The big betting race of the day is the BetBright Handicap Chase over three miles at Kempton Park (3.45) and I strongly fancy Easter Day to give Paul Nicholls another big race Saturday success.

This young and unexposed horse has only had the five starts over fences, winning two, and was in the process of running a career-best race at Cheltenham last time out before coming to grief at the third-last with the race seemingly at his mercy.

The handicapper has surprisingly left the selection on a mark of 142 and with the added bonus of soft ground he looks sure to be very hard to beat granted a clear round of jumping.

I don’t think that this is the greatest renewal of this normally ultra-competitive race and the biggest dangers to the selection could come from the foot of the handicap in the form of Renard and Ballinvarrig.

The latter is a big and scopey horse that we have yet to see the very best of and he acts well around this tight track.

He will feel like he is running loose with only 10-4 on his back and the Tom George stable remains in rude health at the moment.

Renard was slightly disappointing in the Skybet Chase at Doncaster, but this exposed performer can be relied upon to run his race if not getting

too far behind.

Stable-mate Tenor Nivernais is also interesting as he looked ready for another shot at three miles after running on nicely last time out over a shorter distance.

Herdsman ran a cracking race in the North Yorkshire National at Catterick when a close-up second but a 4lbs rise in the weights leaves him vulnerable in the 4m1f Eider Chase at Newcastle at 2.55 and former winner Portrait King is preferred.

The Irish raider is not outstandingly well weighted, being a full 9lbs higher than for his victory in this race two years ago, but he comes into the race in rude health and can give the weight away to the Brian Ellison charge and Alpha Victor.

There is a cracking card at Lingfield Park on the Polytrack and the outstanding wager of the day comes in the form of Maverick Wave in the Winter Derby Trial at 3.25.

With Grandisar and Grandeur set to use this as a stepping stone to the big race, John Gosden’s progressive sort looks more battle-hardened and can take advantage of his fitness edge.

Earlier on, Related can take advantage of a good sit by landing the valuable seven-furlong handicap at 2.15.

He didn’t get the best of runs last time out and has most to fear from his conqueror that day Shyron and Money Team.

Also worth another look on the card are Brother Tiger (4.35), who just needed the run last time out, and Head Space in the 5.05.