IT’S another huge weekend of National Hunt racing with by far the biggest betting race of the day coming at Newbury with the Ladbrokes Trophy Handicap Chase (better know to many people as the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup).

As always it is a hugely open market with most bookmakers offering 6/1 on the field split between the likes of Vinndication, Aye Right, Kildisart, The Conditional and Black Op.

I suspect that the last two names may require more give in the ground to show their best form and the first-named will have to be a genuine Gold Cup horse to defy his mark of 161. But the good ground will obviously help him to do that and he seems the biggest danger to my outsider selection ARDLETHEN (nap).

Of course the youngster cannot be viewed as anywhere in the same bracket as his higher-rated rivals, but that is balanced out by the huge amount of weight he is set to receive from them — in the case of Vinndication some 23lbs.

The Skelton charge has had few chances to show that a good-ground staying trip is his domain, having only raced in such conditions once when landing a staying novice hurdle at Uttoxeter from The Cashel Man, literally on the bridle.

He had a nice pipe opener this season behind the smart Imperial Aura in the Colin Parker Memorial at Carlisle and it was no more than that — merely blowing away the cobwebs. With that job done he now steps up to a more suitable trip and rates a value nap to make his weight concession count.

Of his other rivals, apart from Kim Bailey’s charge who I have the utmost respect for, I am most fearful of the other good-ground charges Mr Malarkey, Kildisart and Secret Investor. All of that trio are massively better on a sound surface and have further room for improvement too.

Of the supporting races on the card, NEXT DESTINATION should land the Grade Two John Francome Novice Chase at 12.40, while of the other handicaps I really fancy ALMAZHAR GARDE in the big two-and-three-quarter mile handicap chase at 1.15.

Up against mainly exposed rivals, this lightly raced five-year-old has loads more to come for trainer Charlie Longsdon. He put up a clear career-best effort last time out at Kelso when his jumping was much improved and the better ground here should help him step up again.

CHAMPAGNE PLATINUM is still a work in progress and Nicky Henderson has decided to run him back over hurdles for his seasonal debut at 1.50.

He was far from disgraced in four novice chases last season, but never looked the most natural of jumpers. And based on his novice hurdle form, the best run of which was a win here, he could still be nicely treated off a mark of just 137. That victory came on the quickest ground he has encountered and he showed a bundle of speed.

Up at Newcastle the Fighting Fifth Hurdle is the opening salvo for the current champion hurdler Epatante and she looks sure to go off a short-priced market leader. As at Newbury, this will be the quickest ground they will have experienced at this Gosforth Park meeting for many a year. It suggests that good-ground specialists Sceau Royal and SILVER STREAK may just have an edge, with both of them fit from previous outings.

The former eased to victory in the Grade Two Elite Hurdle at Wincanton, but this is a different kettle of fish and it is the Evan Williams trained grey that gets the nod.

He was beaten fairly and squarely by the mare at Cheltenham to the tune of 12 lengths, but the ground was way too soft for him that day. With a fitness advantage here and an easy win over Verdana Blue under his belt, he could be good enough to land this prestigious prize at likely odds around 5/1.

The Rehearsal Chase could go to the hugely unexposed youngster THE BUTCHER SAID for trainer Olly Murphy. 

Soft ground was no good for him last time out at Cheltenham behind the exciting The Big Breakaway. He is better assessed on his second to Longhouse Sale at Uttoxeter over two-and-a-half miles, when he was coming back at the winner strongly inside the last 150 yards after being headed approaching the final fence. This three miles looks made to measure and the handicapper could well have underestimated the seven-year-old.

The best bet on the evening card under the lights at Wolverhampton will probably go off as favourite in the form of top weight LEO DAVINCI (nb) in the 6.00. Dropped to a mark of 61 and down in the class, this extended seven-furlong handicap looks made to measure for the four-year-old.

SUNDAY’S DOUBLE:
TWO TAFFS – 2.28 LEICESTER (NAP)
CHILLI FILLI – 1.50 CARLISLE