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

Trainer

Venetia Williams' string has been in red-hot form of late and it could be another notable day for the trainer with a host of live chances across the country, especially at Cheltenham.

The Herefordshire trainer is double-handed in the feature race of the day, the Racing Post Gold Cup (1.50), with her duo seemingly led by Farinet – an easy winner of the Listed novices' handicap chase at Sandown on the Saturday before the Cheltenham Festival on his last start and has the assistance of Rachael Blackmore in this.

The admirable Cepage, a course-and-distance winner and runner-up in this race in 2018, is the mount of the stable's number one jockey Charlie Deutsch, while Williams also has a strong chance with Frero Banbou in the 2m½f handicap chase (1.15).

She saddles three other runners on the day at Doncaster and Hereford, including likely favourite Kapga De Lily (1.22) as she bids to increase her impressive 26 per cent strike-rate over the last two weeks.

Jockey

Five of Aidan Coleman's six rides at Cheltenham on Saturday look to have live chances in each of their races, including likely favourite Song For Someone in the International Hurdle (3.00).

Aidan Coleman: has a strong book of rides at Cheltenham on SaturdayCredit: Getty Images

Coleman partnered the Tom Symonds-trained six-year-old to a narrow success in the Grade 2 contest last year and bids to join the illustrious trio of Birds Nest, Relkeel and The New One as a back-to-back winner of the race.

The Grade 1-winning jockey gets the leg up on leading fancy Dostal Phil in the Racing Post Gold Cup (1.50) and easy Lingfield winner Barony Legends in the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle (2.25), while his other notable rides include Notre Pari in the 2m½f handicap chase (1.15) and Martello Sky in the concluding 2m4½f mares' handicap hurdle (3.35).

Horse

Ballyadam had been touted for stardom in the early days of his career, but little has gone right since and he attempts to get back on track on his return to hurdles in the International Hurdle (3.00).

The Cheveley Park Stud-owned six-year-old landed the Grade 1 Royal Bond Novice Hurdle when trained by Gordon Elliott last season, but has not won since then and has yet to score in four starts for new trainer Henry de Bromhead.

Ballyadam: bids to get his career back on track in the International HurdleCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

He has failed to sparkle in two chase starts to date this season and reverts to hurdles in this Grade 2, in which he could either stake his claim as a Champion Hurdle contender or face a mammoth task to steer his career in the right direction.

Race

It may not be the traditional feature on the day, but the Racing Post Gold Cup (1.50) is stacked with quality and a deep field as many top-class handicappers meet again.

The likely favourite could be Lalor, who motored home to finish third behind the reopposing Midnight Shadow in the Paddy Power Gold Cup at the November meeting, while Coole Cody, who crashed out at the second-last when making a bold bid in retaining his Paddy Power crown, is also back for revenge.

Grade 2-winning novice chaser Silver Hallmark and Charlie Hall Chase hero Fusil Raffles add extra quality, while Beakstown and Farinet remain unexposed in this company, especially the latter, an impressive winner last time.

Read more:

2021 Racing Post Gold Cup: the runners, the odds, the verdict

2021 Racing Post Gold Cup: why this horse can win Saturday's big race

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