Four things to look out for on a brilliant jumps card

Seasons still changing

Summer has shaken hands with winter, but neither is the former out of the door nor the latter sat in his seat. The opening handicap chase (2.00) at Cheltenham has the two meeting in the middle, with the added dimension of a few of the winter horses having had a tune-up.

Either way, it is a time for both types of horse to seize the opportunity. Southfield Vic's trainer Paul Nicholls said: "He's a summer horse really so we've got him ready for this and, unless the weather holds up over the next few weeks, he'll be put away and come back for spring handicaps."

At the other end, last year's winner Coologue reappears and trainer Charlie Longsdon made clear no stone has been left unturned.

"It's very much been the plan to bring him back here and try our damndest to win it again," said Longsdon. "These plans are often sunk before you even get to the day, but he's in good form and will probably be ridden handily as usual."

Then in the middle are those with longer-term aims. Perfect Candidate was last seen in the Grand National and trainer Fergal O'Brien said: "He'll run here, then go to the Becher, and we'll decide after that about another National run. We didn't have the easiest lead up to it last year and he was badly handicapped."

O'Brien added of his other runner Bells 'N' Banjos: "I'm looking forward to running him. He was a bit unlucky on his last start and he acts around Cheltenham. Paddy [Brennan] gets on well with him too."

Open meeting rematch

Fox Norton won the 2m handicap chase (3.10) last year off 146 and ended the season a dual Grade 1 winner. Best of luck to whoever wins this year's running, then, but first there's a score to settle from last year's November meeting.

Some Plan was in front that day and still to be asked for his effort when he fell two out in a race won by Le Prezien. Under conditions which are slightly more in his favour, the Roger Brookhouse-owned nine-year-old is out for revenge.

Trainer Henry de Bromhead said: "We're dropping him back in trip as he appeared not to stay last time. He's in good form. He was in front when he fell at the second-last at the November meeting last season and we're hoping for better luck this time."

It all starts here

The first of around 20 Pertemps qualifiers takes place at 3.45, so technically speaking the road to the Cheltenham Festival starts here.

Going by last year's race, all but four of these runners will have to increase their mark to get a place in the Final, which will be run as a Grade 3 for the first time in March.

Likely favourite in an open field is Thomas Campbell, who ran at Cheltenham, Aintree and Sandown last season and emerged with credit each time. Still only five, he surely has more to give.

Also in the field is Stick To The Plan, who gained some notoriety when unseating Bridget Andrews on the run-in at Southwell earlier in the month.

An interesting runner at a bigger price is Bucking The Trend. When he won at Uttoxeter last October the race that was to be won by Coologue was identified as a target. However, he was pulled out that day on a self-certificate and has not run since.

It is fitting he returns from whatever has troubled him on the same card 12 months on and it is an eyecatching first assignment of the season.

Last chance for classy novices

The 2m4f novice chase (4.20) might be one of the best run in Britain this season so far. Admittedly, that might be related to the fact that come Wednesday three of the six will no longer be novices.

Alcala has been one of the horses of the summer and slipped up just before he got to test Finian's Oscar at Chepstow a fortnight ago.

Trainer Paul Nicholls said: "He's been brilliant all summer and was going to give it a right go at Chepstow last time – the winner would have had to jump a lot better than he had been to catch us."

He added: "He's been on the go a long time and will need a break at some stage, but he looks fantastic at the moment so we'll let him tell us when that is."

Midnight Shot won his first chase on May 4, so will be a novice all winter.

His trainer Charlie Longsdon said: "He's been a fun horse. He's honest and hardy and, while this is a step up in grade, he's earned it. He'll have a break at some stage and it may well be after this race, but we'll see how it goes."

If he can beat the likes of Two Taffs and Alcala, the temptation might be to keep him going a while longer.

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