Neil Mulholland could be on cloud nine at Doncaster

The Devon handler has an outside Cheltenham Gold Cup hope in Midnight Chase and while I'moncloudnine is not quite of that calibre, he has everything in his favour on Town Moor. The eight-year-old was last seen putting in a gutsy performance when third in very testing conditions in the Welsh National at Chepstow.

Although he was beaten some 12 lengths, the marathon trip would not have been in his favour and he just did not see it out as well as the first two home.

The drop back to three miles will be in his favour, as will the quicker ground conditions, and given that he races off the same mark as at Chepstow, he could be well in, especially with Mulholland hoping for a big run to make the Grand National field.

It is Cheltenham Trials day at Prestbury Park but clues for the main event are likely to be in short supply. It would be a major surprise if Tidal Bay were to have any kind of say in the Gold Cup in March, but this quirky performer is the pick here. The ten-year-old looked a potential star when winning the 2008 Arkle before following up at Aintree, but has failed to build on that .

He has held his own in top company on his day but it was not until Howard Johnson switched him back to hurdles at this meeting last year that he finally got his head in front in the Cleeve. But after three further indifferent runs over the smaller obstacles, Tidal Bay reverted to fences and ran a cracker to finish behind Imperial Commander at Haydock.

His confidence should be high after that and he is worth a chance in a race that wants a little for quality.

Backspin is hard to oppose in the Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle following his Challow romp, while Grands Crus merits the utmost respect as he graduates to Graded company in the Cleeve Hurdle.