Jumps title battle heads to Ayr as former champions grace Wolverhampton

As far as Cheltenham build-ups go this one has been eventful.

First Brexit put Irish participation at risk. Then biblical weather with less biblical names — not aimed at you Ciara, but who names a storm Dennis? — flooded the country. Now there is the not insignificant threat of coronavirus. No wonder more than £3 million has been matched on whether the festival will go ahead.

As if it could not get any weirder the Saturday before Cheltenham the ITV cameras will be at Wolverhampton and Ayr. Yes, you read that correctly.

The good news is a 10-1 winner pays exactly the same at Wolverhampton or Ayr as it does at Cheltenham, and given neither of Saturday's meetings are as stacked as the annual four days of madness those winners may even be easier to find.

If you want to continue with that belief maybe save studying the Bombardier Golden Beer Lincoln Trial Handicap (1.35 Wolverhampton) until last – it will only put you off. Richard Hannon's Fox Power heads a competitive market with every runner bar one priced between 9-4 and 20-1. Most runners next week will be deemed to have less chance than the biggest outsider here.

Ryan Moore: making a rare visit to WolverhamptonCredit: Edward Whitaker

Former champion jockey Silvestre de Sousa is aboard Fox Power and another to have lifted the title multiple times, Ryan Moore, makes a rare visit to the track. Moore rode at Wolverhampton just once last year but has two rides for old ally Richard Hannon on Saturday. He kicks off with Embour in the Heed Your Hunch At Betway Handicap (2.10) before partnering the favourite Urban Icon in the Bombardier British Hopped Amber Beer Lady Wulfruna Stakes (2.45).

The jockeys' championship may be the theme of the day at Ayr too, where reigning champ Richard Johnson – currently 19 behind Brian Hughes – has three rides after the ITV cameras switch off.

The man he is chasing will be in action in two of the three broadcast races, partnering Island Mahee in the Heverlee Mares' Handicap Hurdle (2.30) and then The Con Man for Donald McCain in the Tennent's Lager Handicap Hurdle (3.05). The closing bumper (5.20), in which Hughes rides the penalty-carrying Castle Rushden and Johnson swings a leg over Gordon Elliott's Democratic Oath, pits the two head-to-head before a fascinating week when either skipping a day at Cheltenham to amass more winners elsewhere would be quite the clue.

Debuchet: 2017 Champion Bumper second runs in Gowran's featureCredit: Patrick McCann

Former festival fancy in action

Three years ago Mags Mullins was preparing Debuchet for the Champion Bumper, in which he found only the ill-fated mare Fayonagh too good.

A year later he travelled well until two out when ninth in Summerville Boy's Supreme. Lostintranslation and Sharjah occupied the two places in front of him, Simply The Betts was the next one home. All four have chances next week, as do others from that race such as Mengli Khan, Paloma Blue, Slate House and First Flow.

But not so Debuchet, who instead contests a 2m2f handicap chase at Gowran off a mark of 133. It is fair to say not much has gone right for him since that race, with one novice chase win in 12 starts since – but a two-and-a-quarter-length second at Ascot off 131 to Greaneteen, rated 1lb higher at the time but two wins later favourite for the Grand Annual off 150, suggests the ability may still be there.

He was sent off the 11-2 favourite for the ultra-competitive handicap chase won by Eclair De Beaufeu, another Grand Annual fancy, at the Dublin Racing Festival. A lot of good horses could call it a form boost should he do what he has threatened to do in the past and win at this time of year.

Weekender and Frankie Dettori will team up at Chelmsford on Saturday eveningCredit: Edward Whitaker

Not all that glitters gets to shine on TV

Away from the ITV cameras there are a few races of note, with a classy field drawn to Chelmsford's tote Conditions Stakes (7.30) thanks to the race's status as a fast-track qualifier for the all-weather championships.

John Gosden and Frankie Dettori team up with Weekender, while Ed Dunlop's Red Verdon – who finished two and three-quarter lengths in front of Weekender in the Group 3 Silver Cup Stakes at York three starts ago off level weights – must concede 5lb here.

Last time out winner Mildenberger, a horse good enough to finish second to Roaring Lion in the 2018 Dante and third behind Stradivarius in last year's Yorkshire Cup, and the John Best-trained Eddystone Rock complete the four-strong line-up.

Did you know you can bet via the Racing Post mobile app/website? Simply sign in with your favourite bookmaker via the Accounts button and then bet direct from our racecards