IT’S the first Cheltenham meeting of the new National Hunt season where so many owners, trainers and jockeys will have high hopes and have dreamed of this afternoon — also looking way ahead to the Festival meeting in March 2022 — yet so few will be fulfilled.

The big handicap chase at 2.20, over an extended three miles, is one of a number of big betting races on the cards, with the beaten Grand National favourite Cloth Cap at the top of the weights off a mark of 156, who ran at Aintree from a mark of 148.

Absolutely cantering after Bechers Brook second time around, he then inexplicably fell into a hole, which was accounted for by a breathing problem that connections have tried to put right with an operation.

He is expected to need the run first time up, but there has to be the distinct possibility that there is significant improvement to come this year, on just his 13th chasing start.

But I would prefer to back him on his likely second start in the Ladbrokes Trophy (old Hennessy) at Newbury if he goes there as a flat track, on hopefully good ground as they are his optimum conditions.

That leaves this staying event wide open, with 13 rivals to select from and on what should be perfect jumping ground, I fancy a huge run from bottom weight REDFORD ROAD, with Jordan Nailor’s 3lbs penalty negating him being out of the handicap.

This former smart novice hurdler has found it tough going since his initial timber topping season, his best run in four races over the bigger obstacles coming on his chasing debut when a fair third to Not That Fuisse at Perth. 

He ran two fair races returned to hurdles last season, being badly hampered on the home turn when still pitching in at the business end of the Pertemps Hurdle Final. The selection is rated 7lbs lower over fences, and Nigel Twiston-Davies is sure to have him tight fit for this contest.

The seven-year-old is taken to make the most of the weight he is set to receive from the likes of the still lightly raced Truckers Lodge, and the other NTD first string, The Hollow Ginge who is absolutely chucked in on bits of pieces of his old form, but apart from a late running fourth in last year’s Ladbrokes Trophy (144) he has been disappointing and runs off 137 here.

A field of 15 have been declared for the first Pertemps Hurdle Qualifier at 4.05 and any one of six could make a mark here, with preference for the Irish raider BORN PATRIOT. 

He has long looked as though a trip in excess of three miles would suit him, with the main problem in backing him being whether he will be hunted around to qualifier or actually gun for the gold medal. Last year’s bottom rated horse in the final ran off 126, so his current mark of 132 may well suffice.

OSCAR ELITE is taken to kick start the Tizzard team this campaign in the novice chase at 4.40, while VOIX DU REVE starts the season off on a tempting mark in the two-mile handicap chase at 3.30.

The dying embers of the flat season are carried by Doncaster and Newbury, and the trial for the November Handicap at the Town Moor track takes place at 2.40 with an unusually small field and the lightly raced APPARATE (nb) should take all the beating.

But there is better value to be had on the remainder of the card, and on suitably soft ground, it may finally be the chance for ORBAAN to shine.

He has caught the eye quite a few times, most notably in the Golden Mile at Glorious Goodwood. He has disappointed both times since then, but both of those runs have come at York which simply doesn’t suit many horses and there was undoubtedly a pace bias there on his last run, when he was miles behind the front running Shelir. 

I think he is worth one more chance here back at seven furlongs. Zip and the selection’s stable mate, Tammani, are expected to run well in this big entry.

As far as the remainder of the card is concerned, I think that IMPERIAL FIGHTER can put it up to the favourite for next year’s Epsom Derby and unbeaten juvenile Luxembourg in the feature Futurity Stakes due off at 3.15.

The five furlong handicap at the back end of the card looks a tough call, but if the ground remains on the soft side then top weight DAKOTA GOLD (4.20, NAP) should run his race and successfully give the weight away all round.

There are two divisions of a class four, seven furlong handicaps that bookend the card and the well treated ONE HART (1.00) will relish conditions, as will the Kingman filly, AREEHAA (4.55) who can be excused her last run at Sandown as she seemed to lose her footing on the home turn.

Away from the three big meetings of the day I shall be having a closer look at the four-year-old EL JEFE in the two-mile handicap hurdle at Kelso at 3.54, where the feature Edinburgh Gin Handicap Chase at 3.19 may well go to the progressive FORTESCUE.  He is only a pound higher than for his last win at Perth last season, courtesy of Henry Daly putting up the 5lbs conditional Hugh Nugent here.

Under the lights at the Essex track I fancy that we will get a big run out of BUCKINGHAM in the one-mile handicap at Chelmsford at 6.30. He ran a cracking race from off the pace in the big all-weather mile final at Kempton Park two outings back, and with plenty of pace on here, Georgia Dobie can bring him through late to land a sixth career victory.