THE ONE match up that we wanted to see today was CONSTITUTION HILL versus Lossiemouth in the Unibet International Hurdle (Cheltenham, 3.00) but sadly the Willie Mullins’ trained mare was taken out on Thursday and will most probably run next at the Dublin Racing Festival at the beginning of February.

Thoughts were divided on the comeback run of Nicky Henderson’s champion in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton Park on Boxing Day, but there is little doubt that he would have needed the outing, and he will go off a very short price here.

On my private ratings there is nothing in the same parish on the figures, I have the eight-year-old 32lbs clear of anything else, so it doesn’t need an oracle to tell you that a clear round should suffice.

So that means we can concentrate more on the rest of the card which looks a cracker and from a punting perspective, I really do want to have an each-way punt in the JCB Triumph Hurdle Trial (1.15) in which the unbeaten East India Dock is likely to start pretty close to an odds-on favourite.

There is no doubting the class he has shown on both his starts, one of them here, and he will be hard to beat, but this is a race with a lot more strength in depth to it and I have picked out GALACTIC CHARM at a massive price to run for home each-way.

Gary and Josh Moore’s charge was only rated 80 on the level, but looks an improved performer when fronted up by eight sets of hurdles, and I thought was mightily impressive when seeing off El Gavilan by six lengths at Fontwell.

That afternoon he travelled with plenty of purpose through the race before putting the prize to bed readily up the stiff final climb.

Yes, he will need a big step forward here, but I will be surprised if there isn’t a lot more to come.

Of the remainder, French newcomer Sauvignon has his first start for Paul Nicholls and has reportedly been schooling nicely at home, while dead heaters Quantock Hills and Teriferma could also be involved though I suspect they are probably just about as good as they showed in that stirring dead heat in another Triumph Hurdle Trial at the back end of 2024.

There are some cracking handicaps on the Prestbury Park card, none more so than the Betfair Exchange Premier Handicap Chase over an extended two-and-a-half miles at 1.50 with the weights headed by the classy Ginny’s Destiny, second in the Turners at last year’s Cheltenham Festival.

To my eyes, he was then probably doing a wee bit too much too soon when outpaced by Djelo in the Grade Two Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon in December.

Off a mark of 152 you would think he would every chance granted a clear round of jumping, but I just feel that in receipt of a massive 23lbs, the Irish raider MOON D’ORANGE could have his number.

Still a maiden over fences following four runs, I really liked the way he went about his business in the closing stages when a staying on second of eight behind Inthewaterside over an extended two-and-three-quarter miles at Newbury.

Sean Bowen takes over in the plate here, and I suspect that this unexposed novice will be ridden a lot closer to the pace this time around to bring his guaranteed stamina into play, and anything at a double figure price looks solid each-way value to me.

Of the remainder, Desert Orchid winner Soul Icon has claims following his clear-cut win over Edwardstone at Kempton Park, with the extra yardage a probable plus around here.

L’HOMME PRESSE looks a very solid favourite for the Cotswold Chase due off at 2.25, and he should now be at peak fitness following an excellent third in the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase at Kempton Park, where the ground would have been more than a shade on the fast side for him.

The forecast rains should bring conditions right back in his favour here, and he should have too much class for the likes of Gentlemansgame and old man Chantry House.

The big trial for the Paddy Power Stayers Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival is the Betfair Cleeve Hurdle at 3.35. Crambo bids to follow up his narrow success in the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot, and thus confirm form over the disappointing Strong Leader and outsider Botox Has.

However, he has truly been found in the marketplace at around the 2/1 marker, and I reckon that GOWEL ROAD may have his number.

There is little doubt that those top two in the betting are superior in talent at this trip, but you have to factor in that the selection is hugely well suited to this track, and ran another cracker here when headed close home by Lucky Place in the Relkeel Hurdle on New Year’s Day. This extra yardage is very much in his favour, as will be any further rain.

Potters Carm has been brilliant this season for the Twiston-Davies clan and needs to step again to complete the five timer in the Grade Two AIs Novices Hurdle over an extended two-and-a-half miles at 4.10.

This will undoubtedly be his toughest task to date over timber, and at the prices I much prefer an interest on WADE OUT at a double-figure price now that he steps up to two-and-a-half miles for the first time.

Over at Doncaster, the Virgin Bet Great Yorkshire Handicap Chase (3.15) is the feature betting event of the day and has duly attracted a cracking field of 17.

I like the booking of amateur Chad Bament, who is able to claim a whopping 10lbs off his mount, FORWARD PLAN, which arguably makes him the best handicapped horse in the race.

If his partner can give him a well judged ride then, off a mark of just 128, he should be able to reverse recent course and distance form with Charlie Uberalles from the bet365 Chase here in December.

Bottom weight Walking On Air could easily outrun his big price here for trainer Gary Brown, while Idalko Bihoue is also interesting off his light weight for Nigel Twiston-Davies.