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With six race meetings up and down the country, there is plenty of action to choose from today with the feature meeting at Cheltenham and the big betting race of the day being the New Year’s Day Handicap Chase at 2.00 over an extended two and a half miles.

Funambule Sivola made a cracking comeback when a superb second to First Flow in the Grade One Peterborough at Huntingdon.

But this set-up at the other end of the racing spectrum, namely going left handed and on an undulating course, would require a top class performance to win this off a mark of 155 giving weight away to some very smart handicappers the best of which could well be the progressive VIENNA COURT.

This unexposed seven-year-old finally came to the party with a convincing success at the track last month coming home some 11 lengths clear of Precious Eleanor and company. Of course that was merely off a handicap mark of 123 and up in class and off a 12lbs higher mark, he will quite obviously need a career best to win. However, he is arguably the least exposed runner in the field of 16 and has a lovely light racing weight to carry here.

Of his other rivals, Zanza has to be of interest after running well in the two big two-and-a-half-mile handicaps through autumn/winter here. The problem with him is that he tends to get behind in the races and doesn’t have an awful lot of respect for his obstacles before running on too late in the day. The Philip Hobbs’ runner also had a very hard race last time out and has also been raised in the ratings for each of those two performances, so he too will need to take another step forward.

There are quality events all the way through the remainder of the card at the Prestbury Park track and the three-mile handicap hurdle due off at 2.35 has some familiar old names set to line up.

Ask Dillon loves it around here and has every chance off his latest mark, while the likes of fellow nine-year-old Stoney Mountain and in-form Dolphin Square both have obvious claims.

First and second here at the last meeting the evergreen frontrunner Kansas City Chief is tightly matched up at the weights with Botox Has. However, all of the above may have to give best to the improving pair Pileon and TAMAR BRIDGE.

The last named only got home by a short head at Aintree after a bad mistake at the penultimate flight. As a result of the winning margin this virtual novice has only gone up 6lbs in the weights and this stiffer test of stamina promises to suit him better.

Of the graded races on the card, GUARD YOUR DREAMS could be the answer to the Relkeel Hurdle at 3.10. I loved the way that this lightly raced five-year-old out his head down to see off Song For Someone in the International Hurdle here last month. Also set to carry a penalty, Brewin’upastorm could be his bigger danger over the returning McFabulous.

The Grade Two Dipper Novices Chase at 1.25 looks a wide open affair, but with her mares allowance, THE GLANCING QUEEN looks sure to take a deal of beating up against the boys.

She was merely marking time over hurdles, but still made into an above average timber topper, but she has already looked a better chaser and was impressive when landing a Listed Mares event at Warwick by seven and a half lengths, jumping those tricky fences brilliantly.

Alan King’s charge should prove too good for the likes of Millers Bank (unseated in a grade two at Newbury last time out) and the hat-trick seeking L’Homme Presse.

It is hard to keep faith with FULL BACK (nb) in the staying handicap chase at 12.50, but the assessor has given him a real chance off a rating of just 135 and after needing his first run back at Chepstow, he was put in at the deep end in the Trophy at Newbury. He could be the each-way call here and any market support would enhance the strength of the wager.

Fair staying hurdler Honest Vic is gradually getting the hang of things over fences and likes the contours of the Gloucestershire track and looks a big danger to the selection along with the light weight Big Nasty.

Away from the main meeting of the day there are plenty of betting plays the best of which could well be RAPPER in the staying chase at Catterick (2.35). A staying on fourth and second on his two staying on chases to date, this represents his easiest task yet over the larger obstacles and with Ben Godfrey taking 5lbs off his back he is now 6lbs lower than at Ascot last time out.

Both Whitechurch and The Very Thing have been held back by their jumping as of late, and that could hand the advantage to CATLIN in the 2.45. I was impressed by his success at Newcastle last time out when he forged clear in the closing stages and he should follow up here before being raised in class.

DUBROVNIK HARRY (nap) looks the play at Exeter in the national hunt novices hurdle at 1.15 after showing signs of greenness first time up, while later on at the South West track, KEEP ROLLING should return to winning form at 2.00.