Following a superb Cheltenham Festival, the national hunt circus moves on to Uttoxeter this afternoon and despite his short price Catching On can continue his march-up the rankings in the Midlands National at 3.50.

The lightly raced seven-year-old has made giant strides this season, winning two of his four starts over fences.

That record culminated in a very ready success in the Devon National Handicap Chase at Exeter on heavy ground at the beginning of the month.

However, A P McCoy’s charge also has form on good ground having landed a point-to-point on such a surface and then a novice handicap hurdle last year.

A 6lbs penalty for his Exeter success seems rather lenient and as long as he has recovered from that victory I think he will prove too progressive for a field largely consisting of exposed performers.

Of his 21 rivals, Bertie Boru stays all day long and comes here quite fresh and I think is reasonably handicapped off a mark of 136, although it has to be said that a drop of rain wouldn’t go amiss.

Of the remainder, Woodford County, Hawkes Point and Foxbridge all have solid each-way claims.

The first of that trio comes here off a break and a reproduction of his run in last year’s Tom Molony Chase at Haydock could make him the biggest danger to the selection.

Earlier on the card the very lightly campaigned Salmanazer should very close to following up his win at Exeter last time out when he runs in the 2.40.

Given a marvellous ride that afternoon by Denis O’Regan, he has ample scope to improve and can land this nicer prize before being stepped up in class.

Over at Lingfield Park, the feature event is the Winter Derby at 3.05 and offers Grandeur a big chance to improve on his unlucky in running fourth last time out.

That means he should reverse form with Grandisar and the likes of Educate and progressive Tryster could well fill the frame.

Later on, the eight-year-old Dungannon will be hard to beat in the Listed sprint at 3.40, while Big Baz can return to winning ways in the 4.15.

Over at Wolverhampton, Robert the Painter takes a drop in class in the 8.15 but I doubt he can give the weight away to the lightly raced Monaleen.

The filly did well to win her maiden last time out off a slow pace and the form has since been handsomely cemented by the runner-up.

Finally, Sheriff of Nawton is given once last chance in the mile-and-a-half handicap at 8.45 and is taken to give the weight away to hat-trick seeking Sandy Cove.