Paul Jacobs / 08 December 2009 Free Bet View Market

"Mount Oscar has always been a favourite of mine and showed great fighting qualities to claw back Pasco on the run at Newbury a fortnight ago. Proven on soft ground and open to further improvement, only raced eight times over fences, he would surely be second or third favourite if under the care of a P Nicholls or N Henderson."

The Boylesports Gold Cup at Cheltenham on Saturday will be run on fresh turf, but hasn't escaped the inclement weather of the past month and the going will almost certainly be soft, if not as testing as the terrain for the Paddy Power Gold Cup.

And although there are some familiar faces that ran in the PP set to run in Saturday's renewal the betting is dominated by progressive, unexposed sorts set to unveil their talents on the Cheltenham stage for the first time this season.

Top of the shop is the much fancied Atouchbetweencara from the Tim Vaughan yard.

Tim told me a few weeks ago on Timeform Radio that: "He is a very exciting horse and although he may not be ready for the Hennessy I won't rush him and the Boylesports could be a suitable starting point for him."

This eight-year-old has plenty of scope and I was particularly impressed by his fencing last year when he won at the track in April, readily disposing of good yardstick Private Be by 24 lengths on the bridle.

For me this intermediate trip looks right on the money and although very soft ground would be an imponderable, he has appeared to handle a deeper surface before. Currently trading at [7.0] his chance is there for all to see.

Seven Is My Number (10) has become a real springer in the market since winging home at Sandown last week, but there was very little strength in depth to that race and the Esher track seems to bring out the best in him and I much prefer the claims of suit him Razor Royale ([12.0]) and Mount Oscar ([17.0]).

The former fenced superbly when beating a sub-standard field over three miles at the track last month, but does possess the cruising speed to be effective at this trip.

He has more scope to improve than most and despite being raised 11lbs by the handicapper remains on a decent mark if that progression continues.

Mount Oscar has always been a favourite of mine and showed great fighting qualities to claw back Pasco on the run at Newbury a fortnight ago. Proven on soft ground and open to further improvement, only raced eight times over fences, he would surely be second or third favourite if under the care of a P Nicholls or N Henderson.

Yet in Colin Tizzard he has a shrewd operator and at the price looks outstanding value with the ground almost certain to ride in his favour.

If you can glean a place price of [4.0] or bigger then cover your win stake with a place bet and back him up with a small win bet Razor Royale and Atouchbetweencara.