Weekend action: Four exciting jumps horses to note

Secret Investor (16:55 Cheltenham, Saturday)

Secret Investor showed useful form when winning the Persian War Novices’ Hurdle on his reappearance last season and developed into an even better chaser, signing off for the campaign with a comfortable win in the Grade 2 Future Champion Novices’ Chase at Ayr. It may be a rather fanciful tag for a race that doesn’t throw up many high-class chasers, but Secret Investor looked like a good prospect and, considering how strongly he finished the season, could yet do better in this sphere (rated 147p). Secret Investor is only a novice until the end of the month, so this looks like a good bit of placing from Paul Nicholls, and it would be little surprise to see him take this prize before having a crack at some of the top-end handicaps. 

The Newest One (17:30 Cheltenham, Saturday)

There is sure to be plenty of interest surrounding The Newest One on his debut under Rules bearing in mind the popularity of his close relation The New One. The New One was a fantastic servant for connections and won 20 races, including two Grade 1s, in a long and illustrious career that finished with his retirement last December. The New One unsurprisingly won his bumper on debut, as did half-sister Shimmer’s Rock, so there are reasons to positive about The Newest One, who makes his debut with the Nigel Twiston-Davies yard in good form.

Kalashnikov (15:00 Aintree, Sunday)

Kalashnikov’s finest hour came when he landed the Manifesto Novices’ Chase to make his breakthrough at Grade 1 level and he returns to Aintree to take on Ryanair Chase winner Frodon in an exciting renewal of the Old Roan Chase. Frodon also won this race last season, but is now 11 lb higher in the weights, and must give a stone to Kalashnikov, who experienced an up-and-down novice campaign last term, meeting with a couple of short-price defeats. However, the imposing Kalashnikov looked ideally suited by the step to two and a half miles when winning the Manifesto and he remains with untapped potential over fences, particularly when faced with an adequate test of stamina.

Stepped up in trip, KALASHNIKOV seals a first Grade 1 success over fences with victory in the Manifesto Novices' Chase at @AintreeRaces under @jackquinlan92!

Great training performance by @almracing 👏

📽️ @RacingTV pic.twitter.com/D0aKYlaPya

— Timeform Live (@TimeformLive) April 4, 2019

Battleoverdoyen (13:40 Galway, Sunday)

Battleoverdoyen ran no sort of race when sent off 3/1 favourite for the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, but he had previously created a fantastic impression, winning his point and three starts under Rules, and he looks every inch a chaser. He looked an excellent prospect when winning his maiden hurdle by 13 lengths at Navan last December and then showed a good attitude to see off more seasoned novices in a Grade 2 at Naas. His size and scope suggests he ought to excel over fences and it’s interesting Gordon Elliott starts him off in the beginners chase Don Cossack won six years ago.