NORTH Yorkshire trainer John Quinn will be aiming to roll back the years in the feature race at Newbury today.

The hugely competitive Betfair Hurdle boasts prize money of £155,000 and Quinn is double-handed with Chieftain’s Choice and Forced Family Fun for a race he won in 2011 with Recession Proof.

Both of the Highfield stable’s runners this afternoon have fighting chances and preference is for Chieftain’s Choice, who has been aimed at this richly-endowed event ever since he coasted home under Tony McCoy at Catterick nearly two months ago.

Chieftain’s Choice, who had previously won at Hexham, is a speedy, strong-galloping horse, who figures at the right end of the weights in this 24-runner event.

Dangers are in abundance, but Chieftain’s Choice is a talented and progressive performer, who is fancied to make his presence felt under James Reveley for a jackpot prize.

Many who attend Newbury will be there primarily to see Sire de Grugy return to action in the Betfair Price Rush Chase over an extended two miles.

In the enforced absence of Sprinter Sacre last season, Sire de Grugy dominated the two miles division over fences and was a worthy winner of the Queen Mother Champion Chase.

The big question mark today is whether he will be fit enough to score after more than nine months off the course in a race in which he is easily the highest-rated runner in the line-up.

He is hardly a betting proposition, but Sire de Grugy is taken to prevail and to advertise his claims for a second Champion Chase at Cheltenham next month.

The Grade 2 Betfair Denman Chase has attracted a smart field, which includes last year’s winner Harry Topper, and the vote goes to the new kid on the chasing block in Coneygree, impressive winner of both his races over fences this season.

A dual Grade 1 winner over hurdles, Coneygree is taking on experienced rivals today.

But if he can win again, which would hardly be a surprise, he could well book his place in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Richard Johnson takes over the mount on Mark Bradstock’s star performer in the absence of the suspended Nico de Boinville.

Jonjo O’Neill won the Betfair Home Of The Price Rush Handicap Hurdle 12 months ago with Upswing and he is fancied to follow up with Milan Bound, who will likewise have the services of Tony McCoy.

Milan Bound was narrowly beaten by Closing Ceremony at Haydock in November and, without a race since, is now set to meet that progressive rival on markedly better terms. He should go well.

Doncaster winner Cardinal Walter (1.15) and the exciting Kings Palace (4.10), winner of both his races over fences at Cheltenham this season, are also worth noting at Newbury on an excellent card.

Sam Twiston-Davies will be riding at Warwick before he heads by airplane to Newbury, primarily to ride Calipto in the Befair Hurdle.

His main mount at his first venue is Vibrato Valtat in the Grade 2 titanbet.co.uk Kingmaker Chase, and while this Paul Nicholls runner promises to be a tough nut to crack, he may be worth opposing with Top Gamble.

Winner of all his three starts over fences, at Wetherby, here and at Newbury, for Richard Lee, Top Gamble is a very smart horse. He is fancied to give Vibrato Valtat plenty to think about and is awarded the nap vote.

Newbury today: 1.15 Cardinal Walter, 1.50 Milan Bound, 2.25 Coneygree, 3.00 Sire de Grugy, 3.35 Chieftain’s Choice, 4.10 Kings Palace, 4.40 Altior.

Warwick today: 1.00 Arbre de Vie, 1.35 Cogry, 2.05 Top Gamble (NAP), 2.40 Glens Melody, 3.15 Castle Cheetah, 3.50 Wilton Milan, 4.25 Azert de Coeur.

Today’s other meetings: Lingfield, Uttoxeter and Wolverhampton.