MASTER OF THE HALL can book his Cheltenham ticket with victory in the freebets.co.uk Sidney Banks Memorial Novices’ Hurdle at Huntingdon.

The Saddlers’ Hall gelding won his only point-to-point start in his native Ireland, after which he made the switch to Lambourn, finishing fourth in a similar event on his first outing for Nicky Henderson’s powerful Seven Barrows team.

He is unbeaten in two outings over hurdles at the minimum trip since then, but as he holds the Neptune entry at the Festival, it is fair to assume the step up to an extended two and a half miles will only see him improve again.

Mark Johnston’s King’s Salute was a beaten favourite on his latest start but time may show he faced a very stiff task against Buxted, who could be a pretty smart recruit.

The handicapper obviously thought he produced a career best effort as he put him up another 3lb at Kempton tonight.

This race has attracted some old favourites such as Pevensey and Baylini but their best days are now surely behind them.

King’s Salute is still progressing and can win the Bet Multiples - Betdaq Handicap.

Marcus Tregoning only has a handful of runners at this time of year so Harting Hill is worth more than a cursory glance in the Bet Cheltenham Festival - Betdaq Handicap.

Dunaskin is another who has seen better days but he is still running well at a lower level.

The ten-year-old has enjoyed some great days in his lengthy career but he is no better than the Try Betdaq For An Exchange Selling Stakes at Southwell.

Rated as high as 107 at his peak on the level, he has not been beaten too far in his last four starts but is always susceptible to a horse with a turn of foot as his front-running style sets the race up for fast finishers.

He is favoured by the conditions of this race though and must go close.

King O’The Gypsies was an expensive purchase for Graham Wylie and Howard Johnson and it is fair to say he will struggle to recoup his 120,000 guineas price tag on what he has shown to date.

He looked a fine prospect for the winter game when with Roger Charlton on the level, signing off with a rating of 90 in middle distance handicaps.

However, his hurdling debut was delayed by a setback and Crook trainer Johnson ended up giving him a spin back on the Flat in May when he was tailed off.

There was some promise on his hurdling debut when he was third at Market Rasen and he probably lost little in defeat when second to Edge Of Town at Wetherby in horrible ground.

The ground should be much better in Ayr’s Victor Chandler Novices’ Hurdle and the drop in trip should suit.