Johnny Ward / 31 January 2010 Free Bet View Market

" I do not fancy the Irish challenge this year: Pandorama surely wants easier than the likely ground and Weapons Amnesty was beaten by him at Leopardstown. Pandorama has bumper form on better ground but that is not worth much in the context of a race like this."

Punchestowns remains favourite at around [4.8]. However, despite Long Run's British debut win coming over three miles, the betting of late suggests that he may skip the RSA Chase.

Indeed, at the time of writing he is as short as [12.5] for an already hot Arkle ([13.0] to lay); it would be explicable that Henderson wants to keep them apart.

I do not fancy the Irish challenge this year: Pandorama surely wants easier than the likely ground and Weapons Amnesty was beaten by him at Leopardstown. Pandorama has bumper form on better ground but that is not worth much in the context of a race like this.

Weapons Amnesty, of course, has an affinity for Prestbury Park and I would envisage him reversing the decision against Noel Meade's charge - but will that be enough? Catch Me, who clearly does not get three miles, was close up in third at Leopardstown and Lenabane was bang there at the last.

I was taken with Diamond Harry (now [7.4] for the RSA) on his success at Haydock, but it is worth remembering that Bensalem was very much in touch when falling and he may offer a bit of value at 30. There was not much between them over hurdles and Bensalem clearly likes Cheltenham.

His fall at Haydock had 'novicey' written all over it, but otherwise there was nothing wrong with how he leapt. Moreover, trainer Alan King insists that he will get another race into him prior to March - necessitated by his failure to complete the last day - and he should probably win that, presuming Diamond Harry is elsewhere.

Punchestowns deserves favouritism and it will be interesting to see if his interrupted preparation troubles him in the Scilly Isles Novices' Chase, though that seems improbable.