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CHELTENHAM is by far and away the highlight of the weekend and the Gold Cup Handicap Chase (2.20) is the feature betting event. With a whole lot of pace up front, this strikes me as a race that could fall to pieces as they turn for home if the hold up jockeys have the patience to keep a hold of their mounts.

Top weight Mister Fisher is likely to be a mid-div horse and back in a handicap and even off an elevated mark of 156, he has a major chance with a dry 48 hours before the big race. My problem with the Nicky Henderson charge is that I feel that he is much better on a flat track.

But there are plenty of alternatives in the field of 16 to get their teeth stuck into. I was really impressed by the comeback run of GA Law following a long time off the track when he finished a cracking third in the Old Roan Chase. As long as the dreaded bounce factor doesn’t come into play, he looks sure to take another step forward for a stable really going places.

Sixth in the race last year when he just weakened close to home on what was pretty soft ground, Galahad Quest could last quite a wee bit longer here on this much quicker ground, while Il Rodoto is a fascinating youngster from the Paul Nicholls academy and the stable are in red hot form to boost. 

But the horse I want to hang my hat on at an each-way price is bottom weight DEYRANN DE CARJAC. He looked home and hosed in a fair race at Wetherby last time out, but was just run out of the gold medal by the in-form Ladronne.

What Harry Kimber will be asked to do here is hang on to him until the last possible minute, probably until half way up the gruelling run in. It won’t be an easy tactical ride, but it is what he needs and a mark of 125 looks very winnable in a wide open affair.

The three mile Handicap Hurdle (2.55) is top heavy with some familiar old names from the past, with the 10-year-old top weight On The Blind Side a player because of his course record and the progressive Shearer, dual purpose charge Ernesto and light weight Valentino all respected. However, off a mark of just 135, LISNAGAR OSCAR is absolutely chucked in at the weights.

What this now nine-year-old and former Stayers Hurdle winner needs is good ground and connections will get their wish this afternoon – and he has to go close if fitness wise he is ready to do himself justice.

The main danger to the Rebecca Curtis-trained charge is Sidi Ismael, who was one of the easiest handicap hurdle winners of the season last time out at Worcester. Of course this is a much better race with plenty of strength in depth, but he only has a 5lbs penalty and it could have been a whole lot more and the David Pipe stable are absolutely on fire at the moment. 

As far as the rest of the card is concerned I like the look of MONMIRAL in the Arkle Trophy Trial at 1.45, while the staying amateur riders handicap chase at 1.10 could well go the way of DIDERO VALLIS. The Venetia Williams-trained charge gets to run off a lowly mark of 127, which is his last winning rating, and this better ground will most likely prove right up his street.

There is also a really nice card at Wetherby where the big race is the Introductory Hurdle at 2.28, and I am expecting some really good things from the former 102 rated flat performer THRONE HALL. He is a bit of a character, but before his success at Uttoxeter on his timber topping debut I thought that the jumping game would make a man of him – and although he looked to be saving a bit for himself there, he still did enough to win in tidy fashion.

This race will certainly ask more of him, but he could well take another step forward here and see off the likes of Kracka Nut and Matata.

The only other horse I am looking to support at the A1 track is going to be BEST TRITION off top weight in the three mile handicap chase at 3.38. I am hoping that a recent wind operation will have enabled him to turn a corner and help him fulfil his potential. Last year he was going through his races very smoothly, but just unable to finish the job. That operation could well put him right and he is well up to giving the weight away to Bretney and the hat-trick seeking Big Changes.

Finally, under the lights at Wolverhampton I shall be having a couple of investments on CHELSEA ANNIE at 5.00 under the reliable amateur Simon Walker, while GIVE A LITTLE BUCK could provide an upset in the six furlong sprint handicap at 7.00.

The last named takes a drop in trip after running too freely and ultimately not getting home over seven furlongs at Chelmsford. A fast run and sharp six furlongs looks right up his street and as long as Adam Kirby can get him to settle I expect the three-year-old to step forward enough to go close.