IT COULD well be that this tipping column will be penned in vain by the time you read it as nearly all the UK and possibly Irish meetings will be the subject of early Saturday morning inspections due to the recent cold blitz, but we live in hope as the covers go down on the various tracks on Friday.

Top of the shop if racing goes ahead is Cheltenham with the feature being the December Gold Cup Handicap Chase at 1.50. Five of the runners that took part in the Gold Cup will line up if we get the green light but surprisingly the third home, Midnight River, is not among them. With the Skelton team in such hot form and the good ground in his favour, that will be a blow to many that have backed him ante-post. 

That leaves Il Ridoto as the highest finisher from last month in the line-up, having come home fourth with other entries, Deyrann De Carjac (5th), Simply The Betts (7th), Storm Control (8th) and Stolen Silver (unseated at the third last) also renewing rivalry here.

However, there are question marks about all five of those players with Deyrann De Carjac probably the most interesting, but the fact that he finds winning very hard, two from 16 over fences and three from 26 under rules, makes him a risky play. Granted a clear round and a fast pace to run out, the Alan King runner will probably be placed, but I think that he will have his work cut out to beat my selection FERN HILL (nap).

There are several question marks about plenty of the entries actually seeing out the extended two-and-a-half mile trip here, especially as we are likely to get a true run race with the fluent jumping Storm Control in the field again. However, such a scenario would suit the Ben Case-trained runner who has shown that two and three-quarter and even three miles is well within his stamina range.

Last time out, apart from fluffing the last when well in control, the son of Dylan Thomas jumped superbly at Uttoxeter. The downside is that he now finds himself off a 7lbs higher mark off 140 in a better race, and yet, this is hardly the greatest renewal of this famous handicap with huge question marks hanging over all 15 runners. Of his rivals, Storm Control jumped beautifully out in front in the Premier Handicap race, but weakened badly from the second last. He has been dropped 2lbs in the weights and may last longer here, while Fujitif should also go well if seeing out his first start at the trip over fences, seemingly didn’t stay over two and a half as a novice hurdler.

Top weight and a rating of 150, less Niall Houlihan’s 3lbs claim, should see Editeur Du Gite go close in the two-mile handicap chase at 1.15, but can he give 3lbs away to THIRD TIME LUCKI? Dan Skelton’s charge looked a likely player for the 2022 Arkle earlier this year after winging the Cheltenham fences at the beginning of the campaign, but his form somewhat tailed off which has since resulted in wind surgery since his last run in November. However, if that procedure has worked, the still lightly raced seven-year-old could be nicely treated here off 147.

Of the other events on the Prestbury Park card, former champion hurdler, EPATANTE, should have the legs of the progressive pair Knappers Hill and I Like To Move It in the International Hurdle at 2.25, while getting a bundle of weight from the likes of Martello Sky and Indefatigable, I think that Fergal O’Brien has a solid chance of taking the mares handicap hurdle at 3.35 with HEREWEGOHONEY.

MAROWN has long been very highly regarded by trainer Nicky Richards, but has been hard to keep sound since his bumper and novice hurdle days. Now an eight-year-old, the selection has only visited the race course on 13 occasions (five wins). I suspect he probably needed the race behind the smart Elvis Mail at Ayr over an insufficient test of stamina at two and a half miles, and as long as the ground doesn’t dry up too much, he has solid claims in the Doncaster 2.05 over three miles.

I was really impressed by the Fontwell Park win of TROJAN HORSE and with so many of his declared rivals doubly entered at Cheltenham, if that meeting goes ahead he could be a massive price when they line-up at the Town Moor track for the Summit Juvenile Hurdle at 1.30.

WICKED WEST could well defy top weight in the two and a half mile handicap chase at 2.40 and JET PLANE is the pick in the Grade Two novice chase at 12.55.

Hereford have their big day of the racing year with the final of the mares chase final at 1.22 with seven set to go to post. Credo could well have ruined her chance of winning this nice prize when cruising to victory at Chepstow last time out, and being thumped with a 13lbs penalty. That could give the edge to ASTRA VIA, pulled up in that Welsh contest, but surely way better than that performance suggests. She is worth another chance off a 7lbs lower mark and fully 20lbs better off with the winner here.

On the all-weather flat I shall be having a decent wager on STAR SHIELD in the opening mile handicap at Newcastle at 1.09. This seasoned campaigner has run well over the course and distance on his last two starts here without getting the pace he needs in the race and this could set up nicely for him.

Over at Wolverhampton under the lights, INTERVENTION is worth another chance after pulling his opportunity to pieces here last week. If he gets the fast speed in the race to run at, he could be very fairly treated, while THEOTHERSIDE is one of the best handicapped horses on the card when she lines up in the fillies’ handicap at 5.50.