SAINT LOOKS HEAVEN SENT FOR LEICESTER BACKERS

By Nick Robson, PA

Saint Davy looks a promising sort to be heading over fences in the My True Love Gave To Me Novices' Chase at Leicester.

Very lightly-raced, he will turn seven in a few days yet he has only had three runs under rules. Nevertheless he has shown plenty of promise.

Having won an Irish point-to-point at Quakerstown he went to Carlisle almost a year later to win a bumper and then made a winning hurdling debut at Chepstow.

Connections then felt he was mature enough for Grade One company at Aintree but he lost his unbeaten record behind Apple Away.

Three miles looked to stretch him there so it is no surprise to see him starting off over two and a half.

Olly Murphy had quite a few to choose from at the initial entry stage in the Fourth Day Of Christmas Novices' Hurdle but runs Dominic's Fault.

A six-year-old gelding by Camelot he has clearly had an issue or two because this will just be his second run under rules.

He was declared to run in a bumper in May 2022 but was taken out because the ground was too quick and made his debut over hurdles at Aintree that month.

Booked for second at best when sent off favourite, he was a late faller and will be having his first run for almost 600 days.

None of his opponents set a stiff form standard so he will not have to be exceptional to win.

Sue Smith and Nick Scholfield have emerged as a notable partnership this season and they team up with Blue Bear in the Enter ITV7 For Free Novices' Handicap Chase at Catterick.

Smith's horses have been running incredibly well recently and a strike-rate of just over 20 per cent in recent weeks does not do her justice as countless others have been placed.

A brief glimpse of Blue Bear's form figures are not that inspiring, but this is only his second chase and he would not be the first from this yard to turn a corner when sent over bigger obstacles.

Charlie Longsdon's New Order did plenty wrong at Lingfield but was only touched off in a photo and can go one better in the Sky Bet Build A Bet Maiden Hurdle.

Bystander went off odds-on favourite at Redcar in the summer but badly let down favourite-backers.

He was with Simon and Ed Crisford at the time but has since been moved, like many, to Karl Burke by owner Sheikh Mohammed Obaid.

He was last of six which suggests something was amiss, as does the fact the BetMGM: It's Showtime Novice Stakes at Newcastle is his first run for 255 days.

Burke's string remain in great form and he should be a different proposition this time.

Leopardstown's Christmas meeting continues and it is the turn of the Gold Cup horses to strut their stuff in the Savills Chase.

And it really is a cracker with the current Gold Cup champion Galopin Des Champs taking on his Punchestown conqueror Fastorslow and new kid on the block Gerri Colombe.

Throw in A Plus Tard, the 2022 Gold Cup hero, and his stablemate Envoi Allen, it looks a fascinating renewal.

While there is plenty of confidence behind Galopin Des Champs returning to his best, it would have been very un-Willie Mullins like to leave him too short in the John Durkan when he had no answer to Fastorslow for a second time.

Martin Brassil's stable star showed more pace than many gave him credit for at Punchestown and can emerge as the leader of the pack outright.

Joseph O'Brien's Home By The Lee just falls short in the very best races but he won the Jack De Bromhead Christmas Hurdle last year and can repeat the dose.

He showed up well for a long way behind Bob Olinger on his return and this is likely his Gold Cup.

Mullins may have better luck at Limerick where Gaelic Warrior can add to his tall reputation by winning the Grade One Guinness Faugheen Novice Chase.

Given he sports the same famous Rich and Susannah Ricci pink and green silks as Faugheen, it is undoubtedly a race connections have had a close eye on for a while.

Top tips for today’s UK meetings

TAB is betting on 3 UK meetings today. Here are the tips.

LEICESTER: Race 1: 14.14 Dominic's Fault, Race 2: 14.49 SAINT DAVY (NAP), Race 3: 15.24
Swinging London, Race 4: 15.59 Abingworth, Race 5: 16.34 Fourofakind, Race 6: 17.09 Firak,
Race 7: 17.43 Gardener.

CATTERICK: Race 1: 14.30 Trac, Race 2: 15.05 New Order, Race 3: 15.40 Blue Bear, Race 4:
16.15 Lavida Adiva, Race 5: 16.50 Oceans Red, Race 6: 17.23 Burrows Hall.

NEWCASTLE: Race 1: 17.30 Flindrikin, Race 2: 18.00 Rocket Rod, Race 3: 18.30 Enola Grey,
Race 4: 19.00 Bystander, Race 5: 19.30 Al Farabi, Race 6: 20.00 Ruth Langmore, Race 7:
20.30 Magic Fluke, Race 8: 21.00 Secret Road.

ALL TO COME: Saint Davy (Leicester, Race 2) and Bystander (Newcastle, Race 4)

For fields, betting and more information go to www.tab4Racing.com