RAPIDLY drying ground has significantly boosted Haut Cercy's prospects in the last big jumps' race of the season, the £150,000 Betfred Gold Cup at Sandown.

Despite an unprecedented seven-strong challenge from Martin Pipe's mighty stable for the near three-and-three-quarter-mile war of attrition, Haut Cercy (3.35) is still the number one choice to lift the sought-after trophy.

Henry Daly's nine-year-old, runner-up in the three-mile William Hill National Hunt Chase at the 2003 Cheltenham Festival, comes into the race a fresh horse having only run twice during the past 12 months.

Much was expected of the gelding in the same event at this year's Festival, however even though he went off a heavily-backed 100-30 favourite, Haut Cercy could only finish a miserable eighth.

"Admittedly he was disappointing at Cheltenham, but the reason he ran so flat was because he wanted better ground. I'm not blaming anyone, but for this horse fast ground is essential," reported Daly.

Another of the National Hunt fraternity suited by the sound of hearing his hooves rattle is Xellance (1.45), fancied to get the column off to a flying start in the opening Betfred Handicap Hurdle.

Xellance, who returned from a long winter break to collect on a firm surface at Cheltenham, has all of the attributes of young hurdler with a big future. Not only does the Philip Hobbs' raider possess bags of flat race speed, he also jumps like a bunny and just for good measure has sufficient reserves of stamina to outstay his rivals on the notorious hill-climb finish at the Esher course.

The recent upturn in the weather isn't good news for all of the runners on the card since leading Middleham hope for the Group 2 betfred.com mile, Gateman (2.55), is ideally suited by plenty of juice in the turf.

The fighting qualities shown by Gateman when taking the money at Newmarket ten days ago were admiral in the extreme. Unfortunately Sir Michael Stoute's Sublimity (2.55) comfortably out-pointed him the time before at Doncaster and although the pair are now more closely matched at the weights, the balance of form suggests the latter will once again hold sway.

The Group 3 Gordon Richards Stakes thrusts together a whole host of high-class ten-furlong performers, including one-time leading Derby fancy, Franklins Gardens, plus the Bustan (4.10), who is now being tried in blinkers after failing to justify favouritism behind Scotts View 12 days ago.

Trainer Marcus Tregoning clearly feels his classy five-year-old hasn't quite got his mind on the job, a situation that is often remedied to winning effect by the application of the "peepers".

Apart from the added bonus of the appearance of Attraction at Ripon, there is an excellent card for would-be punters to get their teeth into.

Potentially the highlight of the meeting is the 17-runner race for the C. B. Hutchinson Memorial Challenge Cup over two miles.

The front-running Zoltano will be popular with backers after his authoritative triumph at Musselburgh, but for my money he will struggle to cope with Thewhirlingdervish (2.35), a promising third on his comeback at Haydock a fortnight ago.

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