Three top tips for Saturday: Harry Allwood's best bets

Best odds: 11-8.

It was hard not to be impressed with Jingko Blue on his chasing debut at Uttoxeter where he jumped professionally en route to defeating a decent field, and that certainly suggested he was a Graded performer in the making. 

Although he only had two rivals to beat, it was a similar scenario at Winsdor next time out where, bar a couple of novicey mistakes, he impressed in the jumping department to land the Grade Two Hampton Novices' Chase.

Interestingly, Nicky Hederson said afterwards that Jingko Blue was not primed for the race due to this contest being his aim ahead of Cheltenham, but he won with plenty to spare on his first outing over three miles. 

He appeared to stay the trip well there and although he has to concede 5lb to Lowry's Bar, who chased him home at Windsor plus may have finished closer had he not made a bad mistake three out, that rival did have the run of the race last time out.

Jingko Blue is surely open to the most progress, too, with this being his third start over fences, and should take all the beating here as the other three contenders in the race will need to raise their game to defeat the selection plus have a bit to find on the ratings.

Best odds: 4-1.

This seven-year-old did us a favour when gaining an overdue success at Ascot last time out and looks worth siding with again on Saturday.

Harry Fry's charge ran a couple of promising races in defeat at this track last season (the form of both races has worked out well) before his season was cut short after disappointing at Newbury where he was not right afterwards. 

His best efforts, including as a novice, strongly suggested he was nicely treated, and that proved to be the case with a comfortable victory over this course and distance last time out following an eye-catching effort in defeat at Doncaster on his return to action. 

The first-time cheekpieces, and step back up in trip, certainly appeared to help last time, and a 5lb rise for that victory certainly looks fair considering he defeated some useful handicappers. 

The selection has always been held in high regard by Fry, and remains unexposed over this trip plus I don't think this race look as strong as last time.

He should also have more to offer over this trip, and has only had nine starts, so ought to have further improvement left in him, so ticks plenty of boxes here with the ground conditions also in his favour.

Best odds: --

He was steadily progressive during his first season over fences, but Pedley Wood has certainly progressed again this season and a repeat of his latest performance should be good enough to complete a hat-trick here.

Joe Tizzard's charge scored at this venue over 2m4f in December where he defeated a rival who still looked ahead of the handicapper before scoring in fine style over course and distance last time out.

He became a shade outpaced there before staying on strongly, but relished the step up in trip and also appeared to be idling in front, so was probably value for more than the winning margin suggests.

This race represents a drop in grade and while he has a career-high mark to contend with now, Freddie Gingell, who finished second aboard Pedley Wood over course and distance last season, takes a valuable 3lb off.

Tizzard has been operating at a 24 per cent strike-rate in the past fortnight and the return to better ground should not hinder Pedley Wood.