Hand Inn Hand can produce a knockout punch in the £100,000 Tripleprint Gold Cup Chase at Cheltenham tomorrow on a day when National Hunt enthusiasts are set to be treated to another super Saturday of racing.

Trained by Henry Daly, Hand Inn Hand will be a popular choice in the day's richest race and looks likely to be sent off favourite, following his encouraging comeback at Aintree last month.

That outing was over hurdles, which was hardly a sufficient enough test for Hand Inn Hand, but the gelding performed admirably to finish third to Mughas in a tough handicap.

A four-times winner over fences last season, Hand In Hand will be well suited by tomorrow's two and a half miles distance and will also have the services of in-form pilot Richard Johnson.

Rooster Booster is the star attraction in the Tote Bula Hurdle. The champion hurdler was so impressive when winning the title at Cheltenham in March that many believe him capable of defending the championship this season.

This comeback outing will go some way to confirming his well-being and, although this Grade 2 race hardly promises to be a cakewalk for him, I expect Rooster Booster to win, as he did a year ago.

In the Jet U.K. 'Relkeel' Hurdle, Crystal d'Ainay is my fancy to oblige for trainer Alan King and jockey Robert Thornton.

The talented four-year-old finished an excellent second to his stablemate Mughas at Aintree last month, form which has since ben franked by the winner scoring again at Chepstow.

At Doncaster, Chevet Girl can make the most of bottom weight in the Carling Extra Cold Sea Pigeon Handicap Hurdle, a race named in memory of the former Ryedale-trained superstar.

Chevet Girl, trained by Howard Johynson, ran a fine race in a competitive handicap at Ayr last time to finish fifth and her bold front-running tactics could succeed tomorrow.

At Haydock, Rhinestone Cowboy, rated by many as the biggest danger to Rooster Booster in this year's Champion Hurdle, can make a successful return to action in the Tote Placepot Handicap Hurdle.

The Jonjo O'Neill-trained gelding, an outstanding novice last season and third to Rooster Booster at Cheltenham, should have too much class for his rivals.

The Tommy Whittle Chase has attracted a high-class field, and Hussard Collonges, trained by Peter Beaumont, gets my vote after his promising comeback on this course last month when he finished second to Swansea Bay, trying to concede the winner more than a stone.

My Nap selection is Moscow Dancer, who is strongly fancied to complete a hat-trick of wins by landing the Lavender Pekin Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle after two easy wins at Kelso.

Tomorrow's Tips:

Cheltenham

12.15 Trouble At Bay, 12.50 Crystal d'Ainay, 1.25 Santenay, 1.55 Simply Supreme, 2.30 Hand Inn Hand, 3.05 Rooster Booster, 3.40 Bosham Mill.

Doncaster

12.35 Collier Hill, 1.05 Saint Reverien, 1.40 Chevet Girl, 2.10 Diceman, 2.45 Bolshoi Ballet, 3.20 Tyneandthyneagain.

Haydock

12.05 Moscow Dancer (Nap), 12.40 Steppes of Gold, 1.15 Sir Storm, 1.45 Rhinestone Cowboy, 2.15 Hussard Collonges, 2.50 Our Armageddon, 3.25 Pass Me By.

Tomorrow's other meetings are at Lingfield, Southwell and Wolverhampton (evening meeting on Flat all-weather track subject to inspection).

Updated: 12:11 Friday, December 12, 2003