TRY backing braveheart Benbyas (2.20) if you're hoping for an early Christmas bonus at Cheltenham today.

Few four-year-olds have demonstrated the sort of courage shown by Benbyas on his latest two starts, both times making every yard of the running to score at Wetherby.

On each occasion his rivals were queuing up to challenge, but Les Eyre's fast-improving youngster beat them off one-by-one to set up the hat-trick bid in the £25,000 C.F. Roberts Handicap Hurdle at Prestbury Park.

There's a real international flavour to the preceding Sporting Index Cross Country Chase, which has attracted a couple of runners from both France and the Czech Republic.

The form of the two Czech raiders is extremely hard to assess, but the French duo, Djeddah (1.45) and Malandrin are high-class individuals.

The former, a one-time winner of the "King George" at Kempton returned to form with a vengeance at Ascot last time out and is to my way of thinking the best handicapped horse in the race.

Scottish star, the unbeaten Direct Access (12.35), puts his reputation on the line in the Ian Williams Novices Chase.

The huge 17 hands chestnut has jumped with complete authority on his two outings over fences at Carlisle and if he puts in another clear round this afternoon Len Lungo's classy charge will not be far away.

Andy Crook has made a cracking start to his training career and Kandy Four (12.30) could well add to Crook's burgeoning tally in the Good King Wenceslas Maiden Chase at Doncaster.

The New Zealand import has yet to strike on UK soil, although he hinted his turn was near by chasing home the useful Sharpastrizam at Wetherby in November.

The prolific winning flat stayer Virgin Soldier (2.45) has been switched from Mark Johnston's stable to Alan Swinbank by owner David Abell and the move appears as if it is going to pay dividends.

Virgin Soldier did nothing wrong on his timber debut at Newcastle where he finished fourth to Man Murphy over two miles. On the evidence of that run the extra four furlongs will be all in his favour for the Silent Night Novices' Hurdle.

Best bet on a mammoth card at Southwell might easily prove to be Robin Sharp (2.30) in the Littlewoods Handicap.

The Willie Jarvis-trained colt hinted a visit to the winners' enclosure was imminent when fourth to Madame Jones at Wolverhampton on the first of this month.