Turner's Cheltenham Earners for Wednesday - Trainer Nicholls can land third Champion

The latest big-money signing by Gold Cup winner Kauto Star's owner Clive Smith immediately repaid some of that outlay with a five-length demolition of last year's Champion Chase winner Voy Por Ustedes there and can go on to claim his Cheltenham crown.

Weights and measures followers will point to the fact that Alan King's charge is 6lb better off and therefore weighted to reverse the placings, but Master Minded looked to have any amount in hand at the line and his subsequent homework suggests he has improved in any case.

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The rain that fell on Tuesday will surely not aid Voy Por Ustedes or Nicholls' other runner, Twist Magic, who disappointed badly on dead ground at Ascot last time.

His conqueror there, Tamarinbleu, could prove the biggest danger the way his stable are going at present and I like the fact that he is ridden positively.

The presence of fellow front-runner Fair Along may compromise his chance though and preference is for Master Minded, who will hopefully creep into the race under Ruby Walsh before delivering a late challenge to give his trainer a third win after Call Equiname and Azertyuiop.

The Royal & Sun Alliance Chase is going to be like watching an hour of Big Brother; a war of attrition and seemingly never ending.

Last year's Pertemps Final winner Oscar Park (Cheltenham, 2.35) is one that won't mind the prevailing conditions and could start a nice price to upset those at the front end of the market.

A classy hurdler when at his best, David Arbuthnot's charge has overcome an unfortunate start to his chasing career at Kempton to jump fluently and with precision on his next two starts.

His previous experience of the Festival will stand him in good stead and it looks significant that some of the double-figure prices that were available last week have evaporated.

The main danger looks to be the talented Albertas Run who emerged from mid-season hibernation to land the Reynoldstown Chase in superb style last time from another of today's rivals, Air Force One.

Unfortunately, that race has seemed a hoodoo for past Sun Alliance hopefuls and, at his shorter price, I am prepared to overlook him with Oscar Park, who remains a relatively fresh horse.

A sporting nap vote goes the way of Laustra Bad ( Cheltenham, nap, 4.00) who bids to land a typically ferocious renewal of the Coral Cup.

I like the fact that the David Pipe-trained five-year-old boasts plenty of course experience together with a liking for deep conditions.

Laustra Bad also possesses excellent form from last season's Festival courtesy of his fine effort when third to stablemate Gaspara in the Fred Winter Juvenile Hurdle.

The decision to run him just once this term appears a deliberate policy by the in-form Pipe team and the first-time visor could spark an improved display from a horse who should be suited by the hurly burly of a big handicap.

His rider, Denis O'Regan, is another plus given the way he rode Tidal Bay to victory yesterday.

Today's lay is Twist Magic (Cheltenham, 3.15).

ROBIN GOODFELLOW'S DOUBLE: Silver Hotspur (Southwell, 1.50) and Laustra Bad (Cheltenham, nap, 4.00)

GIMCRACK'S DOUBLE: Councillor Jack (Huntingdon,

4.55) and Zaarito (Cheltenham, nap, 5.20)

CAPTAIN HEATH'S NAP: Silverburn (Cheltenham, 2.35)

FORMCAST SPECIAL BET: Tamarinbleu (Cheltenham, 3.15)

THE WIZARD: Song of Songs (Cheltenham, 4.00)