Cheltenham's two-day Christmas Meeting gets under way on Friday, with Saturday's feature December Gold Cup the biggest draw across both cards.
A maximum of 12 runners will be fighting it out for the £75,000 first prize up for grabs in this historic handicap chase, which has been landed twice in recent years by Paul Nicholls' old favourite Frodon.
Clive Gildon provides his analysis on the big race as well as some other selections at the two-day meeting, where they race from 12.05-3.35 on both days, with Saturday's December Gold Cup due off at 1.50.
1.50 Saturday - Virgin Bet December Gold Cup Handicap Chase (2m4½f)
As is often the case, the December Gold Cup doesn't look quite as strong as its equivalent at Cheltenham's November meeting, the Paddy Power Gold Cup.
A couple who ran well first time out there, third Il Ridoto and fourth Fugitif, are back for more and both bring a wealth of experience in top Cheltenham handicaps over intermediate trips.
Neither could lay a glove on Stage Star or Notlongtillmay in the Paddy Power, though, and focusing on second-season chasers looks the way to go again. The previous campaign's novices look a strong bunch and THUNDER ROCK must have a massive chance given his form keeps getting boosted.
Thunder Rock finished on the coattails of top-class novices The Real Whacker and Gerri Colombe last term after giving subsequent Grade 2 winner Solo a pasting off level weights in an Ascot novice handicap.
He rounded off a positive novice chase year with an excellent second to subsequent Coral Gold Cup winner Datsalrightgino at Ayr, while his return effort in the Colin Parker at Carlisle was rock-solid given he gave a good beating to Mahler Mission, who chased home Datsalrightgino in that Newbury race.
Everyone around Thunder Rock appears to be climbing through the ratings and now it is his turn to capture a major prize off an enticing mark of 146.
The seven-year-old isn't the biggest, but jumps well and the presence of Grade 1-winning top-weight Fakir D'Oudairies means Thunder Rock will carry just 10st 12lb.
Monmiral, whose form last season ties in with Thunder Rock's, can emerge as Thunder Rock's biggest danger with Harry Cobden shunning race-fit stablemate Il Ridoto to ride him. Paul Nicholls can be trusted to ready one for a big pot first time out.
1.15 Friday - Catesby Estates Handicap Hurdle (2m1f)
The first race of the meeting in front of the ITV cameras is Friday's 2m1f handicap hurdle and WILLIETHEBUILDER stands out on the strength of his fourth in the Grade 2 2m novice hurdle here at the October meeting.
Lookaway won that and is now rated 136 after finishing well clear of the third when second in the Greatwood, while the third, Kamsinas, is up to 134 after capturing the Grade 2 Newton Novices' Hurdle at Haydock in fine style.
Williethebuilder would have finished much closer if he didn't hang across the track that day and still looks a work in progress. But the fact he is rated 125 and Dan Skelton throws him straight into a handicap on just his third run over hurdles looks significant.
Panjari, a Listed winner on the Flat for previous connections, is another who is potentially well treated.
3.00 Friday - Glenfarclas Crystal Cup Cross Country Handicap Chase (3m5½f)
Experience of Cheltenham's cross-country course probably isn't essential nowadays and GESSKILLE might be good enough to score on his first attempt around the unique circuit.
The six-year-old evidently thrives for an unusual jumping test. He has won a Grand Sefton, finished second in another and gone close in a Becher, and appeals as perhaps the only improver in a field of exposed sorts.
The presence of former Gold Cup winner Minella Indo means seven runners race from out of the weights, but Gesskille isn't one of those. The biggest worry to Gesskille supporters should be Latenightpass, who produced an excellent second when tackling Cheltenham's cross-country course for the first time four weeks ago and should strip fitter.
3.35 Friday - Citipost Handicap Hurdle (3m)
The 0-140 2m5f handicap run at the November meeting looks a key form line in the context of this staying contest, as both Gyenyame and TIGER JET gave the impression they could improve for a step up to three miles.
Ignore easy winner Springwell Bay as he danced in, having contested the Grade 1 Mersey Novices' Hurdle at Aintree on his previous start, but Gyenyame and Tiger Jet were fifth and sixth jumping the last before the turbo kicked in and they eventually stayed on for second and third.
There is little between the pair on that form, but Gyenyame's price has shortened in recent days and Tiger Jet encountered interference in that contest. It is also interesting that top jockey Harry Cobden has elected to keep the ride, suggesting Tiger Jet might be the percentage call at the revised odds.
2.25 Saturday - Favourite From The Sun Now Daily Handicap Chase (3m2f)
CITY CHIEF looked a big player jumping two out on his return in the 3m3½f handicap chase at the November meeting, but didn't see out the trip as resolutely as the three in front of him.
I'm primarily putting that down to a lack of race sharpness, and I suspect we will see a better performance with that behind him over a furlong and a half shorter off a 1lb lower mark.
City Chief improved 13lb on Racing Post Ratings from first to second run last season and is open to loads of progression in this type of race, given he is only six and has run in just five chases. He would have learned plenty from the recent spin round here and has a decent shout.
Malina Girl beat City Chief by 14 and a half lengths in that contest, but is 12lb worse off now and had race fitness on her side going into that assignment.
