Our Vic, a last-fence faller with the race seemingly at his mercy, twelve months ago, bids to set the record straight at Cheltenham tomorrow by bagging the inaugural running of the £110,000 Robin Cook Memorial Gold Cup.

Last year's corresponding race, which produced such a dramatic outcome, saw Our Vic prostrate on the turf for many minutes before he was able to rise to his feet. But it took him a long time to recover physically and mentally from that fall.

Trainer Martin Pipe and his team got him back to full fitness and Our Vic showed his renewed well-being last month over this course and distance when he beat Monkerhostin by two-and-a-half lengths in the Paddy Power Gold Cup.

The handicapper has raised him 9lb for that victory, but Our Vic is a classy performer and he is fancied to shrug-off the extra weight and make up for last year's unlucky defeat.

Nap selection Fair Along can get punters off to a good start by landing the Cheltenham opener, the £20,000 totepool Juvenile Novices' Hurdle.

The Philip Hobbs-trained three-year-old has rattled-up four wins already this season. After scoring at Cheltenham last month he went on to win by a wide margin at Aintree.

He is a talented recruit to hurdling and he should prove hard to catch once again under Richard Johnson.

The northern flag could be hoisted to victory on this high-class card by Bewleys Berry in the Cheltenham Novices' Chase.

Trained in Co Durham by Howard Johnson, Bewleys Berry, a smart hurdler last season, made an impressive winning debut over fences a couple of weeks ago. He promises to take high rank this term as a steeplechaser and another success looks on the cards here under Graham Lee.

All eyes will be on Harchibald in the £75,000 totesport Bula Hurdle, the Irish raider having suffered a shock defeat in last season's Champion Hurdle when, after looking to be cantering at the final flight, he found nothing extra under pressure and was beaten into second by Hardy Eustace.

On ratings, Harchibald should see off his rivals in this Grade 2 contest but if he is to be beaten Faasel could be the one to deliver the knockout blow.

Narrowly beaten in last season's Triumph Hurdle on this course and a subsequent winner at Aintree, Nicky Richards's talented gelding was narrowly denied at Haydock on his recent reappearance, but should be much sharper tomorrow. He is expected to expose any flaws in Harchibald, the assured favourite.

Saturday's tips

Cheltenham

12.20 Fair Along (Nap), 12.55 Provocative, 1.30 The Market Man, 2.05 Bewleys Berry, 2.40 Our Vic, 3.15 Faasel, 3.45 Black Jack Ketchum.

Doncaster

12.40 Leo's Luckyman 1.15 Aleron, 1.45 Dont Call Me Derek, 2.20 Simply Mystic, 2.55 Lou Du Moulin Mas, 3.30 Wicked Nice Fella.

Tomorrow's other race meetings are at Lingfield, Southwell, Wolverhampton.

Updated: 11:52 Friday, December 09, 2005