Newsboy's horse racing selections for Saturday's ITV meetings at Cheltenham and Doncaster

Newsboy fancies Paul Nicholls' Il Ridoto for the Virgin Bet December Gold Cup (1.50) at Cheltenham, while his Nap, Destroytheevidence, can prove too strong for his rivals in the 3.00

IL RIDOTO can show his rivals the way around Cheltenham and capture the Virgin Bet December Gold Cup (1.50) at Cheltenham today.

On what will be his seventh visit to the track he can carry Bryony Frost to another big-race victory at jumping’s HQ.

Il Ridoto was also the selection for the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham in November. He ran right up to his best to finish third behind stablemate Stage Star despite meeting some interference after the third-last fence.

Time may show that he was meeting two well above average second-season chasers who he couldn’t possibly have beaten at the weights.

Trainer Paul Nicholls’ stable jockey, Harry Cobden – who partnered Stage Star – rides Monmiral, who is on a bit of a recovery mission and has yet to score over fences.

Il Ridoto, one of only two course and distance winners in the field, has been dropped 1lb since his last start. He is the horse for the course.

It could be ‘Fergie time’ at Cheltenham where trainer Dan Skelton changes tack with the ex-Manchester United manager’s PROTEKTORAT (2.25) who returns to handicapping today.

At Haydock 21 days ago, the Cheltenham Gold Cup fifth was expected to give another good account of himself in his defence of the Betfair Chase he captured in 2022.

But his race was effectively over from the moment he made a hash of the first fence and, though he completed, he finished last of four, 29 lengths behind Royale Pagaille.

It ruined Christmas for connections who have had to scrap plans to aim at the King George VI Chase but there are other good prizes to be won including this £100,000 handicap chase.

Protektorat is a two-time course winner who has also run some big races in defeat at Cheltenham and, as long as Haydock was a one-off, he looks set to bounce back.

PRINCE ESCALUS (1.15) can take advantage of a mark 2lb below his last win on his third visit to Cheltenham of the season.

He was well beaten in October but ran a decent fourth next time to finish fourth behind Triple Trade, beaten just over four lengths, and is ready to put his head in front.

DESTROYTHEEVIDENCE (3.00, nap) smashed his rivals in two recent wins at Kempton and can make his presence felt up a level in the Grade 2 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle.

He had plenty in hand when winning by six and a half lengths on his handicap debut and showed he relished a 3m trip.

The upwardly mobile duo of Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero can record another Saturday win in front of the ITV cameras with WINDTOTHELIGHTNING (3.35).

The five-year-old has risen 22lb from winning four of her last five starts and captured a Wetherby handicap hurdle last time out with the utmost ease.

There was no luck about the victory of CERENDIPITY (2.05) at Wetherby last time. He ground out a length-and-three-quarters win and has not been unduly punished by the handicapper at Doncaster.

NAYATI (2.40) should not be overlooked in the 2m handicap hurdle. The winner of eight hurdles lost a shoe when fifth at Huntingdon on his first start since April and the McCain stable is in a rich vein of form.

Time is running out for MISTER COFFEY (3.15) to get off the mark over fences. The Nicky Henderson-trainee, who finished eighth in the Grand National, is in his third campaign as a novice.

He was well beaten at Cheltenham last month due to some errant jumping but if he can brush that up his turn will come – hopefully today.