It’s the last chance for trainers up and down the country to give their festival hopefuls a prep run at the Gloucestershire track on Saturday on Festival Trials day. Add to that the always competitive Skybet Chase at Doncaster and there are plenty of races to get excited about betting on this weekend.

Only eight runners were declared for the Letherby and Christopher Chase at 2.35pm and looking down the runners it’s difficult to see any getting amongst the places in the totesport Gold Cup come March. Halcon Genelardais finished fourth in the Gold Cup last year and looks well in at the weights here with 10 lbs in hand of top weights Ollie Magern (50/1) and Snoopy Loopy (20/1). At 5/2 favourite here with totesport he surely has claims on the heavy going. Tidal Bay is an interesting runner and at 5/1 is probably best watched here to see if he gets the trip and will indeed take his chance in the Gold Cup in March.

In the Cleeve Hurdle, ante post World Hurdle favourite Punchestowns is an odds on shot at 8/11 with totesport. With the retirement of Inglis Drever Nicky Henderson’s young charge has a great chance of a festival success, but could be vulnerable here on heavy going and some seasoned campaigners to come up against. Front runner Lough Derg at 16’s is sure to take them off at a clip and it’ll be interesting to see how this suits Fair Along (7/1), a winner at Cheltenham’s December meeting and Hennessy favourite Big Buck’s (7/2) who is reverting to hurdles after unseating Sam Thomas back in November.

The Skybet Chase sees According to Pete take favourtism with totesport to head a big field at 13/2 with totesport. The Malcolm Jefferson trained 8 year old is on a five timer here and the ground and trip will suit and has taken to fences superbly after two places in handicap hurdles at the Cheltenham and Aintree festivals last spring. It’s 7/1 bar the field and it’s a really competitve betting heat. According to Pete will take all the beating but if the weight gets the better of him the Ferdy Murphy trained Noir Et Vert and Hot Weld will be waiting in the wings at 16/1 and 50/1 respectively. I’m especially interested to see how Hot Weld runs after a lay-off of 637 days since doing the Scottish national/Betfred Chase double in the Spring of 2007. It would be a hell of a training performance is he places on Saturday.

For all your horse racing betting this weekend, bet with totesport.