Treble-chasing Gary Moore must look out for Pipe star

Moore remains cautiously optimistic and said: "I don't know if he can overcome the 17lb rise. It's a tough one, a massive rise. But he's had a good build- up and he runs well fairly fresh."

Nicky Henderson, who has won this race three times since 2000, holds a strong hand, saddling joint favourite Spirit River, Stravinsky Dance, Fairyland and First Point, while Jonjo O'Neill's unbeaten hope Get Me Out Of Here has also come in for support.

The sponsors make it a 7-2 shot that Henderson trains the winner, but there is a decent chance that in-form David Pipe, who is represented by Mutual Friend, Mamlook and Ronaldo Des Mottes, can land the £150,000-added Grade 3 race.

Totesport offer 9-2 that any of his runners prevail and that is tempting.

MAMLOOK (3.05pm) shoulders a 5lb penalty after trouncing 16 rivals in a Grade 2 Limited handicap at Sandown three weeks ago and the Cesarewitch runner-up, suited to soft ground and big fields, shouldn't be far away. So the 9-1 with Hills and Ladbrokes has to be good each-way value.

Channel 4 Racing show three more races from Newbury, including a weak renewal of the Aon Chase which appears at the mercy of DENMAN (2.30pm), partnered by Tony McCoy for the first time.

Dual Queen Mother Champion Chase hero MASTER MINDED (3.40pm, nb) will make his return after being out of action for three months with a rib injury.

Trainer Paul Nicholls stated that he will be only 80 per cent fit when he runs in the totepool Game Spirit Chase, but that will be good enough.