BARRING a fall, French ace First Gold should have all the answers in today's big race, the £150,000 King George V1 Chase at Kempton.

It would be nice to think the money was safe on home soil, but if events last year are anything to go by then First Gold already has the swag halfway back across the English Channel.

The Millennium running of the much-sought after prize was nothing short of a rout as Francois Doumen's imperious eight-year-old swept aside his nearest pursuer, Florida Pearl, in the manner of a king dismissing one of his subjects.

In today's re-match First Gold admittedly faces far stiffer opposition than he did last year, with both Best Mate and Bacchanal taking their respective places in the line-up. And there's always the well-fancied outsider Legal Right to consider.

Tony McCoy, who has had to desert the latter in order to partner Best Mate said: "I'm delighted to be riding Best Mate, but gutted to be off Legal Right, who has been good to me.

"I might regret it, but in Best Mate we are talking about potentially the best young horse in Britain."

Bacchanal, arguably last season's leading novices' chaser, staked his particular claim with a breathtaking 26-length win over Granit d'Estruval at Sandown earlier in the month.

It was an awesome display by Mick FitzGerald's mount, and if the favourite First Gold (2.20) is going to be overturned, Bacchanal could be the one to back.

Perhaps the best hope of northern success at the meeting rests on the shoulders of Man On The Hill (1.10).

After leaving Martin Pipe's stable to join Ferdy Murphy's yard Man On The Hill reeled off a stunning four-timer.

Then he suffered an untimely mishap at Towcester, where he whipped round at the start and unshipped J P MacNamara.

Let's hope it was a "one-off" by Man On The Hill because he will have to be on better behaviour if he's to capture the valuable Feltham Novices Chase.

It is a Grade One event which invariably produces a potential Cheltenham Festival candidate.

Murphy also holds a strong hand at Wetherby, although he feels the handicapper might have "got hold" of Ballinclay King, his challenger in the principal event on the card, the £35,000 Castleford Chase.

If Murphy is correct, then victory for the second year in succession for Mary Reveley's stable beckons via October Mist (1.25).

The apple-of-Mary's-eye, Function Dream, took the honours 12 months ago.

But the gallant mare has since been retired, making way for another possible champion two-miler, October Mist, already twice a winner over track and trip this term.

In the later Rocom Handicap Hurdle Joe Di Capo's (2.30) featherweight makes him an attractive betting proposition.

Andy Crook's strapping six-year-old is going to make up into a fabulous chaser.

But in the meantime there's more hay to be made over the smaller obstacles.

The relatively narrow margin of his win at Newcastle meant he was not too harshly dealt with by the handicapper, who for my money has made a mistake giving him so little lead to carry in his saddle.

Not for the first time at Ayr it appears as if it's going to be the Tony Dobbin and Len Lungo show since the powerful combination have a number of live chances.

I wouldn't be surprised to see them stroll off with a sparkling four-timer at the Scottish track.

Contract Scotland (1.30), Laganside (2.00), The Phair Crier (2.35), and To-Day To-Day (3.10) all have good chances.

The feature race at Market Rasen, the Clugson Lincolnshire National Chase over a lung-busting four-miles-and-one-furlong, should by rights fall to Merry Masquerade (2.35).

If it were a long distance hurdles race, Merry Masquerade would be conceding lumps of weight all round.

Unfortunately his fencing form to date has been disappointing, hence the lenient rating.

But over this afternoon's marathon journey, the selection's tendency to get hopelessly behind in the early stages should be totally negated by the sheer distance the field must travel