Pete The Feat bids for the perfect six at Warwick

Pete The Feat has made astonishing progress since joining Longsdon’s Cotswolds stable, having started his winning run at Uttoxeter in October from a handicap mark of 94.

He completed his five-timer in Newbury’s Mandarin Chase two weeks ago off a rating of 125 and has been raised by the handicapper to a mark of 134, so will need to improve again to win.

Stable jockey Noel Fehily, who has been on board for three of the five victories, takes the mount.

Welsh trainer Rebecca Curtis is having a great season and is already close to topping last year’s tally. She saddles Benheir, runner-up to Carruthers at Ffos Las last time, and champion jockey AP McCoy replaces claimer Patrick Corbett in the saddle.

Another to look out for is Major Malarkey, of whom trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies said: “We’ve been waiting for better ground and he wouldn’t have to improve much on his first run of the season when second at Sandown. If he runs about the same, hopefully he’ll win.”

As well as the feature race, there are some exciting entries in the supporting events, including Highland Lodge in the Betfred Mobile Lotto Novices’ Chase.

Trained by Emma Lavelle, Highland Lodge is a horse of immense potential and comes here on the back of an impressive win at Cheltenham last time out.

He was sent off a hot favourite to win at the meeting last year, but could only finish fourth, beaten a long way by Cotton Mill in the Neptune Investments Management Novices’ Hurdle.

Prior to the Warwick race, he had scored in heavy going at Haydock Park and it was hock-deep at Cheltenham, so there might be a worry about the ground which was drying out at the beginning of the week, but was described earlier today as soft after showers had hit the track.

This year’s running of the Neptune Hurdle will feature the exciting young hurdler, The New One.

A winner of five of his six races under Rules, his only defeat came at last year’s Cheltenham Festival when sixth behind Champagne Fever in the Festival Bumper.

He has made a very impressive start to life over hurdles with victories at Newton Abbot and Cheltenham to his name, but a minor setback has kept him off the track since October.

Grand National hero Neptune Collonges, who was due to parade at the course in November when racing was abandoned, will now be on show at the meeting together with Imperial Commander, winner of 2010 Cheltenham Gold Cup, who will canter before racing.

“It’s going to be an outstanding afternoon of exciting racing and a great curtain-raiser to our 2013 season,” said general manager Huw Williams.

“There’s also plenty happening in between the turf action, including an appearance by Neptune Collognes, so it promises to be a fabulous afternoon out for all looking to spend an enjoyable Saturday at the races.”

As well as the racing, other activities include live music from local acoustic guitarist Matt Bate, face painting for children and an electronic horse racing simulator that will let people experience how it feels being a jockey.

The action gets underway at 12.40pm, with gates opening two hours before.

 Warwick Racecourse have rescheduled their Terry ‘The Bull’ Jenkins darts event to a raceday.

Jenkins and professional MD Adie Mason will appear at Warwick after the midweek jumps meeting on Thursday January 24.

The Bull will take on local league players, jockeys and competition winners.

The racecourse are offering an exclusive Terry Jenkins package to all darts fans, costing £15, which includes entry, pie and a pint when using the promo code TJP2401.