Jump racing dominates across the UK and Ireland on Saturday, with six meetings taking place throughout the day.

First off is Doncaster, then Hereford, Fairyhouse and Cheltenham, before the emphasis switches to the Flat on Tapeta at Newcastle and Wolverhampton.

Amongst our Saturday fancies is a mare trained by Fergal O’Brien, who is taken to complete a hat-trick in the concluding race on Cheltenham’s card.

14:05 Doncaster – Deeper Blue @ 5/1

Lastly, Harry Fry has a notable 22% strike-rate in the month of December and he is 10-37 (27%) with his runners at Doncaster. His DEEPER BLUE has decent each-way claims in the Class 3 2m3f Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase at the Yorkshire venue.

The selection has placed on good ground, produced both of his two hurdles victories on good to soft and his improved effort over fences at Plumpton in October came on good to soft ground, so the official going description seems ideal.

The seven-year-old did particularly well to take second at Plumpton, beaten by only a length, having had plenty to do to get in contention when exiting the home turn.

He was raised 2lb for that effort, but looks more than capable of going one place better if that was truly a sign that the penny is really dropping with him over the bigger obstacles.

15:00 Cheltenham – Shanagh Bob @ 2/1

SHANAGH BOB cost the Donnellys of Al Boum Photo fame 200,000GBP shortly after breezing to victory in an Irish point in this month last year on soft and he was sent off 2/9 favourite for his stable debut for Nicky Henderson at Plumpton last month.

The selection made a good impression over the intermediate trip on good to soft ground at Plumpton that day, winning going away by seven lengths from the front.

The son of Mahler is stepping up in class and trip, but official ratings suggest this isn’t the strongest running of this Grade 2 novice hurdle and he looks capable of maintaining his unbeaten record.

15:35 Cheltenham – Bonttay @ 5/2

BONTTAY is representing Fergal O’Brien in the Class 2 extended 2m4f Mares’ Handicap Hurdle which concludes Cheltenham’s Saturday card. O’Brien has begun December brightly, and he is 5-19 (26%) in the past fortnight.

The selection won her first three starts in bumpers in 2021 including two such contests on the Old Course at Cheltenham. In fact, the daughter of Westerner has finished first six times and second three times in her nine-race career thus far.

She is likeably ground-versatile and arrives on a hat-trick over hurdles from a mark of 123, having won at Kelso on soft in the spring and Hereford on good last month.

The winning time was promising at Hereford and she looks capable of coping admirably with a 5lb higher mark considering she is bred to appreciate this step up to an intermediate trip.