Barel Of Laughs looks to go one better than last year

6.45 Cheltenham
Timico Mixed Open Gold Cup Final Hunters' Chase | New course | 3m2½f | 5yo+ | RUK

Carrying a first prize of £14,990, the feature on Cheltenham's popular hunter chase card has attracted a 13-strong field including prolific scorer Barel Of Laughs, who bids to go one better than when runner-up to Pearlysteps in this contest last year.

English teachers may not be impressed by the spelling of the Philip Rowley-trained 11-year-old, but it's hard not to be impressed by his recent form as he comes into this contest on the back of two sparkling performances, including when finishing third in the Cheltenham Foxhunter.

Boasting an official rating of 138, the Milan gelding is a whopping 18lb superior to his closest rival and looks to have a great chance of increasing Rowley's record with his runners under rules in the last two weeks to three out of three.

However he will have to fend off Murrayana, who has his third start for Nick Pearce after starting his career with Colin Tizzard.

Pulling up when last seen at Wincanton in March, the 119-rated chaser now gets cheekpieces applied in an attempt to spark him back to the form of a fourth-placed finish in an Aintree Grade 3 hurdle this time last year.

Key booking

Trainer Ian Chanin has booked the experienced Michael Legg to ride his nine-time winner The Wealerdealer. Legg, who is also the assistant trainer to Harry Fry, has ridden 27 winners from 181 rides in the last five seasons, including winning the Grade 2 Silver Trophy Chase last season.

Bookies take cover

Favourite-backers will be looking forward to this contest with five market leaders winning in the last ten years. The last double-figure-priced winner came in 2010 when Take The Stand (20-1) scored five years after finishing second in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

What they say

Philip Rowley, trainer of Barel Of Laughs
He's a lovely horse and I'm very happy with him. He's in good form coming into this contest and I just hope this rain doesn't come down too fast. He won very easily last time, which was a nice prep run, and he loves Cheltenham having finished second once and third twice in three runs.

David Kemp, trainer of Curraigflemens
He started the season well but I think that took its tole on him and he wasn't quite right. He's in much better form now and he has a good each-way chance. You get what you're given regarding trip, 2m5f on good ground would have been too sharp so I thought this was the logical race as he gets the trip well at our local course.

Michael Legg, jockey of The Wealerdealer
I rode him twice last season and he gave me a very good feel. He won well last time out when I wasn't on board and he should go well again here. There's no better feeling than riding around Cheltenham on a horse that jumps and travels and to ride a winner around here is brilliant.

Nick Pearce, trainer of Murrayana
I shouldn't have run him at Wincanton as it was too soon after his point win and he appreciates a break in between his races. We are chancing our arm with the cheekpieces as he's had a lot of racing in his life, so to look for more improvement we thought we would try something different. He's much better going left-handed than right and we're hoping for a good run.