Last season’s Paddy Power Gold Cup produced Exotic Dancer who went on to be runner up in the Cheltenham Gold Cup and if there is one horse in this year’s field that is open to massive improvement it is the current favourite for the race Granit Jack, trained by Paul Nicholls.

The horse is only five years old and has had just a handful of starts and could turn out to be anything, but it is likely to be a year or two before it is contesting the biggest races at the Festival. In the mean time there is a very low handicap mark to exploit.

Also in action on Saturday is Blazing Bailey, one of the favourites for this season’s World Hurdle having finished a very creditable third last year. The Lombard Properties Handicap Hurdle on Saturday is a race he should win comfortably but off top weight on his first outing this season on ground that is firmer than ideal, he shouldn’t be backed for the race or for the World Hurdle, for now at least.