With 24 runners set to face the starter, tomorrow's Cheltenham Gold Cup boasts a record field and, in one of the most wide-open renewals in recent memory, a turn-up could well be on the cards.

With question marks about the first four in the betting - Beef Or Salmon, on his ability to produce his best form on this course after three previous unsuccessful Gold Cup attempts; Monkerhostin, whose stamina remains unproven; Kingscliff, whose enthusiasm looks on the wane; and Celestial Gold, who has not been seen out all season - this is a race which could reward the more adventurous of punters.

So, what's going to win? Take a chance on Forget The Past is my advice. The 12-1 shot (up to 14-1 with some bookmakers) makes plenty of appeal at his current odds, and comes from the Irish stable of Michael O'Brien, which has recently struck form with a vengeance.

An improved horse in the second half of last season and a winner at Punches-town in April, the talented Forget The Past has easily won his last two starts, at Gowran and Fairyhouse, and looks to have peaked at the right time.

Furthermore, he will have as his jockey none other than Barry Geraghty, winner of last year's Gold Cup on Kicking King and a rider who booted home two winners on the course yesterday.

There are plenty of others in the field with chances, among them Grand National winner Hedgehunter, the highly-rated War Of Attrition and French raider L'Ami, but Forget The Past has more ticks in the right boxes than most and he is napped to come up trumps in this fascinating battle for the blue riband of steeplechasing.

The opening JCB Triumph Hurdle, an annual cavalry charge, poses another head-scratcher for punters. The hot favourite is Ireland's Mister Height, impressive winner of both his starts, but a better proposition may be Detroit City, who represents Minehead trainer Philip Hobbs.

A winner at Newbury and Sandown, Detroit City, formerly a progressive handicapper on the Flat, has plenty going for him in another wide-open event.

Jonjo O'Neill, having decided to divert Black Jack Ketchum away from a clash with hot favourite Denman in yesterday's Royal & SunAlliance Novices' Hurdle, instead has chosen the Brit Insurance Novices' Hurdle for his unbeaten gelding.

Tony McCoy, as usual, takes the mount on this smart seven-year-old, who is already a course and distance winner. He has strong claims, but, in an open race, he would not, perhaps, be one to take too short a price about.

Nicky Henderson will be ultra-keen to land the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase, which is named in memory of his late father, but the Lambourn trainer may be denied by Paul Nicholls, who has already had two winners at the meeting.

Nicholls saddles Andreas in this two-mile handicap and Ruby Walsh's mount, a recent winner over hurdles, makes plenty of appeal back over fences for the first time since a seemingly successful operation to cure a breathing problem.

Nicky Richards came close to a winner when Monet's Garden finished second in the Arkle Trophy on Tuesday and the Cumbrian trainer has good prospects of going one better with Telemoss in the Christie's Foxhunter Chase.

The concluding race on the card, the Vincent O'Brien County Handicap Hurdle looks nigh on impossible to solve.

Desert Quest, trained by Paul Nicholls and the mount of Walsh, comes into the reckoning on his recent Newbury success and gets my vote, though it's rather a cautious one in this 30-runner finale.

Friday's tips:

Cheltenham

2.00 Detroit City; 2.35 Black Jack Ketchum; 3.15 Forget The Past (NAP); 4.00 Telemoss; 4.40 Andreas; 5.20 Desert Quest.

Tomorrow's other meetings are at Fakenham and Lingfield.

Updated: 12:06 Thursday, March 16, 2006