Looking at the fields for today’s two jumps cards, there is clearly a shortage of runners.

Warwick has one three and two four-runner races, while Newbury has three-runner and five-runner races.

Clearly the going is a factor, particularly at Warwick where it’s heavy, but Newbury had races reopened too and it is Soft there.

If you look at Doncaster on Thursday the fields held up okay and there was a 19-runner handicap, while at Kempton we saw double-figure fields for every race yesterday, bar the graduation chase, and the bumper had to be divided.

On that evidence it’s the race conditions themselves today rather than the going that is the problem. The timing is surely ideal as it's a month before Cheltenham and the trainers need to be asked why certain races are not appealing. I am struggling to come up with a reason.

Betfair Super Saturday has long been one of the highlights of the season, and while we may lack some star quality this year – Dodging Bullets the exception – the races have a more open look to them.

Case in point is the Betfair Denman Chase, which has seven runners and the nothing of the calibre of last year’s winner Coneygree, who had a penalty kick 12 months ago.

On his best form my mount Houblon Des Obeaux would have a great chance. He enjoyed a fantastic time of it last season, including seconds in the Hennessy and this race.

However, he seems to be paying for it this year. He's not a big horse and maybe his exertions have taken their toll. He seems fine at home but not the same horse on the track. There was a slight improvement when he was fourth in the Warwick Classic last month, but it was a very distant fourth.

On the plus side he does like Newbury and I think only having six rivals will help him.

The Betfair Hurdle is as competitive as ever and I’m delighted to be riding one of Jonjo O’Neill’s three contenders, Champagne At Tara.

He’s running off a very light weight and there could be more to come from him. I haven’t spoken to connections about him, but clearly Jonjo and owner JP McManus’s horse always have to be respected.

My best chance on the card is Full Irish, who runs in the Listed bumper.

He’s a really nice horse, who won impressively on debut at Sandown and then was a good third in what was a very competitive and classy Listed bumper at Ascot.

He is a horse with a big future. This looks a typically good Newbury bumper with some trainers to be feared but he has as good a chance as any.

Exeter has called a 3pm inspection today ahead of tomorrow’s card.

I rode Masters Hill to win the Bathwick Tyres Bridgwater Graduation Chase last year and while he’s been pulled up the last twice, those were tough big-field marathons and this could be more his cup of tea and might be a nice price.

Hopefully, we’ll get an early call on Exeter and I did have sympathy for Ffos Las when they were forced to abandon at midday last Saturday. It was a tough one for the course as it was their biggest fixture of the season. But I can imagine there were a lot of angry racegoers, owners and trainers who had already arrived.

I wasn't down to ride there, but knowing what Ffos Las can be like I think I would have pulled over halfway there to wait until they’d had their final check.

But fair play to the officials there who said they could offer compensation for travelling expenses to trainers and jockeys.

Last weekend, I put forward Arthur’s Oak as the best of my chances, but said they would all run well. Well I was proved right – but only just!

He won by a nose and showed just what a tough prospect he was, while the others finished second, third and fourth. Hopefully we can have a similar story this weekend!

Aidan Coleman is sponsored by Racing UK, which is launching its HD Channel on Sky 432 on March 7. Please visit racinguk.com/hd for more.