WELL-WEIGHTED Woody Valentine (2.30) warrants maximum respect in Cheltenham's £20,000 CFR Group Handicap Hurdle.

Formerly a pretty decent middle-distance Flat performer when housed with Mark Johnston, the son of top American sire, Woodman, wasted no time in making a satisfactory switch to jumps under the eye of Venetia Williams.

Woody Valentine has won a couple of times for his new connections, Favourites Racing, but it's the fact he's coming back after a 201-day absence which is of great interest.

Having been kept very busy during the early part of his career, the wiry four-year-old always looked as if he'd appreciate a long break in order to put some flesh on his rather bony frame.

Now that process has been allowed to take place, I've a hunch Woody Valentine will be a much stronger individual, capable of surprising some better-fancied and more highly-rated opponents in the two-mile test.

The Mears Group Chase boasts £50,000 in prize-money, sought-after booty that has attracted an extremely respectable line-up.

Although loath to desert Ferdy Murphy's Scottish Grand National hero, Joe's Edge, he's yet to hit form and preference is for Liberthine (1.20).

Already a course winner at this year's National Hunt Festival in March, he hails from Nicky Henderson's powerful stable, never to be underestimated on their regular sorties to Prestbury Park.

Liberthine warmed up for today's valuable race with a more-than-satisfactory seventh placing behind Old Vic in the Paddy Power Gold Cup. He was plugging on dourly over the last couple of fences and should be cherry-ripe to do the job under enthusiastic amateur rider, Sam Waley-Cohen.

Henderson might easily be on the score-sheet much earlier in the afternoon with Doncaster raider, Menchikov (12.00), sure to be thereabouts for the opening Novices Hurdle on the Town Moor.

Menchikov nearly threw away a winning chance at Ludlow last month with some sloppy hurdling, but he saved favourite backers' money by showing bags of toe between the obstacles, eventually overcoming his nearest pursuer, Billyandi, in a tight finish.

The Intercasino.co.uk Handicap Chase is an intriguing little contest, even though only seven runners face the starter.

Having tipped both Argento and Bob's Buster to no avail on many occasions during the past 12 months, I give them up in total and utter frustration and side with Lorient Express (2.40).

Jockey Sam Thomas hardly had to move a muscle when steering the selection to a cosy victory on his recent Folkestone return. It was a fine effort, which was all the more impressive since he hadn't seen action for 37 weeks prior to that breathtaking romp.

As eight of Moayed's (2.20) ten career wins have come on the polytrack, it's pretty safe to say Nick Littmoden's tough and consistent representative is an all-weather specialist.

Sleeping in the stalls has always been the gelding's trademark, and it was the same old story when he lost ground emerging from the gates over an inadequate six furlongs at Wolverhampton seven days ago.

Moayed returns to the track with the added benefit of being asked to travel an extra furlong, plus being drawn in the number six berth rather than last week's diabolical wide-slot of 13, grotesquely known as "the coffin box" in the trade.

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