Irish horses running in the UK on Saturday: Cheltenham and Doncaster

It's Festival Trials Day at Cheltenham on Saturday, the last day of action at the Cotswolds venue before the biggest four days of the season in mid-March.

There is plenty of Irish interest on the card, with 11 runners travelling to Cheltenham, while six Irish contenders make their way to Doncaster as Town Moor hosts a quality Saturday offering.

Irish runners set for Cheltenham Trials Day

12.40 - JCB Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 2) - Hardy Stuff (Gordon Elliott)

After a stunning Christmas, things have cooled for Gordon Elliott this month. This Churchill gelding got up on the line to win a Leopardstown maiden hurdle on December 27 and will need further improvement, rising in grade here.

11.15 - Betfair Exchange Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) - Moon D'orange (John McConnell)

Moon D'orange ran a solid race at Cheltenham on New Year's Day but was only fifth of nine runners as Matata scored. He's rated 3lb lower for this Cotswolds return for the John McConnell yard.

11.50 - Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase - Favori De Champdou (Gordon Elliott), Final Orders (Gavin Cromwell), J'arrive De L'est (Emmet Mullins), Where It All Began (Gordon Elliott), Peaches And Cream (Gavin Cromwell)

Five Irish contenders take on the Cross Country challenge at Cheltenham and none is more interesting than Final Orders after his December success here for Gavin Cromwell and Keith Donoghue, the man that rides this quirky layout better than anyone.

The Emmet Mullins-trained J'arrive De L'est was second last month and is 6lb better off now, while Elliott's Where It All Began tackles a Cross Country race having lost his way over regulation fences and Cromwell also saddles Peaches And Cream - sixth here in the race Final Orders won last month.

2.25 - Betfair Cotswold Chase (Grade 2) - Flooring Porter (Gavin Cromwell), Spillane's Tower (Jimmy Joseph Mangan)

The Cromwell yard has laboured at times this season, but winning the Thyestes at Gowran Park on Thursday completed a treble for the team and they will hope a corner has been turned with spring in sight.

A dual Festival winner over hurdles, Flooring Porter won over fences as a novice here in October 2023 and is an interesting contender on his first run since winning Kerry National at Listowel 486 days ago.

Jimmy Mangan sends Spillane's Towner here after a couple of spins over hurdles this season and he has questions to answer. Both Irish raiders look up against it with last year's winner L'Homme Presse and Dan Skelton's leading Gold Cup contender Grey Dawning joining them in a select field.

4.10 - AIS Novices' Hurdle (Grade 2) - Heads Up (John McConnell), Open Secret (Gordon Elliott)

Heads Up scored on hurdles bow at Listowel in September for McConnell and lost little in defeat when second to No Drama This End over 2m5f here in November, with that rival landing the Grade 1 Challow since.

Another graded winner, Moneygarrow was behind in fifth that afternoon and Danny Mullins looks an excellent jockey booking here, with last-time-out Naas maiden winner Open Secret also a contender for Elliott.

Doncaster hosts quality Irish contenders

12.20 - Virgin Bet Every Saturday Money Back Fillies' Juvenile Hurdle (Listed) - Highland Crystal (Gordon Elliott)

The unbeaten Highland Crystal looked good at Newbury in Listed company in November when making it 2-2 for Elliott and Robcour and her clash with Auteuil winner Manlaga makes for an interesting Donny opener - the latter, by Maxios, is now with Nicky Henderson after being bought by JP McManus.

12.55 - Virgin Bet Daily Extra Places River Don Novices' Hurdle (Grade 2) - Thedeviluno (Paul Nolan)

Paul Nolan's Gowran Park maiden winner Thedeviluno was second behind Doctor Steinberg in an attritional Grade 2 at Navan in December on testing ground. He rises in trip for the River Don Novices' Hurdle, the Doncaster contest boasting a strong field of 12 runners.

1.30 - Virgin Bet A Good Bet Yorkshire Rose Mares' Hurdle (Grade 2) - Jetara (Jessica Harrington), Dream On Baby (Emmet Mullins), Feet Of A Dancer (Paul Nolan), Mousey Brown (Dermot McLoughlin)

Defending champion Jetara looks to make it three straight Irish-based winners of the Yorkshire Rose Mares' Hurdle. Jessica Harrington's eight-year-old has mostly kept strong company against geldings since winning this race 12 months ago.

The likeable Feet Of A Dancer - second to Wodhooh at Christmas - could have something to offer for Nolan, while Emmet Mullins saddles Dream On Baby after finishing third in that Leopardstown contest.

Mousey Brown was an 80/1 poke and finished last of five in that Kerrymount Mares Hurdle and looks up against it once more.