AND so the real National Hunt season begins this weekend with the Paddy Power meeting, and the PP Gold Cup (2.15) looks as competitive as ever with 20 runners projected to go to post. The new Paul Nicholls’s in mate, Simply The Betts, would be interesting if he could rediscover his Cheltenham Festival success form again, but he is clearly second best from the yard for which Lalor who is similarly well weighted on his old form.

Formerly with Kayley Woollacott, he was rated as high as 153 in his pomp, but following a 441-day break was pulled up twice last season. A new rating of 149 is clearly no gimme, but offers more than a glimmer of light to connections, but to my eyes there are better wagering prospects among the light weights.

Last year’s second, Spiritofthegames, is weighted to reverse form with his conqueror Coole Cody and is likely to be better suited to these faster conditions than the 2020 hero.