GETTING too fired up about major chase handicaps like the Whitbread Gold Cup often ends in tears.

But on this occasion it could be the bookmakers who are left sobbing in their satchels if Kingsmark (3.30) justifies massive ante-post support for this afternoon's £125,000 showpiece at Sandown.

Twelve months ago it was Beau in the box seat throughout the contest, galloping his rivals into total submission with a front-running performance of devastating quality.

One year on and the official handicapper has slapped a further 14lbs on his back, which combined with the much softer ground may prove to be his Achilles heel.

That is not to say Beau will not run another great race, after all he was still hard on the steel before the normally reliable Carl Llewellyn inadvertently let go of the reins midway through the Grand National.

I believe the Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained challenger will make the frame, it's just such a big ask to give 12lbs to an individual of the class of Kingsmark, who won with embarrassing ease at Liverpool 23 days ago.

There's also further evidence to suggest that Martin Todhunter's dashing grey chaser remains on the upgrade, a pre-requisite for overcoming some of the older, more experienced campaigners in the maximum 25-runner line-up.

The mixed Flat and National Hunt card is full of other gems, none more so than the mile-and-a-quarter Classic Trial, a race which has thrown up some useful Derby pointers in the past.

With plenty of promising three-year-olds to choose from, Barry Hills rather surprisingly relies on Chancellor, previously considered to be a handicapper, rather than a Group 3 animal.

Chancellor may yet upset the apple cart, although my personal preference is for Geoff Wragg's Asian Heights (4.10), an emphatic Lingfield scorer with the scope to make up into a serious Derby candidate.

Loyal supporters of John Dunlop's stable will have been literally filling their boots over recent weeks as winner after winner has emerged from his famous Arundel yard.

The fact that the great man has decided to send hat-trick-seeking Pride Of India (4.25) all the way up from Sussex to Ripon for the two-mile C.B. Hutchinson Memorial Handicap appears to be a tip in itself.

After a brace of gutsy successes at Nottingham, I don't suppose Pride Of India will offer much in the way of value, nonetheless one shouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth.

The owners of Seyooll (5.40) shelled out 100,000 guineas for their bred-in-the-pink filly, due to take part in the closing Aldborough Maiden Stakes.

Sharp-shooter Mick Channon's string have been slow to come to hand this term, but with the benefit of a promising spin at Brighton, Seyooll should finally be ready to start to repay her hefty price tag.

Jockey-turned-trainer Micky Hammond is about to hand in his licence after 20 years in the game.

A perfect swansong for the popular Middleham handler would be victory with Heidi lll in the Whitbread at Sandown. That's a very tough call, and more realistically Stormin' Native (3.15) has an easier task in the Lincs Turkey Novices' Hurdle at Market Rasen.

The initial reaction to his defeat by Westmeath Flyer at Catterick in February was one of bitter disappointment. The passage of time has, however, shown that it was one of the hottest novices' hurdles seen at the course for many a year.

In the Pansy Handicap Hurdle, Jack Flush (4.20) is worth an each-way flutter.

I was on hand to see this little terrier run out of his skin in a conditions event on the level at Pontefract 18 days ago. Now back in his more familiar role over timber, the consistent gelding has a good opportunity in the care of the ever-dependable Jim Crowley.

Finally to the sand at Southwell, where David Barron's juvenile Game Guru (2.00) is coming nicely to the boil.

Barron's brilliance at producing two-year-olds winners is well documented - a record all set to continue with the selection, an encouraging fourth over track and trip on only his second start.

David Nicholls switches American Cousin from turf to the all-weather, a ploy fancied to pay dividends in the six-furlong Classified Stakes at 4.05.

l Istabraq suffered the second fall of his long and distinguished career when he came down at the final fence of the Shell Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown yesterday.

The triple Champion Hurdle hero was sent off the 2-7 favourite to defeat six rivals and looked like doing just that, only to take a crashing fall at the final flight when alongside eventual 6-1 winner Moscow Flyer.

Having jumped well throughout, he failed to take off when asked by jockey Charlie Swan, hit the obstacle and somersaulted forwards, catapulting his rider to the floor.

Horse and rider quickly got to their feet, apparently unscathed, and walked together back to the unsaddling area.

Meanwhile, Moscow Flyer coasted home under Barry Geraghty to beat Colonel Yeager by seven lengths.

Istabraq's trainer Aidan O'Brien confirmed that the horse had returned soundly to his stable.

He explained: ''There was no speed-up going to the last - that is what may have saved his life but cost him the race. He's just got a bit idle and careless approaching it."