Kate Tracey, Sam Boswell and Declan Rix return in search of winners at Cheltenham and Doncaster, the latter live on Sky Sports Racing…

With the Cheltenham Festival fast approaching, many of the leading contenders head to Prestbury Park on Saturday in search of victory to underline their credentials for the main event in March.

To begin this week’s show, the team turn their attention to the Cleeve Hurdle, ran over three miles at 3.35pm.

Host Kate Tracey…

I love Strong Leader but he really disappointed in the Long Walk and he’s had that wind operation which suggests there was an issue there rather than it just being an off day. You probably want to see him run again to know it isn’t something that will reoccur, and I’m happy to see him go and win at 5/2 without backing him.

For my selection, I’m willing to forgive Crambo‘s previous Cheltenham form, given he was far from himself when running in last season’s Stayers’ Hurdle and I would chance him to back up that Long Walk success.

At The Races’ Declan Rix…

I think this is a mad betting race, I really do. Crambo was a massive drifter in the Stayers’ Hurdle last year and ran accordingly but he did the same in the Long Walk which suggested his prep wasn’t right, because on the formbook there was no way he was a 9/1 shot.

I’m not sure what to make of that contest because Beauport had all of these supposedly top class stayers off the bridle and Hiddenvalley Lake and Blueking D’Oroux have since let that form down. He’s a good jumper, he’s got a wonderful attitude and he’s a really likeable animal but he may well have had a hard race the last day because they went such a good gallop, so I’m taking him on.

At the prices I’d chance Strong Leader in the hope that the wind operation has worked, it just looked like he was starting to get on a roll before disappointing last time out and everything seemed to be coming together but it is a big question mark.

BetVictor’s Sam Boswell…

I’m going to side with him Crambo here. I tipped him up at Ascot, asking for a Christmas miracle and he delivered. He has got to go and do it again, which I think is a big question to answer but I kind of went through this race and thought, why won’t he do it again? He got the better of plenty of decent horses in the Long Walk and I know the second favourite (Strong Leader) pulled up and he’s had a wind operation since, but I need to see that that has worked before I can get involved with him.

I think Crambo should back that effort up, he’s a horse I’ve always thought a lot of, and I think he’s potentially the only contender here that will shorten up behind the warm favourite for the Stayers’ Hurdle in March. I know it will mean a lot for local trainer Fergal O’Brien and his team, and I won’t be going mad but I thought at 15/8 was a fair enough price.

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