might be something a bit special when he quickened clear from the very talented mare Diva Luna to make a winning start over hurdles at Sandown in January. A strong pace looks likely, with the possibility a couple of his main form rivals soften each other up towards the head of affairs, and on pedigree, this longer distance ought to be in his favour. He is a best-priced 4-1, at the time of writing, and I'd have him much shorter in the betting, and clear favourite. 

Harry Derham's lightly-raced novice has improved with each start this season and has outstanding form claims having pulled well clear of a last-time-out winner with Bucephalus, who himself has followed up since, at Newbury on his handicap debut in January. He's been kept away from testing ground, so conditions should be spot on, and a similarly patient ride to what he received last time should be a benefit in this race that looks set to be run at a strong pace.