IT'S a day of quality racing rather than great betting opportunities at Cheltenham today.
You certainly will not get rich backing One Man and Large Action in the two feature races but it is very difficult to oppose either, even at very cramped odds.
One Man should certainly end his course hoodoo in the Pillar Property Investments Chase.
The nine-year-old has flopped on his two previous visits to Cheltenham, most famously when a hot favourite for last year's Gold Cup.
But his two successive victories in the King George VI Chase at Sandown and Kempton show he is a high-class performer elsewhere.
And none of today's rivals look good enough to get him off the bridle at these weights.
There are no doubts about Large Action's handling the course, as the gelding has twice won the Bula Hurdle here and also been placed in the Champion Hurdle on two occasions.
Nor is there any worry about his being good enough to land today's Cleeve Hurdle, as he has shown himself as good as ever in scoring at Fairyhouse and here this term.
If Addington Boy is the serious Gold Cup contender ante-post betting would suggest he must win the Ladbrokes Trophy Chase. If he can't beat Dublin Flyer when receiving 10th he has no claim to championship class.
Things are no easier for punters at Doncaster where the feature Pertemps Great Yorkshire Chase is a very tricky contest.
Progressive pair General Command and Sounds Strong both warrant plenty of respect, albeit in less than ideal conditions, while the more experienced Golden Spinner and Easby Joker are both in the form to lift this prize.
Marginal preference is for General Command who has been laid out for the race and has been mighty impressive in lesser company to date.
A better bet may be backing Blast Freeze to defy an absence of nearly two years in the Doncaster Sponsorship Club Handicap Hurdle.
Trainer Nicky Henderson has found a very uncompetitive race for his charge's reappearance.
Deep Decision ran his best race for a long time when second to Easby Joker at Newcastle last time out, battling on well all the way to the line.
He can show that was no flash in the pan when he is stepped up to 25 furlongs for the Stakis Casinos Handicap Chase at Ayr.
Best choice at Lingfield could be Panther in the Margaret Jones Birthday Handicap.
