One trainer, one jockey, one horse and one race to watch on Saturday

One trainer

The last three Saturdays have been bad, good and even better for Nicky Henderson and although lacking a star as obvious as Might Bite, Buveur D’Air and Altior to fire at this weekend’s cards, the champion trainer is heavily represented as he aims to keep up his winter momentum.

Henderson runs only O O Seven at Doncaster, where the going remains unseasonably quick, with the majority of his representation [eight runners] concentrated much closer to home at Cheltenham.

Novice chasers Jenkins and Ok Corral could develop into future stars, as could Doux Pretender in the Grade 2 Bristol Novices’ Hurdle, a race which carries a notable roll of honour.

But it is his Caspian Caviar Gold Cup pair, Rather Be and Casablanca Mix, and We Have A Dream and Brain Power in the Unibet International Hurdle, which could provide the latest big Saturday victory for the master of Seven Barrows.

Jeremiah McGrath has the big ride on Caspian Caviar Gold Cup favourite Rather BeCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

One jockey

Nicky Henderson always stresses the importance his jockeys play in the smooth, successful running of the Seven Barrows winning machine. On Saturday it is case in point as Jeremiah McGrath is in the saddle again on Rather Be with a favourite’s chance in the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup (1.55).

The pair have been unlucky – in very different ways – on their last two runs at the course, but if Rather Be can put in a clean round he looks handicapped to go close for McGrath, the seven-year-old's regular partner who expressed confidence in his mount earlier in the week.

McGrath has ridden only four Cheltenham winners, so a fifth in the feature will be sweet.

The New One: could have his final race at Cheltenham on SaturdayCredit: Alan Crowhurst

One horse

Popular veteran The New One could have his last hurrah in the Unibet International Hurdle (3.05) unless he rediscovers some spark in a race he has won in three of the last five seasons and was narrowly defeated by the recently retired My Tent Or Yours 12 months ago.

If the Nigel Twiston-Davies trained ten-year-old improves drastically after a timid Ffos Las comeback and manages to land his seventh win at Cheltenham, the decibel level will rocket.

If it is indeed the end of the road for the 20-time winner, then he will no doubt get an equally warm and affectionate send off by the Cheltenham crowd.

Kilbricken Storm (left) won the Bristol Novices' Hurdle last year en route to festival successCredit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

One race

Perhaps it would be easy to put up the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup or the Unibet International Hurdle as the one overriding race to follow on Saturday, but a little dig into the recent history books suggests the Bristol Novices’ Hurdle (2.30) will have arguably more impact down the line.

Among the last six winners are 2015 Gold Cup hero Coneygree, two Albert Bartlett winners in Kilbricken Storm and Unowhatimeanharry and RSA Chase winner and one-time Grand National favourite Blaklion.

Second season-hurdler Aye Aye Charlie and the Nicky Henderson-trained Doux Pretender are in the nine-strong field, but no matter who wins, history tells us it is worth keeping the form in mind further down the line.

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