Today’s feature race at Cheltenham is the Paddy Power Gold Cup, one of the best handicap chases of the jumps season.

Present View would have been the selection on Good to Soft or better ground, but I fear conditions have gone against Jamie Snowden’s runner who did us a favour at the Cheltenham Festival back in March.

My two against the field are Buywise (7/1 with BetVictor) and Persian Snow (16/1) and the latter gets the each way vote on ground that should suit the Philip Hobbs-trained runner.

Hobbs saddled the winner in 1989 with Joint Sovereignty and 25 years on he can double up having run a cracked behind Johns Spirt (5lbs worse off) last month.

Indian Castle has left Donald McCain and joined Ian Williams since his last start and the ground will suit this young chaser who was backed as if defeat was out of the question in the Kim Muir at the Festival.

Under normal circumstances you would suggest that this extended two-and-a-half-mile trip would be on the sharp side, but if the ground is testing his stamina might come into play.

It’s a fascinating renewal of a great race and my one, two three is: 1 Persian Snow, 2 Buywise, 3 Indian Castle.

I’m not convinced Creepy stays three miles but am loath to desert him after a fine exhibition of jumping at Chepstow last month on his chase debut.

If the race develops into a slog I think Sausalito Sunrise (1.15) might be best equipped. The selection also made a winning chase debut at Chepstow but his was over today’s three-mile trip on soft ground when he jumped soundly although perhaps not as exuberantly as Creepy.

Kings Palace makes his eagerly-awaited chase debut and has the size and scope to jump a fence, but he might want better ground and he, too, is overlooked on this occasion.

The Druids Nephew has always promised to be a decent staying chaser but I wonder if three-and-a-half miles on soft ground are his optimum conditions, even with the mercurial Barry Geraghty in the saddle.

We didn’t get a run for our money with Golden Chieftain who came down at the first at Wincanton last weekend but he must be none the worse and must go close but near the foot of the weights the vote goes to Pigeon Island (1.50), who was backed as if defeat was out of the question at Aintree in a Veterans’ Chase last time.

The selection stayed on very well on that occasion for today’s jockey Jamie Bargary who claims an invaluable 10lbs. The selection has been called a few rude names in the past but that is factored into his price and can reward each way support at 12/1 with BetVictor.

I was very taken with the win of Shouldavboughtgold (2.05) at Carlisle earlier in the week and he is turned out under a seven pound penalty at Wetherby with James Reveley keeping the ride. What A Good Night is the obvious danger but the selection can follow up on ground which clearly suits.

At Cheltenham on Sunday, In Fairness looks well treated for his handicap debut for Nicky Henderson but Howlongisafoot (1.00) looks the proven stayer and gets the vote for Paul Nicholls.

Many of the Champion trainer’s string have needed their first outing of the season and the selection ran a race full of promise when fourth at Exeter last month.

I am surprised that Emerging Talent (1.35) drops to the minimum trip having looked a horse of considerable potential at Chepstow over half a mile further on his hurdles debut. The horse was highlighted as being one to follow from the yard by jockey Sam Twiston-Davies earlier in the month and he looks sure to make it a true test on this stiff track.

The Arkle Novices’ Chase is the best novice chase seen in Britain or Ireland so far this season and preference for Duke Of Navan (2.10) can only be marginal in an exciting Grade 2 Chase over the minimum trip. The selection jumped soundly when berating Urban Hymn at Carlisle on debut although you would want to have seen the latter frank the form at Cheltenham on Friday.

The Greatwood Hurdle is the big betting race of the day and I hope the ground stays soft for Baradari (3.15) who is a 16/1 shot with BetVictor and can reward each way support. The recommendation ran very well on ground quicker than ideal last time and four-year-olds have won two of the last three renewals of this valuable prize.