Another brilliant Saturday of racing with the undoubted betting highlight being the Gold Cup Handicap Chase at Cheltenham due off at 1.50 with a field of 15 set to go to post.

Midnight Shadow bids to follow up his win in the Gold Cup last month, but he was out on his legs that day, having a particularly hard race and will do well to confirm the form on these renewed terms with the likes of Lalor, Dostal Phil and the error-prone Zanza.

The form of that ultra competitive handicap has been well and truly franked by the second home, Protektorat, who absolutely hosed up in the Many Clouds Chase at Aintree seven days ago and is now regarded as a leading player in the Cheltenham Gold Cup itself.