Cheltenham and Doncaster

if racing goes ahead, both these tracks offer a strong card, especially the former with its trials for the major championship races for the Festival at their next meeting in March. Paul Nicholls has two entries in the Argento Chase at 15.35 CET, Inchidaly (Ruby Walsh) and Taranis (Nick Scholfield), but whatever happens here is unlikely to affect betting on the Gold Cup, which is totally dominated by Nicholls´ two top stars, Kauto Star and Denman. Madison du Berlais (David Pipe/ Tom Scudamore) is the highest-rated in today´s field, but never seems to show his best form here, while Knowhere (Nigel Twiston-Davies/ Paddy Brennan) and Joe Lively (Colin and Joe Tizzard) are past winners of this race, but do not appear to be in top form. Front-runner Carruthers (Mark Bradstock/ Mattie Batchelor) is probably the safest option here, but a watching brief is recommended.

Similarly Nicholls will probably not worry too much about the Cleeve Hurdle over 3 miles at 16.40, as none of the runners is likely to give his Big Bucks a hard race.The improving handicapper Lie Forrit (Willie Amos/ Campbell Gillies), course specialist and German-bred Fair Along (Philip Hobbs/ Rhys Flint) and Katchit (Alan KIng/ Jimmy McCarthy) look the likeliest winners here. Katchit, who also runs his best races here, famously won the Champion Hurdle two years ago,but has been struggling slightly ever since and now steps up to a much longer distance for the first time.

Despite having several fancied runners at Cheltenham, Nicky Henderson is planning on sending his stable jockey Barry Geraghty to Doncaster, where the duo can take the novice chase at 14.45 with Mad Max and then possibly Be There in Five, who has The Betchworth Kid (Alan King/ Wayne Hutchinson) to beat in the 3 mile novice hurdle at 15.50. The big betting race here is the Sky Bet Chase, 3 mile handicap at 16.25, which (in the unlikely event that they all run) has a field of 22 and almost as many winning chances. It has been a very quiet season for Henrietta Knight so far, but she runs her two stable stars this weekend, and is hopeful of taking this with top-weight Calgary Sound (Andrew Thornton), while her Arkle hope Somersby runs tomorrow at Hereford.

Cheltenham - betting forecast:
1. Race: Pistolet Noir - George Nympton - Good Lord
2. Race: Doctor Pat - Theatrical Moment - Five Dream
3. Race: Seven Is My Number - Exmoor Ranger - Perce Rock
4. Race: Carruthers - Madison Du Berlais - Inchidaly Rock
5. Race: General Miller - Royal Charm - Restless Harry
6. Race: Lie Forrit - Katchit - Mr Thriller
7. Race: Oldrik - Doeslessthanme - Quartano

Doncaster - betting forecast:
1. Race: Highest Start - Sonowyouno - Sir Harry Ormesher
2. Race: Mad Max - Quwetwo - You`Re The Top
3. Race: Bedlam Boy - Green Belt Elite - Battlecry
4. Race: The Betchworth Kid - Be There In Five - Possol
5. Race: Seven Is My Number - Theatrical Moment - Calgary Bay
6. Race: Amber Brook - Give It Time - Alegralil
7. Race: Sprinter Sacre - Eagle Owl - Management