MORAL SUPPORT can be backed with conviction in this afternoon's £100,000 De Vere Gold Cup at Haydock.

The glittering prize has attracted a quality 18-strong field including last year's winner The Last Fling, leading Grand National fancy, Young Yenny, plus the fast-improving Streamstown from Ferdy Murphy's in-form West Witton stable.

But none may be able to cope with Charlie's Mann's bold jumping chestnut, who in the circumstances ran a fantastic race to finish third over three miles to Eltigri at the course a fortnight ago.

The latter re-opposes today, however he has an impossible task at the revised weights, moreover, Moral Support should be a totally different proposition now that he has an extra four furlongs to travel.

With Young Kenny being specifically prepared with Aintree in mind, and The Last Fling's tendency to an occasional jumping error, I make Streamstown, winner of his last three races, the main danger.

In the devereonline.co.uk Hurdle, Martin Pipe's Mr Cool bids to wipe away the misery of a dismal performance in the Tote Gold Cup at Newbury, where despite attracting lots of cash, he ran like the proverbial drain.

I'm sure Pipe would not have brought one of stable-stars back so soon if he wasn't confident of a much better showing, and he is taken to collect at the expense of the sixth-home at Newbury, Bring Sweets, plus the promising novice, Hunters Tweed, taking a massive step up in class following two bloodless wins in far weaker events.

Another £80,000 is in the pot at Kempton where the weights for the Racing Post Chase are headed by last year's Irish Grand National winner Commanche Court.

The three miles will surely be too short for Ted Walsh's stamina-laden eight-year-old, letting in the likes of Struggles Glory, for whom there's been a monster ante-post gamble during the week, plus the enigmatic but hugely-talented Windross (3.35).

Alan King's gelding has failed to shine on his last two runs which quite frankly have made him look more like a selling plater than a Cheltenham Festival hopeful.

Yet on the evidence of last season's form he must enter calculations having chased home the late Gloria Victis in the Fulke Walwyn Chase, as well as trouncing High Game by six lengths over track and trip on the corresponding card 12 months ago.

The Adonis Juvenile Novices' Hurdle is also a mouth-watering contest.

Francois Douman sends over Bilboa (3.00) for his second try on British soil having been eclipsed by another French raider, Jair du Couchet, at Chepstow in December.

On that occasion Bilboa's jockey, son, Thierry, came under fire for taking things too easy on his mount.

Certain to be more aggressively ridden now, he and Nicky Henderson's Jocko Glasses could fight out the finish of a fascinating contest.

Uttoxeter gets underway with a cracking three-mile Chase featuring a bunch of closely-matched rivals for the £10,000 showpiece.

Using the tried-and-tested "horses for courses adage" Hopeful Lord is the tip even though he has not seen a racecourse for 419 days. Two seasons ago he showed himself fully capable of handling the pronounced undulations at the track, experience which will be vital against the likes of Nigel's Lad and Paperising.

Patrick Haslam has double prospects in divisions one and two of the Ladbrokes Casino Novices' Hurdle via Fiori (3.05) and Perchancer (5.15).

The former has already established himself as a promising recruit to the jumps arena by hacking up at Haydock in December, while Perchancer has the size and scope to excel over hurdles having picked up a few races on the level over the last couple of years.

It might pay to ignore three fairly ordinary previous outings by Musselburgh-bound Rarchnamara (2.20), due to line-up in the opening three-mile maiden hurdle.

He's a lovely looking individual whose long-term future probably lies over fences. In the meantime there should be plenty of fun to had with him over the smaller obstacles.

Sue Bradburne's runners are pure dynamite at present with both Chergan (3.50) and Miss Ellie (4.50) expected to complete their respective hat-tricks provided the Scottish venue passes an early inspection.

Finally to Lingfield where the executive have rustled up £20,000 for the closing Winter Derby Trial.

Likely favourite Hail The Chief carries plenty of confidence, although my vote goes to Happy Change (4.25), all-the-sharper for a spin over hurdles at Doncaster last month.