DESPITE the Cheltenham Festival being just around the corner the racing remains at a pretty high standard up and down the country and the big betting race this weekend is the Greatwood Gold Cup Handicap Chase at Newbury (1.50).

Several of the 14 runners have been waiting with bated breath for the better spring ground to come along and now is their time to make a mark.

The hat-trick seeking Umbrigado is the most upwardly mobile of the entries, but I suspect that David Pipe may well pull him out if the continued dry weather forecast comes to fruition.