Ian Ogg looks for clues from this weekend's racing

Ian Ogg dusts off the old formbooks to search for clues to this weekend's winners at Cheltenham and elsewhere.

Friday, Bangor - TurfTV 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle It would be easy enough to put the blinkers on given all that's going on in Gloucestershire but don't miss this race. Whiteoak, Peddlers Cross, Backspin, My Way De Solzen and Garde Champetre are just a few of the names on the roll of honour. Only the Donald McCain (four entries in this year's race) duo went on to win at the Festival but this race does have a habit of throwing up decent winners. Entry to note: Diamond King Saturday, Cheltenham - JCB Triumph Hurdle Trial Katchit went on to win the main event in 2006/7 but the returns have, otherwise, been pretty modest with Far West's 15-length second to Our Conor the best of the rest while stablemate Sam Winner was a beaten favourite in fourth. All in all, not a race to be getting carried away with on recent trends. Entry to note: Vicenzo Mio Saturday, Cheltenham - Ryman Stationery Novices' Chase A high-class entry for this class 2 contest but this race has had little impact upon the outcome of the RSA Chase with the third-placed finishes of Cornish Rebel (third of six) and Darkness the best results for recent winners. Entry to note: Shutthefrontdoor Saturday, Cheltenham - Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle The last two winners of this haven't lined up at the Fez but the race could hardly have got off to a better start (since first run in 2004) otherwise with Brewster (third), Black Jack Ketchum (first), Flight Leader (fourth), Nenuphar Collonges (first), Tell Massini (BF, PU) and Mossley (second) all going on to run in the main event. There are only a couple of runners that really take the eye but if one of those were to oblige then their Festival claims must be taken seriously. Entry to note: Kings Palace Saturday, Cheltenham - Stewart Family Thank You Gold Cup The last four winners, Unioniste, Quantitativeeasing and Poquelin (twice), all returned as beaten favourites at the Festival but the popular Poquelin was far from disgraced in finishing second and fourth in the Ryanair. Nor was Exotic Dancer who chased home Kauto Star in the Gold Cup, while Iris Royal made the frame in the Cathcart. All in all, that's a considerably better return from the winners than might have been expected but isn't a great deal of help in terms of ante-post punting. Entry to note: Salut Flo

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Check out the latest Sky Bet betting on the Stewart Family Gold Cup

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Saturday, Cheltenham - StanJames.com International Hurdle All the race is missing is a Champion Hurdle winner although Katchit did go on to land the main event from Osana having finished second to that rival in the 2007 renewal of this race. Binocular and Khyber Kim both made the frame after winning this, while Zarkandar went on to finish fourth 12 months ago. Entry to note: The New One

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Check out the latest Sky Bet betting on the International Hurdle

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Saturday, Cheltenham - Osborne House Relkeel Hurdle Oscar Whisky has won the last two runnings but he rather fell between two stools at the Festival. Prior to the Arkle hopeful's success, the race has thrown up a couple of World Hurdle thirds (Mighty Man and Crystal D'Ainay) and a Champion Hurdle third (Zaynar). Entry to note: Ptit Zig Saturday, Doncaster - BetVictor Summit Juvenile Hurdle Only two previous renewals since the race was moved to Doncaster and both were won by John Quinn-trained horses, neither of whom ultimately cut the mustard at Cheltenham. This year's renewal could be different with a number of horses entered both here and for the equivalent race at Cheltenham and subsequent Festival heroes such Anzum, Oh So Risky and Hors La Loi III all won this contest in its previous incarnation at Lingfield. Watch this space. Entry to note: Royal Irish Hussar Sunday, Navan - Navan Novice Hurdle With the strength of Irish racing and the Willie Mullins' stable in particular there are bound to be a couple of horses that catch the eye over the weekend but this race is a must-see, pure and simple. Pont Alexandre, Boston Bob,Oscars Well and Aran Concerto were all turned over at Cheltenham but all were sent off at very short odds and winner Mikael d'Haguenet did land the money (in the Neptune) at 5/2 in the 2008/9 season, while Travino also placed in the Albert Bartlett. Cheltenham winners are surprisingly thin on the ground on the roll of honour but many have lined up at the Festival with strong claims on the book and this evidently influential race may well provide an opportunity to gain a decent ante-post position. Entry to note: Briar Hill