A golden strand of form: the Cheltenham trial that keeps on giving

On The Slopes: sees off Return Ticket to win at Kempton on SaturdayCredit: Mark Cranham

On The Slopes winning at Kempton on Saturday added further lustre to a race which had already provided two spectacular Cheltenham Festival victories this week.

The six-year-old narrowly missed out on a berth in the Grand Annual at Prestbury Park on Friday but made amends with a smooth success in the 2m handicap chase at Kempton, beating Return Ticket by three and a half lengths.

On The Slopes could only manage third in the all-important Timeform Novices' Handicap Chase on Trials day in January, making a move at the top of the hill before weakening to finish third behind Simply The Betts and Imperial Aura.

Simply The Betts (right) along with Imperial Aura (left) and On The Slopes are the cornerstones of David Gilbert's festival betting

Simply The Betts (right) and Imperial Aura (left) both won at the Cheltenham Festival, while On The Slopes (centre) boosted the form again at KemptonCredit: Edward Whitaker

Simply The Betts registered victory in the Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate Handicap Chase on Thursday, by which time second-placed Imperial Aura had already blown apart the Northern Trust Novices' Handicap Chase on Tuesday.

The race is the gift that just keeps on giving, as it has produced a remarkable seven festival winners since 2010.