Nigel and Willy Twiston-Davies' Torn And Frayed can prevail in the Unibet Middle Distance Veterans' Chase Series Handicap Chase at Cheltenham on Friday.
The 11-year-old has been in increasingly good form since returning to action this season, winning a leg of this series at Aintree in good style in late October.
His mark has risen to 132 and a rating of 131 saw him carry around 67.5kg to a sixth-place finish in this race last year, but that is representative of the form he is in and he won here off 131 back in January 2022.
Fergal O'Brien's Sixmilebridge can come to the fore in the Santa - "The Visit" "Chasing Excellence" Novices' Chase.
Only four runners have assembled for the contest, and among them only he and his stablemate Tintintin have a run over fences to their names.
Sixmilebridge's sole start over obstacles was a winning one, with his 4.5-length defeat of the well-regarded Derryhassen Paddy good evidence that he has plenty to offer.
David Pipe's King Turgeon can return to winning ways in the Cheltenham Turners Handicap Chase over 5200m.
The grey won this last year off 2lb lower, coming home 3 lengths to the good in what was a solid renewal, and he went on to finish a creditable sixth in the National.
His seasonal debut was a beaten run in the Grand Sefton over the big fences at Aintree, but if stepping forward for that experience he can regain his title back over regulation fences.
Kingston Queen can provide another success for the same stable at the meeting, as she looks to hold a real chance in the British EBF "National Hunt" Novices' Hurdle.
The five-year-old was a very smart bumper horse who won a Listed race under that code before finishing third in the Grade Two mares' bumper at Aintree towards the end of last season.
She made her hurdling debut at Chepstow early last month, taking to the task instantly with a 7-length victory that pointed towards plenty more to come.
On the Flat at Southwell there is an interesting contender in Charlie Appleby's Wild Act, who makes his debut in the Always Gamble Responsibly At BetMGM EBF Maiden Stakes.
A gelded son of Oasis Dream, the two-year-old is out of a mare called Grecian Light, who was third in three Group contests during a successful career on the track.
As a broodmare she has been similarly useful, producing two black-type performers from three foals to have hit the track.
A gelding operation suggests this fellow has not been entirely straightforward but with that distraction now removed he stands a good chance of getting off the mark at the first time of asking. - Press Association
TAB is betting on 3 UK meetings on Friday. Here are the tips:
DONCASTER: Race 1: 13.40 Moon Rocket, Race 2: 14.15 Ladronne, Race 3: 14.50 Dissident, Race 4: 15.25 Cumhacht, Race 5: 15.58 Risk It All, Race 6: 16.33 Pipers Cross, Race 7: 17.08 George's Lad.
CHELTENHAM: Race 1: 14.05 Kingston Queen, Race 2: 14.40 SIXMILEBRIDGE (NAP), Race 3: 15.15 French Emperor, Race 4: 15.50 King Turgeon, Race 5: 16.25 Torn And Frayed, Race 6: 17.00 Mister Coffey, Race 7: 17.35 Lucky Manifest.
SOUTHWELL: Race 1: 18.30 Liverpool Star, Race 2: 19.00 Donna Nook, Race 3: 19.30 Uncle Nader, Race 4: 20.00 Empirical, Race 5: 20.30 Wild Act, Race 6: 21.00 Military Leader, Race 7: 21.30 Enemy, Race 8: 22.00 Spring Bloom, Race 9: 22.30 Prince Quattro.
DOUBLE: Kingston Queen and Sixmilebridge (Cheltenham, Races 1 and 2).