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THE next two Saturdays are the calm before the winter storm so get ready to be hit by the Boxing Day plus racing hurricanes at Kempton Park, Leopardstown and my favourite day of all of them at Chepstow for the Welsh National on December 27th.

However, this afternoon’s offering isn’t too bad when we consider that we are on the cusp of those seasonal festivals with the December Golf Cup Handicap Chase (Cheltenham, 1.50) top of the betting shop.

As is nearly always the case, this year’s renewal resembles a cut up version of the Gold Cup Handicap Chase from last month with the 1st, 2nd, 4th and 5th all set to re-oppose on varying terms.

In that race, the winner, Il Rodoto, was given an absolute peach of a ride by young Freddie Gingell. There should be little between him and Fugitif on last year’s form and both of them are set to run their races. But for me the key factor here is that Stage Star has been left in the race which means that GA LAW (nap) has a lovely racing weight and should go close to turning around that November form on way better terms.

Decent ground is crucial for the 2022 Gold Cup winner and if he jumps as fluently as he did when second in this year’s renewal I find it hard to see him being out of the three.

A mark of 156 (2lbs higher) obviously requires a near career best for the selection, but this should be his zenith year and if Gavin Sheehan can keep him in touch coming down the hill and get clean jumps out of him down the stretch, made a mistake at the last and slipped on the home turn last time out, then his chance is clear to see at each-way odds of around 8/1.

Of the bigger priced runners I have most regard for Madara who finished off last month’s race in great style and Stage Star who looked in need of his opening salvo in the Old Roan at Aintree at the back end of October.

The much hyped up Lavender Hill Mob (12.10) bids to rescue his partly lost reputation by landing the opening Triumph Hurdle Trial. After being outpaced combined with a bad jump at the fourth last, he got back in contention turning for home on his hurdling debut at Newcastle before totally bungling the final two flights and going down by some four and three quarter lengths to the well regarded Inappropriate.

Cheek pieces are applied this time and I have been reliably informed that he has schooled very well since. However, I am going to oppose him here with the Irish raider TOTAL LOOK. He cruised through his first race over hurdles at Navan and looked to be dossing on the run to the line when holding on by half a length from Beyond Your Dreams. He will receive 3lbs from the dual winners Quantock Hills and Teriferma and that will do for me.

Later on at the Prestbury Park track, Hillcrest will be the choice of many to step up on his cracking fourth to Trelawne at Haydock Park when he only weakened from the second last on his first run back after fully 981 days on the sidelines. However, he has to give weight away all round in the novices’ handicap chase at 12.40 and may have to give best to DESTROYTHEEVIDENCE.

Kim Bailey’s youngster has jumped impeccably on both his chase starts at Chepstow and Newbury and can pay a compliment to his Berkshire conqueror Bowtogreatness by seeing off the top weight and Beachcomber. The last named was 12 lengths off the selection at Chepstow, but is 6lbs better off and will relish this stiffer test of stamina off his light weight here, and merits a strong each-way play at around 7/1.

However, the best bet on the card could well come in the form of ISSAR D’AIRY in the Handicap Chase over two miles at 2.25. He was a well backed favourite to win at Newbury last month, but was hampered and lost momentum when making his move at the second last, and by the time he was back on an even keel the race had been lost.

Allowed to run off the same handicap rating of 130 here, he is taken to make it three wins from seven over fences at the main expense of the frustrating Triple Trade and Third Time Lucki (badly needed his first run back from an absence last time out).

The Spa Novices’ Hurdle at 3.00 looks a pretty good renewal with five last time out winners including the prolific Skyjack Hijack, who is chasing an amazing seventh consecutive success. This will be his toughest test to date and although he is sure to be involved courtesy of his quick and accurate hurdling I just favour EXCELLO.

A fair chaser last year, went off at only 5/1 in a premier handicap chase at Cheltenham in January, he has returned to novice hurdling and looked as though he wanted this trip when a strong finishing second to Western Knight at Ascot in a race which was hardly run to suit. He should get a much deeper test of stamina here and can step up to the winner’s enclosure.

The Handicap Chase (Doncaster, 2.05) has attracted a cracking entry of 15 so we should get some enhanced place terms with the bookmakers, which would make last year’s hero Forward Plan a player on his preferred ground again. He has to step again though off a 15lbs higher mark and I just prefer the claims of KITTY’S LIGHT.

The handicapper has finally shown the 2023 Scottish National and Gold Cup winner some mercy, now 3lbs lower for both of those big race wins and with the ground in his favour he may be able to leave three uninspiring runs behind him off this mark.

Finally, have a second look at BIG NARSTIE in the second division of an extended one mile handicap due off at 8.00. This track seems to suit him a whole lot more than tougher Newcastle, and granted a good pace up front, he is taken to strike down to short home stretch ahead of the very well handicapped Good Karma.