Sandy Thomson is no stranger to glory in the bet365 Edinburgh National Handicap Chase at Musselburgh and can bag what is a valuable prize once more, this time with Grozni on Sunday.
The 10-year-old was fourth in last year's Scottish National for James Owen, having acquitted himself with credit in the Kim Muir at the Cheltenham Festival before that.
He changed hands after that run at Ayr and is with a yard that undoubtedly knows what it is doing with staying chasers. He clearly has an appetite for marathon distances and should still be competitive off his new mark.
Mossy Fen Road should secure his Cheltenham ticket with victory in the bet365 Scottish Supreme Novices' Hurdle.
Harry Derham's charge shaped as a nice prospect in his bumper runs, winning one of his two starts, and that has carried over to hurdling, where he is unbeaten in two outings, being short odds on both occasions.
He had to work a bit for the first win over hurdles, but showed a good attitude in beating Mondo Man by 0.75-lengths. The runner-up is useful, too, and has run very well since a big handicap at Ascot.
Last time out was much smoother, jumping with a real slickness from the front. This track should suit him perfectly and he will have every right to turn up on the opening day of the Festival if all goes as expected.
Derham and jockey Paul O'Brien might well make it a double from the first two races on the card, with Queens Gamble certain to go well in the bet365 Frodon Novices' Limited Handicap Chase.
A top-notcher in her bumper days and as a novice hurdler, an enforced absence after winning at Taunton in December 2023 rather derailed her. A comeback second at Newbury a year later offered encouragement, but runs at Leopardstown and Cheltenham did not go as hoped.
Another lengthy absence came to an end with her chasing debut at Warwick in November last year and while she had to settle for third, that was a good race won by Diva Luna. She is entitled to be better for both the run and the experience.
Koukeo should go well in the bet365 Handicap Chase. A winner at Windsor on New Year's Day, his victory at Haydock since then came at the expense of a couple of previous winners and he is hard to oppose, despite his latest hike in the weights.
Summergrounds continues to give a good account and can end a run of seconditis with victory in the Position Payout A bet365 Handicap Hurdle, where he will be sharper for his return on Boxing Day which came after a break.
At Market Rasen, Henrietta Knight can strike with Roi Du Risk in the Book Into Our Altior's Restaurant Today EBF "National Hunt" Novices' Hurdle.
He ran with some promise first time over obstacles and stepped forward with a determined success at Leicester. He should relish this extra 800m judged on that effort.
Top-quality action in Ireland sees Leopardstown in focus, where ground conditions give Energumene a great chance of rolling back the years in the Ladbrokes Dublin Chase.
The Irish Champion Hurdle is in all likelihood a match between Lossiemouth and Brighterdaysahead - but Poniros could give the big two something to think about at a price.
A shock winner of the Triumph Hurdle, only the exceptional Lulamba stopped him following up at Punchestown. In the same colours as the venerable Energumene, he has winning form in heavy ground on the Flat. - Press Association
SELECTIONS:
LEOPARDSTOWN: Race 1 - 14.40 Galileo Dame, Race 2 - 15.10 Final Demand, Race 3 - 15.40 Talk The Talk, Race 4 - 16.10 Energumene, Race 5 - 16.45 Buachaillbocht, Race 6 - 17.20 Poniros, Race 7 - 17.52 A Dream To Share, Race 8 - 18.27 Celestial Tune.
MARKET RASEN: Race 1 - 14.47 We Got Your Back, Race 2 - 15.17 Roi Du Risk, Race 3 - 15.47 Frankie Faulkner, Race 4 - 16.20 Outer Banks, Race 5 - 16.55 Impatient, Race 5 - 17.30 Abbey Law, Race 6 - 18.02 Grain Trade.
MUSSELBURGH: Race 1 - 14.55 Mossy Fen Road, Race 2 - 15.25 Queens Gamble, Race 3 - 15.55 Koukeo, Race 4 - 16.30 Summergrounds, Race 5 - 17.05 GROZNI (NAP), Race 6 - 17.40 Lihyan, Race 7 - 18.15 Benefit Ben.