Gordon Elliott has won the last three runnings of the Pertemps (1.55pm) and the Bosses Oscar is favourite to bring the prize back to Cullentra for a fourth consecutive year.  He has his chance, but is short enough now and it is worth noting he is 13lbs higher than when fifth in the Martin Pipe last year.

At the prices, the one I like is Dan Skelton’s Spiritofthegames.  He may not be the easiest horse to win with, but he has stacks of good form around here, finishing second in three of his last four starts in Graded handicap chases at the course.

He was a close sixth in the 2m4f handicap chase here last year off 8lbs higher and held plenty of entries this week, including over fences.  However, he returned to hurdles for the first time in three years at Chepstow last time, and travelled really sweetly, just finding one too good in the soft ground.

Three miles on drying ground could well see him in an even better light and there is every chance he is as good over hurdles as he is over fences – he went novice chasing after a season in top handicaps over hurdles that saw him finish third in the Betfair behind Kalashnikov and second to William Henry in the Lanzarote.

1pt each-way Spiritofthegames @ 20-1 5 places (William Hill, Ladbrokes, Bet365, Coral)