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THE big betting race of the weekend, The December Gold Cup Handicap Chase (Cheltenham, 1.50), looks a real conundrum with bookmakers likely to offer 4/1 the field, and I must admit to have changed my mind about the likely winner several times over the past 72 hours.

Paul Nicholls undoubtedly has a strong hand with the well-backed Monmiral (sure to be tight fit for his first run in 245 days, and with a wind operation under his belt) and the race fit Il Ridoto.

However, I think they have now been fully found in the market place and I am going to go out on a limb and back the outsider and bottom weight RAILWAY HURRICANE. True, a strike rate over fences of one from 25 hardly inspires confidence, but he has been placed on 11 occasions and with conditional Conor Stone Walsh taking 5lbs off his back, he will no longer be racing from out of the handicap.

He is quite obviously way better than his 15 length third of seven behind Ginny’s Destiny at the track last month after being brought virtually to a standstill at the second last when staying on at the one pace. With the ground likely to be quite tacky, a light weight will surely be a potent weapon for the Irish raider and he is just preferred to fellow double figure priced rivals Torn and Frayed and Doo Your Job. The best of the market leaders could be the unexposed So Scottish, trained by the brilliant Emmet Mullins.

I am a big fan of PROTEKTORAT (2.25) following his win in the 2022 Lancashire Chase followed by a gallant run in the Cheltenham Gold Cup when he held every chance turning for home, only to back out of matters over the last two fences. His light has been diminished radically by a distant last of four in the feature event at Haydock Park last month, but I am happy to over look that run as the eight-year-old was quite obviously never travelling from any zest from the moment he made a mistake at the very first obstacle.

Defying a mark of 165 will take some doing in this Premier Handicap Chase, especially against such progressive sorts as Broadway Boy, Malina Girl and City Chief, but he has the size to carry his 12 stone and the back form to outclass his rivals to boot. The each-way price of 12/1 is a further incentive to consider him seriously for this valuable event.

There are several really competitive handicaps on the Prestbury Park card and the other one which interests me most of all is the Mares Handicap Hurdle at 3.35. Nurse Susan is a fascinating contender having been held in high regard as a novice by Dan Skelton, ran Love Envoi to two-and-a-half lengths at Lingfield Park, and now on the comeback trail. She was off the track for 613 days before her well-beaten comeback at Exeter in a Listed mares event. It is common sense to see that she would have needed that run and down to a mark of just 125, she could be the main danger to BONTTAY.

The Fergal O’Brien charge followed up a clear cut win in a class two handicap last back end off 110 by out-battling Puffin Bay off 118 at Hereford on her comeback when she gave a good blow afterwards. This is quite obviously a step up in grade, but with that run under her belt I expect the daughter of Westerner to relish the likely end to end gallop here, and hit the three at the very least.

Those of you looking to support Broadway Boy in the aforementioned 2.25 will want to see WEVEALLBEENCAUGHT run a huge race in the The John Wyke Memorial Novices Handicap Chase (12.40) over three-and-a-quarter miles. The selection could never get to his stable mate here last time out and has always shaped like a thorough stayer (I think the National Hunt Chase is a viable target this season), but he will have to win this off a mark of 132 if he is to be considered a serious Festival contender in that event next March.

I also fancy that we will see a big step forward from ILLICO DE COTTE (3.00) in the Spa Novices’s Hurdle over three miles with the form of his second place to Bucksy Des Epeires at Lingfield Park franked by his conqueror last week at Sandown Park. He too will need to take another step forward at this level, but the deep stamina test he is likely to encounter here should be perfect for the son of Kitkou and he is preferred to Cadell.

Over at Doncaster, the Handicap Hurdle at 2.40 has attracted a cracking field of 12 with the likelihood that course and distance winner Clear White Light and Gin Coco will head the market. Being unexposed they are dangerous players here, but SOARING GLORY could trump the both of them.

Fences didn’t suit him one iota and following a return to timber his mark has steadily declined. However, with Dylan Johnston taking 7lbs off his recent course and distance conqueror, Clert White Light, he is actually 1lbs worse off here. However, I feel Kevin Brogan rode the selection too prominently that day and he needs to be held off a fast pace and be brought into play as late as possible so his turn of foot can be utilised to the full.

Elsewhere, I shall be backing WILKIE (Wolverhampton, 5.00) off a very attractive mark of 55 and ALFA WHITEBURD (3.44) in the nursery at Newcastle. The latter ran only three days ago at Lingfield, but wasn’t suited by both the sharp track and moderate gallop and this set-up may play more to his strengths.