Probably the only imponderable about the Victor Chandler Chase at Ascot is just how far Master Minded will win be as he looks a stone-cold certainty in the Grade One event.

Officially the highest-rated jumps horse in training, Paul Nicholls' star has scared off virtually all his rivals and his ultra-short odds are a pretty fair reflection of how the race should pan out.

As such Master Minded is of very little betting interest and it will pay to look elsewhere for a decent opportunity

Group Captain is more appealing from a punting point of view in the victorchandler.com Holloway's Hurdle.

Tuned up from a run on the Flat last weekend, Hugh Collingridge's charge was a decent fifth in The Ladbroke here just before Christmas.

He has a fair strike-rate over timber and looks sure to go well off the same mark and with 5lb claimer Richard Killoran again in the saddle.

Somersby is an interesting one for the Henrietta Knight team in the Rosling King Llp EBF "National Hunt" Novices' Hurdle.

He will be seen to better effect when he goes chasing but has lots of scope for improvement and had been entered in the Grade One Tolworth Hurdle before it fell victim to the freeze.

The Peter Marsh Chase at Haydock is invariably a competitive affair and this year's renewal can go the way of Cloudy Lane.

He ran a nice race when a staying-on third in the Rowland Meyrick at Wetherby on Boxing Day and gets in here just 3lb above his last winning mark.

Four times a winner at this venue, the nine-year-old must go well and owner Trevor Hemmings likes nothing better than a winner at his local track.

On all known form, it is hard to see past Snap Tie in the Blue Square Champion Hurdle Trial while Dee Ee Williams can atone for a defeat before Christmas in the Blue Square Novices' Hurdle.

It is Connaught Cup day at Wincanton and the feature event can go the way of Stolen Moments, who looks a horse with something still left to give.

Televised action at Lingfield, too, where Internationaldebut is fancied to strike in the William Hill January Sale – Enhanced Favourites! Handicap.

Cromwell Court has been knocking on the door in two starts so far this term but his time can come in Sunday's Turf TV The Betting Shop Service Beginners' Chase at Market Rasen.

Donald McCain's eight-year-old has not seen much racing for a horse of his age but looks the type to land an event such as this following two seconds.

Cromwell Court has a solitary win over hurdles to his credit but he was not beaten too far on his first start of the campaign and found only Galant Nuit too good when holding him by eight lengths at Uttoxeter in November.

McCain has given the gelding a bit of rest since then but given that he has faced stiffer opposition than this, he could be ripe to land a first chasing victory.

Scutch Mill is also worth an interest in the Middle Rasen Handicap Hurdle.