At The Races

Given the manner in which Sprinter Sacre destroyed the Arkle field on Tuesday, Donald McCain can't be blamed for diverting PEDDLERS CROSS to this Grade 2. Last year's Champion Hurdle runner-up looked a natural at this game at Bangor twice earlier in the season but the bubble was well and truly burst by Sprinter Sacre at Kempton. He probably needs this extra half-mile now and can end Sir Des Champs' unbeaten record. Willie Mullins' six-year-old won the Martin Pipe race at the 2011 Festival and has progressed further since tackling fences, racking up a couple of victories at this level. Cristal Bonus was a class above the opposition in the Pendil and remains a bright prospect, while Champion Court beat Solix in the Dipper here but is 3lb worse off.

• Top Tip: PEDDLERS CROSS (8)
• Watch out for: SIR DES CHAMPS (10)

Buena Vista has taken this for the past couple of seasons but his stable companion OUR FATHER looked a potential top-notcher when returning with a comfortable Ascot success and his powder has been kept dry since, presumably to preserve his handicap mark. Sonofvic got within two lengths of Grands Crus at Newbury but a fencing campaign was put on hold after he flopped in the Dipper. Catch Me's chasing career is also on the back-burner but he offered encouragement in this discipline at Punchestown and McCoy is an interesting booking. Thehillofuisneach made huge progress with his hat-trick of handicap wins prior to finding the step up to Grade 2 company too hot at Haydock last month and can have his say back down in class, despite an 8lb rise for his latest success.

• Top Tip: OUR FATHER (3)
• Watch out for: CATCH ME (12)

Dual winner Albertas Run isn't getting any younger but showed plenty of his old zest when landing the Old Roan before injury intervened. Last year's third Rubi Light warmed up with a classy triumph at Gowran Park and, along with 2011 Jewson hero Noble Prince, spearheads a strong Irish challenge, although the latter has a Fairyhouse defeat at the hands of Blazing Tempo to avenge. Riverside Theatre fought off Medermit to land his second Ascot Chase but this can go to SOMERSBY, who outbattled Finian's Rainbow in the Victor Chandler and is expected to be even better suited to this distance. Captain Chris would have serious claims on last season's Arkle win but has looked a shadow of that horse this campaign.

• Top Tip: SOMERSBY (13)
• Watch out for: RIVERSIDE THEATRE (11)

BIG BUCK'S continues to sweep all before him and has looked as good as ever in extending his unbeaten record to 15 this season, with a last-minute change of plan ultimately proving no problem to him when he caught Dynaste in the Cleeve Hurdle. He can't be opposed but may be facing the most serious threat to his crown because Oscar Whisky was classy enough to make the frame in last year's Champion Hurdle and has stayed 2m5f well enough here twice before an easy Kempton success. If he fails to get home, the next best option for forecast punters could be Thousand Stars because his only previous attempt at a distance in excess of three miles resulted in French Champion Hurdle glory, when stablemate Mourad was back in fourth.

• Top Tip: BIG BUCK'S (1)
• Watch out for: OSCAR WHISKY (9)

Salut Flo has attracted significant support in the build-up to this, as he did ahead of the Spinal Research Gold Cup, for which he was still in contention until a mistake at the third-last. That is his only appearance in the best part of two years, however, and Crack Away Jack has also been sparingly raced, although there is no denying he is well treated in this sphere and will strip fitter for last month's spin over timber at Ascot. Divers also warmed up over the smaller obstacles and won the novices' handicap here 12 months ago, when Holmwood Legend tasted Festival glory in this contest, albeit off a 10lb lower mark. NOTUS DE LA TOUR has kept top company over fences so far, making the frame in a couple of Irish Grade 1s. The step back up in trip is expected to spark more improvement and, if it does, he could be on a very attractive rating.

• Top Tip: NOTUS DE LA TOUR (6)
• Watch out for: DIVERS (10)

The last three winners of this have carried well above 11st so top-weight UP THE BEAT's welter burden isn't that much of a concern, and he lumped 11st 10lb into second behind subsequent Eider winner Portrait King in a heavy-ground Grand National Trial at Punchestown. Many a gamble has gone astray on Sunnyhillboy, including in three consecutive Cheltenham Festivals, but he will get it right in a big race one day. Mostly Bob bounced back to form with an authoritative success from Mon Mome over further here on New Year's Day, and the consistent Midnight Appeal is also making good progress, although he will need to raise his game in line with the handicapper's reaction to his Sandown success. Faasel beat all bar Junior in this race last season and regained the winning thread at Doncaster most recently.

• Top Tip: UP THE BEAT (1)
• Watch out for: SUNNYHILLBOY (3)