Valuable handicap hurdles and chases are the order of the day for the next couple of months in the national hunt season and the Gold Cup kicks off that programme and Cantlow can cause a big shock for the Paul Webber yard.

The nine-year-old has shown in the past that he is suited by the layout at Cheltenham, none more so than last season when

second of 13 behind the smart Double Ross in the Stewart Family Thank You Gold Cup off a mark of 148.

An early fall in the Bayliss and Harding Chase at the Festival was followed by a cracking run in the Irish National when he didn’t quite get home.

An opening run at Ascot should have blown the cobwebs away and now off a rating a pound lower than his run here last year I think he has outstanding claims of at least hitting the frame especially if we get the forecast rains.

I am also a big run of my ante-post pick Present View and despite a small setback there is plenty of confidence behind the Jamie Snowden charge.

Ericht would be a huge player off his lightweight if the ground doesn’t become bottomless and I think he will reverse last month’s form with John’s Spirit, winner of this race last year and quite obviously well suited by the Prestbury Park course in a big field such as this.

Buywise has bundles of talent although his jumping is not to be trusted, but King Massini is better than he showed here in March and is an outsider with a squeak.

Elsewhere on the card, staying is the name of the game in the Murphy Group Chase at 1.30 and that could suit the lightly raced Safran De Cotte and his low weight will count for plenty in this ground.

Back over hurdles Theatrical Star looks well handicapped in the 3.00 and gets the vote over Heronshaw, while the best bet at Embsaycrag in the staying hurdle at 1.30.

There are some valuable prizes on the Polytrack at Lingfield Park and I think that the feature Churchill Stakes can go to Niceofyoutotellme.

Sparely raced this season, winning a valuable handicap on 2,000 Guineas’ day and then finishing runner-up in the Cambridgeshire, I suspect we have yet to see the best of him.

With at least two rivals that like to force the pace in the line-up he should get the good pace he needs to settle and although a longer run-in would suit he is taken to beat Educate, also suited by a true run race, and the talented Battalion.

Polybius has strong claims in the Golden Rose Stakes at 2.00 but Seeking Magic could offer us some value following four good runs at the backend of the turf season and he has some good form on an artificial surface.