HENRY DE BROMHEAD has carried all before him in the last 12 months — and his Eklat De Rire has leading claims of continuing his run in the big races when he contests the big trophy race off at (3.00) at Newbury this afternoon.

And indeed if he is to develop into a genuine Cheltenham Gold Cup hope then the youngster will need to win this most pertinent of trials off a mark of 154 accompanied by the seemingly incomparable Rachael Blackmore. 

At around the 5/1 mark he could still look a fair price for this famous three-and-a-quarter mile handicap chase at around 3.15. However, there is plenty of value outside of the seven-year-old and his fellow Irish raider Ontheropes, the latter trained by the mighty Willie Mullins.