Richards hopes Better can be best as he meets smart southern Dame

Donald McCain this week issued a rallying cry to fellow northern trainers, calling on them to take the fight to the sport's southern superpowers and send horses "back down the motorway". Nicky Richards may well have been listening.

In Cheltenham's Sky Bet Supreme Trial (3.30) Richards saddles his unexposed Ayr winner Better Getalong against four opponents who include much-vaunted pair Dame De Compagnie and Slate House, representing Nicky Henderson and Colin Tizzard.

"I didn't see a lot of point running him in the north and winning easily at 1-2 and 1-3 and not really knowing where we stand," said Richards. "He's got to get a bit of experience at that higher level if he's a good horse – and I think he's a good horse.

"We'll find out a bit and if we've got to go back north with him, that's no big deal, but I think he's a grand horse for the future who will win plenty of races."

Henderson believes French import Dame De Compagnie could be very grand indeed. When winning on the bridle at Uttoxeter she supported that view.

"I love her and I think she's good," said Henderson. "She might be a girl, and she is certainly gorgeous, but she behaves like a boy. She is big, strong and robust. We should learn plenty about her here."

Of £260,000 purchase Slate House, Tizzard said: "He is like a lot of ours in that he tightened up for his victory at Cheltenham last month. He is a beautiful creature and we were really excited about him going into the race. After that performance, we were equally excited.

"I think he will prove tough to beat. I'm very confident of a big run. It will take a good one to beat him."

The Listed bumper (4.00) that closes Cheltenham's November meeting has a glittering roll of honour, with past winners having included Best Mate, Rock On Ruby and Ballyandy.

A number of horses with winning form face the starter, including Air Navigator, Crooks Peak and Vocarium, but also interesting is the Tizzard-trained newcomer Sizing Cusimano.

"He's working nicely and is a nice horse," said Tizzard. "He'll probably run in this and then go over hurdles."

The card opens with an impossible-looking conditional jockeys' handicap hurdle (1.15), won two years ago by a well-treated Unowhatimeanharry.

Trainer Harry Fry saddles Melrose Bay, while another obvious contender is recent Aintree second Black Ivory.

"He's a very honest horse who loves racing," said trainer Malcolm Jefferson. "He ran a very good race at Aintree over three miles and he'll come on a bit for that. I think he'll run a good race."

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