Gary Moore relishing prospect of his Baron devouring the Caviar opposition

It invades the ear like fingernails down a blackboard and Gary Moore sounds slightly uncomfortable even saying it, but he's feeling a mild sense of bonhomie towards the handicapper at the moment. It may not extend to a drinks invitation or even a Christmas card, but at Cisswood Stables the official assessor is not persona non grata at the moment.

The source of this rare outbreak of fellow feeling isn't hard to fathom. The West Sussex trainer has Baron Alco primed and ready for Saturday's Caspian Caviar Gold Cup at Cheltenham and he's not at all unhappy with the rise in the seven-year-old's mark following his course-and-distance success in the BetVictor Gold Cup last month. To be honest, Moore is going back to Prestbury Park full of hope, and odds of 6-1 suggest the feeling isn't misplaced.

His charge's latest victory may have been laced with good fortune – several fancied runners including Rather Be, favourite for Saturday's race, were caught up in carnage as Baron Alco popped away merrily up front – but there was no mistaking the impressive manner of the success off a perch of 146, and a follow-up off 152 would come as no surprise.