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IT IS essentially the final round of real trials before the Cheltenham Festival this weekend and Newbury takes centre stage. Although the amount of real festival players for the second week of March remains questionable, it was the Dublin Festival seven days ago which unearthed the real goodies.

Aside from the graded races, the feature betting event is the Grade 3 National Hunt hurdle race (3.55) but with £150,000 up for grabs the final entry of just 14 is massively disappointing to say the least.

If the Paul Nicholls yard were in better form, then Knappers Hill would have been a strong selection especially as at the time of writing he has eased to a top price of 7/1. For what he has achieved a mark of 135 looks very fair and you could probably upgrade that level as his run behind Jonbon at Ascot was better than it looked, as it merely turned into a three furlong sprint which certainly wouldn’t have suited this son of Valriann. 

I have already backed him ante-post at a double figure price, but I am now going to back him up with a second string to my bow in the form of BOOTHILL.

Harry Fry’s charge was backed as though defeat was out the equation at Ascot on his return but was beaten a shade over two lengths by the strong finishing top weight Soaring Glory. He is now 4lbs better off and coming off a poor first run over fences, he seems to have gone under the radar set to run off the same rating as the Nicholls novice of 135. 

Both young horses will be well suited to a stronger gallop, not always a given in this race nowadays, but if they do get that make-up they could, along with another unexposed sort in Jpr One, dominate this famous handicap.

With my original selection, Skandiburg, now a non-runner last year’s winner POLISH looks set to defend his title successfully in the staying handicap hurdle at 1.50. This is his time of the year and he gets a confident vote over the top weight The Big Breakaway.

And so onto the graded races and the likelihood that CLAN DES OBEAUX can step up on his close up second from 12 months ago by landing the Grade Two Denman Chase at 2.55.

His second in the King George VI Chase was about 10lbs below his best, but would certainly be good enough to beat his four rivals here, especially as it could become three if the ground is not deemed soft enough for mud lark Royal Pagaille.

In receipt of 6lbs from the evergreen Sceau Royal, FUNAMBULE SIVOLA has an excellent chance of landing the Game Spirit Chase at 2.00, while off his featherweight, I K BRUNEL may outstay top weight Bravemansgame in the opening novices handicap chase which kicks off the card at 1.15.

The race of the day though could be the Kingmaker Novices Chase (2.05) at Warwick when EDWARDSTONE comes face to face with Third Time Lucki. 

They were separated by 16 lengths in the Henry VIII at Sandown Park, but the Skelton runner was way too free that day and could never get into a rhythm, and I expect he will put up a much better performance against the Alan King trained selection here — especially if the dry weather continues.

Of the handicaps at the Midlands track, HORIZON D’AINAY (nb) can break a run of seconds by landing the gold medal in the two-mile hurdle at 2.40.

A last hurdle blunder put paid to his chances off a soft pace at Southwell last time out and previously he was unlucky not to catch Peejaybee at Market Rasen on his hurdling debut when, once again, he walked through the last flight of timber.

The two-and-a-half-mile handicap chase at 3.15 looks wide open and there are solid claims held by at least half of the field.

The lightly raced 10-year-old Celebre D’Allen is of obvious interest on his hat-trick mission, but the nod goes to the hugely well handicapped RIDERS ON THE STORM.

Rated as high as 162 about 14 months ago, he is now down to a mark of 145 and it could be that a repeat of his second to Clan Legend at Aintree in December could well suffice here.

There is plenty of all-weather action in the afternoon and the evening. Lingfield is the first meeting on show and the standout bet for me is top weight SWISS PRIDE (nap) in the class five handicap at 2.20.

This bay gelding has recently been a victim of his own consistency, but is now back down to his last winning mark and seems to have struck up a good relationship with his young partner Laura Coughlan.

Later on, WAR IN HEAVEN can follow up his novice success at the track by landing the class four handicap at 2.55. He still looked green on that occasion and probably has more room to improve than his four rivals.

Under the lights at Wolverhampton, BECOMING can make up for an underwhelming run last time out when he lines up for the extended mile handicap at 5.45, while BABY STEPS (6.45) and RESET BUTTON can continue his good run of form off his light weight in the mile-and-a-half event at 7.45.