Banker horse racing tips from Sporting Life and Timeform team for Saturday March 4

Calico made his name in front of the ITV cameras three weeks ago when he scared Jonbon at Warwick, but there’s a good chance he’s flattered somewhat and early markets have him short for the 1.30 at Doncaster.

To make much more attractive in this race is PAY OFF THE DEBT who has developed into a useful newcomer pursuer last winter and returned to his best form in the recent win at Musselburgh, beating Fedelio Vallis by 4¼ lengths well clear of the rest.

The third and fourth have both run well enough since then to suggest that a 6lb gain might underestimate him, and he’s conceited to express his class under his big weight.

Few coaches have had better seasons than Ben Pauling and the in-form Naunton Downs handler (eight of his last 10 runners have finished first or second) can hopefully add another to his tally WHAT’S WRONG WITH YOU in the senior handicap hurdle.

The Shantou son has been in top form, last finishing fifth in a competition at Kempton over Christmas, and has already slipped below the mark he finished at Uttoxeter last April.

This is looking like strong form as both the winner and third of the Kempton event compete at their next start and having refreshed through a 10 week break and falling behind in class he seems solid with an overall 7/ to have claims. 1.

Matt Brocklebank – HOE JOLY SMOKE (2.25 Kelso)

Dan Skelton won that race with My Drogo in 2021 and I’m inclined to think so HOE JOLY SMOKE could get pretty classy if his jumping gets a little smoother.

It’s let him down a bit up to that point, but he blew up eventual Grade 2 winner Makin’yourmindup for the first time at Chepstow (2m3f) in October and the drop to two miles caught him out there last month .

He was still running really well in third (staying on the line) after the winner did a start-stop canter from the start and I think he’ll really pick up speed again this spring.

A little rain wouldn’t have hurt Hoe Joly Smoke, but otherwise there’s plenty to do and he deserves a bet at what appears to be a generous price.

Last time he won at Chepstow he seemed to stay on the right side, even from a 12lb taller perch. SANTO’S BLUE resonates well with Kelso.

The six-year-old went through the race powerfully as she beat No No Tonic (went well next time she was second from a three-pound mark) by five and a half lengths on the day, and that’s deep and with a multitude of in-form Rivals took on him, we haven’t seen the best of the selection yet.

Kerry Lee is in great shape right now and she BLACK POPPY is backed to follow up on last year’s win in Newbury’s Make Your Best Bet At BetVictor Handicap Hurdle.

This horse beat Straw Fan Jack in a thrilling finish last year after traveling well and he reiterated his fondness for the track next time out as he separated Mark Of Gold and Irish Hill where he was only hit a nose and for Victor returned the line. Mark Of Gold is now 139-rated, having won three times since, while Irish Hill, beaten by Black Poppy by eight lengths, has since won four times and is now rated 134.

Black Poppy is up just 2lbs to 119 after trying fences and 2m4f over hurdles in just two starts since running well at Newbury, neither passed and both efforts came as Lee’s yard struggled for winners.

She’s firing on all cylinders now after having nine winners at 27% this year and Black Poppy scoring the best bet of the weekend.

You just have to backtrack four runs over fences and THE SHUNTER scared the Protectorate at Aintree in a Grade 1 after coming off a 140 mark in a competitive Cheltenham Festival handicap.

He’s probably been struggled lately with his Grand National mark in mind, mixing between hurdles and inadequate testing at the level, but with the national weights out now the handicapper can’t touch him if he wins.

Back over the bigger obstacles trip, track and soil will fit and the 4lbs he gets from Le Milos is the icing on the cake.

Gordon Elliott has his team in fine form ahead of the Cheltenham Festival and looks certain to be enjoying another profitable period of things this weekend, if MOTOWN MAGGIE vocations as one of its most likely winners.

Granted, the six-year-old filly has drawn a gap in all three starts since her successful debut over obstacles at Listowel in September (when she defeated eventual doubles winner Optimal Mix), but there’s reason to believe her last two runs have been better than they look like on paper.

Indeed she looked very much at home in a Class 2 handicap at Cheltenham for the first time before fading late in the drive whilst having an early miss finishing fourth in a Novice for Listed Mares at Thurles she did not have a hard time der Back a four month absence last time.

She seems to be getting fitter for this run and finds herself in much calmer waters at Navan on Saturday. So it will be very disappointing if she fails to defy a Turf Club mark of 123, especially as she will also benefit from Ben Harvey’s £5 claim.

Sparks Fly is an interesting handicap rookie who clearly stood out on her last run, not least given that the rider who rode her there, Laura Pearson, is renewing the partnership, but she’ll have to go a bit to get the to gain the upper hand LAND TO THE STARS who scored very comfortably in his own handicap debut at Southwell last month.

The selection hadn’t shown much before, but looking at him – he’s massive – that’s hardly surprising, and he showed the advantage of a nearly three-month hiatus at Southwell, where he went five lengths out of the field despite a furlong at the next race on the far rail and never looked like he was going to get hit.

He was raised at 6lbs for this but should be able to shake that given his size and could well be one to boot a sequence.

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