AS THE lead-up to Cheltenham begins in earnest, so the number of trials flies by the wayside. But Haydock Park and Ascot both offer final flings in several categories for the biggest of national hunt events on Saturday afternoon.

At the Merseyside venue, WINDSOR AVENUE will be hoping to get back on track in the Grade Two Novices’ Chase at 1.30 after blowing out behind Sam Spinner at Doncaster last time out. However, there were legitimate excuses for that run and Brain Ellison is sure that he has his star pupil back to his best. I fancy he will take care of his three rivals here before a possible tilt at a championship race.

Just 35 minutes later, EDWARDSTONE will put his Supreme Novices’ Hurdle credentials up for grabs in the Grade Two Rossington Main Hurdle. His two victories at Wincanton and Aintree have both been cemented by those behind him and there will be some long faces in the Alan King yard if this classy son of Kayf Tara cannot beat the admittedly talented duo of Thebannerkingrebel and the prolific Snookered.

In fact it could be that the possible outsider of the quartet, Stolen Silver, could be the biggest danger following his second to Chantry House at Cheltenham last time out.

The Peter Marsh Handicap Chase over an extended 25 furlongs at 2.40 looks sure to be a copper-bottomed test of stamina and that should suit several in the field.

The two least-exposed in the line-up are Geronimo (going up in trip) and the mud-loving son of Midnight Legend, MIDNIGHT TUNE (nap).

The last-named just gets the nod as he has already won at the trip, on deep ground to boot, and he will relish conditions. Of the remainder, Champers on Ice is quite interesting — returning to fences for the first time this season — while Prime Venture also comes into the equation following a cracking fourth in the Welsh National and is set to race here off a 6lbs lower mark than at the Welsh venue, courtesy of Isabel Williams’ 7lbs claim.

Darasso is a hugely fascinating Irish raider for the feature Champion Hurdle Trial due off at 3.15, following a rising CV last year which saw him win both a Grade Two over fences and a Grade Three over hurdles. It’s hard to know what is in Joseph O’Brien’s mind as far as Cheltenham is concerned (he’s entered in the Irish and Cheltenham Champion Hurdles as well as the Ryanair Chase), but I’m sure he wouldn’t be coming over here unless he was ready to do himself justice and I make him the biggest danger to PENTLAND HILLS (nb).

The last-named travelled well at Cheltenham last time out before blowing up and the 3lbs he gets from the Fighting Fifth winner, Cornerstone Lad, could swing things in his favour for the all-conquering Nicky Henderson yard.

At Ascot, GOSHEN should retain his unbeaten record in the opening juvenile hurdle at 12.40, but he will hardly be worth backing at the odds. So the best bet on the card at a value price could well be the lightly raced NEARLY PERFECT, off bottom weight in the three-mile handicap chase due off at 1.15.

He was hugely impressive when winning at Wincanton last time out and off only a 2lbs higher mark he can put some more exposed older rivals in their places and land this nice prize before going on to better things.

The big handicap hurdle at the Berkshire track has disappointedly only attracted a field of eight headed by the lightly raced Thomas Darby and he could go close to giving the weight away here, but slight preference is for BOLD PLAN who could be over-priced.

The Evan Williams-trained runner impressed with the manner of his victory at Haydock Park last time out and looks massively on the upgrade. Conditions certainly won’t prove a problem and he can see off Olly Murphy’s charge and the consistent Ballymoy.

The feature Clarence House Chase is a toss of the coin between Defi Du Seuil and UN DE SCEAUX but is not a race I will be having a wager in. KAYF ADVENTURE does make some appeal in the valuable 21-furlong handicap chase at 3.00, having dropped 6lbs in the weights this season.

He simply didn’t jump well enough to get involved in the Grand Sefton Chase over the National fences two outings back, but showed a bit more at Chepstow last time out — staying on late and the return to this trip with plenty of pace in the race makes him the value each-way play.

SUNDAY:

VIPIN — 1.25 Wolverhampton (nap)

RED ALLURE— 3.40 Wolverhampton