JoeSmith16

It wouldn't be a Saturday without a Pauling/Jones winner. He won this race last year, albeit off a considerably lower mark. You can't ignore he is 3/3 at Kempton and arrives here off a brilliant, confidence-boosting second at Ascot last time out. It's a competitive race for sure, but Bad's simmering nicely to win this again.

This lad has had a fine, consistent campaign without actually winning. Placed in two big Cheltenham handicaps. One of those was the big Paddy Power Gold Cup, behind Panic Attack. He was 5th the following month, but I'm keen to say that probably came too soon, albeit he wasn't beaten too far. He's been freshened up for this, back to 3 miles where he holds some strong form. Cheekpieces added today will also help him. All in all, I think he's got a massive chance.

Must be noted that he runs here as a 4-year-old for a yard that has a brilliant record in the race. He receives the age allowance. He arrives here after a pretty easy victory earlier this month. This obviously is a much harder race, but how good is this lad? We don't know. Nearly every horse in the race is a last-time-out winner, so it's ultra competitive. Nicky's yard is ticking along nicely, and it's hard to see Mustang out of the top 3.

Winner of two races in France before being beaten by the reopposing one, Town, in a Triumph Trial in November. A mistake at the last really ended his chances. He ran here after wind surgery and couldn't have won any easier. Connections I noticed are bypassing Cheltenham, so this fits in nicely with his schedule. I believe this lad is and will be a very, very good horse. I don't see anything matching his ability here today if he gets a clear run.

Not the most prolific of winners, but he has a brilliant chance of getting that feeling back tomorrow. Unseated last time out, but before that he was ultra-consistent. If he transfers his hurdle form to chasing and is none the worse for last time's incident, he will be the one to beat. Handles the ground. Intriguing mark with scope for improvement.

This is Pic D'Orhy's Gold Cup. Winner of this the last two seasons, beating Corbett's Cross and L'Homme Pressé. Both are similar ability-wise to Jonbon. Jonbon, I know, is a multiple Grade One winner and nothing can take away from that, but I've always questioned the true form. He's also never been this far. Pic D'Orhy's jumping is his main asset and will really put Jonbon under pressure. While the ground may be a question mark, that's when jumping becomes even more important. I have the Nicholls lad winning this in an epic encounter.

If Haydock gets the go-ahead, as we have become used to, Haydock will take some getting today. Whiskey Yankee has had one run over hurdles and it was a winning one. He's left us thinking, how good can he be? In my opinion he's a Bartlett contender and will love this test today.

One of those races that are normally filled with horses on recovery missions. This year is no different. Are the stayers Hurdle contenders? Probably not! Are they Champion Hurdle horses? Definitely not! One horse that stands out for me is Irancy. Seventh in the Supreme before winning at Fairyhouse and Punchestown in Grade 2/1 company. Failed to fire so far this season in two runs, so it's up in trip for him. He has looked a tad slow so far this season. Is this a run to get a nice handicap mark for the spring festivals? Or is he here to win over this trip and open more doors? He's rated above the majority of these. If he settles and stays, then surely he's too good.

A horse who continues to be underrated. Winner of the Savills at Christmas. Always runs his race and is a model of consistency. The win at Christmas was no fluke. He clearly stays the trip and handles the forecast going. With plenty of question marks around the opposition, he surely is a solid option.

A competitive affair, as you would expect for a Pertemps qualifier. This season, Double Powerful has been unlucky and good. He started novice chasing but only finished one of those three races. He went back hurdling and got really unlucky when the jockey was unseated after a faller in front of him. He ran in the Lanzarote and then put it all together to finish a fine second. I expect more improvement to come here today, back up in trip. He handles any ground, so is a solid option in what are normally messy races to predict.

Yet to really show everyone his true ability. He was a brilliant novice hurdler but just fell short of Grade One level. In novice chases he showed promise before coming undone with two non-completions. He returned this year with two runs. His last run on New Year's Day was better. The key with this lad is the ground. He needs cut, which he will get plenty of today. In fact, the slower the ground the better. That's where I think he can really stand out here. Handicap debut ??" his mark could be stiff, but he's the old graded horse in a handicap shout. Dan the Man on board. So many positives.