TONY Martin is hopeful of a big run from Golden Spear in the 188Bet Chester Cup on Wednesday.

The talented dual purpose performer landed Leopardstown's November Handicap on his last outing on the flat in October and has mixed in good company in four outings over hurdles since.

Martin is delighted to have secured the services of Ryan Moore in the two-and-a-quarter-mile test and believes that could help his charge overcome a tricky draw.

He's been very consistent and if he keeps going that way he should run well," said the Co Meath handler.

"He's drawn 12 of 17, which isn't great, but it's not too bad, and the jockey we've got on board will be a big help."

Nakeeta finished second to Golden Spear in that Leopardstown contest and Iain Jardine's runner reopposes with Jamie Spencer on board this time.

Spencer was the winning jockey when Nakeeta chased home No Hectic in this valuable long distance handicap 12 months ago and Jardine feels he is the right man for the job.

"Jamie has never ridden for me before," Jardine told At The Races. "I think this pair will be well suited together. Jamie is a great hold-up jockey.

"He'll come late - that's what Nakeeta likes to do - and hopefully they can time it right. We need an awful lot of luck and we go there with every chance.

"He's done plenty of work and he seems in very good shape. He's fresh and well.

"We have a better draw (stall 10) than we had last year. He definitely improved as the season went on. His rating tells you that.

"We're 10lb worse off than we were last year but I'm hoping he's still progressing in the right direction.

"We're happy we've got him in the same shape as he was for this race last season.

"Fingers crossed he'll run a big race."

Magic Circle, who was third in that Leopardstown contest, also renews rivalries.

However, his trainer Ralph Beckett is pessimistic about his horse's chances after being given a wide draw in stall 18.

"He can't win from that draw," said Beckett.

Sir Mark Prescott is downbeat about Sea Of Heaven's chances after his smart stayer was also out of luck in the lottery that is the draw for the big race.

The five-year-old will start from stall 14 in the 17-runner field and Prescott feels that severely compromises his chances.

Chester holds no fears as Sea Of Heaven was successful in a two-mile handicap there in September 2015.

He also ran respectably over an inadequate trip last summer before ending the campaign with an excellent third place in the Cesarewitch.

But the Newmarket trainer said: "He's badly drawn The horse is fine, but he's a got a very difficult draw for the jockey (Luke Morris) to overcome.

"The horse is quite keen-going, so if you light him up he'll do too much. If he drops him in, he'll have too much to do.

"It's a horse that needed a good draw badly. It's just the draw, everything else is fine.

"The jockey and the horse will have to be at their best."