By Ashley Iveson, PA
L'Eau Du Sud is put forward as a viable alternative to red-hot favourite Jonbon in the Shloer Chase at Cheltenham.
Jonbon has been a fantastic servant to trainer Nicky Henderson and owner JP McManus, with his Grade One tally standing at 10, but there is no doubt he is not quite at his brilliant best on the undulations of Prestbury Park.
The nine-year-old may have won this Grade Two prize in each of the past two seasons, but four of his five career defeats have come at this track and it is worth taking him on this time.
L'Eau Du Sud was a brilliant winner of the Arkle Trial at this meeting 12 months ago before going on to win the Henry VIII at Sandown and the Kingmaker Novice' Chase at Warwick. He was a close-up fourth in the Arkle itself and can be forgiven a slightly disappointing run at Aintree at the end of a long season.
While many of Henderson's horses have appeared in need of a run so far, Dan Skelton has his string in fantastic form and if L'Eau Du Sud is ever going to beat Jonbon this is the day.
The Alcester handler may also land the opening Lycetts Insurance Brokers Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle with the unexposed A Pai De Nom. The five-year-old won comfortably on his hurdling debut at Newton Abbot in September and did not do a lot wrong in finishing second to the promising Gentleman Toboot at the same track last month.
He enters the handicap sphere off what looks a workable mark of 116 and looks sure to go well in the hands of Tristan Durrell.
Gunsight Ridge gets the nod in what looks a wide-open Unibet Middle Distance Veterans' Chase Series Veterans' Handicap Chase.
Olly Murphy's 10-year-old has a bit of a hit-and-miss profile, but was in the process of running a big race at this meeting last year when tipping up at the final fence and went on to win a decent prize at Sandown later in the season.
His fitness has to be taken on trust on his first competitive start since the Grand National meeting, but, like Skelton, Murphy is firing on all cylinders and the assistance of Sean Bowen in the saddle can only be a good thing.
The Anthony Honeyball-trained Leave Of Absence sets a decent standard in the Sun's 'Save Our Bets' Novices' Chase.
Still lightly-raced after just eight starts under rules, the eight-year-olD made a good start to his campaign when scoring over this course and distance last month and while he has to concede 3lb all round in his bid to follow up he is still nicely in at the weights.
Last season's Champion Bumper runner-up Heads Up can make it two from two over obstacles in the Grade Two Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle, while the booking of Bowen looks significant for Tony Martin's Irish raider Bruant in the Valda Energy Novices' Handicap Hurdle.
You Some Girl is rated the best bet at Newcastle as she looks to make it three wins from as many starts at Gosforth Park in the Get The Inside Track With raceday-ready.com Handicap Hurdle.
The eight-year-old won this race 12 months ago for Rebecca Menzies and bolted up on her visit two weeks ago on what was her chasing debut.
Rated just 3lb higher back over the smaller obstacles, You Some Girl should be involved at the business end.
Southwell punters are advised to put their faith in Admiral Stewart, who following a walkover at Sandown at the weekend can give weight and a beating to a handful of rivals in the CaseIH A Winning Team Novices' Handicap Chase.
Top tips for today’s UK meetings
TAB is betting on 3 UK meetings today. Here are the tips
NEWCASTLE: Race 1: 14.10 Walk On Son, Race 2: 14.45 Glory Hights, Race 3: 15.20 Broderick,
Race 4: 15.55 Chapel Green, Race 5: 16.30 You Some Girl, Race 6: 17.05 Powerofjet, Race 7:
17.40 Marvel Magic.
SOUTHWELL: Race 1: 14.22 Just Gino, Race 2: 14.57 Kayce Dutton, Race 3: 15.32 Admiral
Stewart, Race 4: 16.07 My Mate Aj, Race 5: 16.42 Adonedeal, Race 6: 17.17 Golden De Coeur,
Race 7: 17.50 Jack Hoola.
CHELTENHAM: Race 1: 15.10 A Pai De Nom, Race 2: 15.45 Gunsight Ridge, Race 3: 16.20 Leave
Of Absence, Race 4: 16.55 L'Eau Du Sud, Race 5: 17.30 HEADS UP (NAP), Race 6: 18.00 Bruant.
ALL TO COME: A Pai De Nom and Heads Up (Cheltenham, Races 1 and 5).
For fields, race betting and more information go to www.tab.co.za