SEVERAL of the country’s best staying chasers get the chance to advance their Gold Cup claims in the Lexus Chase where Don Poli is the choice to build on a fine comeback at Aintree several weeks ago.

With Don Cossack and Vautour heading to Kempton for the King George and Djakadam possibly waiting for a race in Cheltenham next month, Don Poli and last year’s winner Road To Riches could dominate.

A somewhat idle type, Don Poli turned in a very likeable effort on his reappearance at Liverpool where he was an assured four lengths winner over last season’s Hennessy and Grand National hero Many Clouds.

That represented a heartening start to his first season in open company, especially when one considers that his saddle has slipped badly backwards some way from home.

Don Poli does appeal as one that should improve substantially for his first run of the season and, given his racing style, it is still hard to know where the summit of his abilities might lie. He is a very solid choice to follow up last year’s Grade 1 triumph over this course and distance.

Road To Riches sets the standard on form having emerged as one of the star three mile chasers last season. His second Grade 1 triumph came in this race 12 months ago but he did even better when finishing a fine third to Coneygree in the Gold Cup.

There was plenty to like about his reappearance effort in last month’s Clonmel Oil Chase where he made all the running for a convincing triumph over Bright New Dawn with the subsequent Hilly Way Chase winner Felix Yonger back in third. He will surely provide his fellow Gigginstown-owned runner with a stern test of his Gold Cup credentials.

Squared Financial Christmas Hurdle (Grade 1)

The other top flight contest on the penultimate day of the meeting sees Martello Tower set to have his first run of the campaign.

This thoroughly likeable son of Milan ended last season as one of the best staying novice hurdlers around after producing an ultra gritty display to land the Grade 1 Albert Bartlett Novice Hurdle at Cheltenham. There is every reason to believe that he could develop into a top notch three miles hurdler this season and he can surely give a good account of himself on his return to the fray.

On this occasion though preference is for Alpha Des Obeaux who has the benefit of a recent outing which came when he chased Arctic Fire in the Hatton’s Grace Hurdle. Alpha Des Obeaux’s only win came in a Punchestown maiden hurdle in November 2014 but his form makes for good reading.

Over the course of last season he filled the runner-up spot behind Douvan and Nichols Canyon in novice hurdles at Punchestown. Furthermore he still looked to be in with a chance of victory when falling at the last in a novice hurdle at Aintree that was won by Thistlecrack. The latter’s efforts this season put that form into perspective and indicate that Mouse Morris’ charge could emerge as a stayer of some quality in the coming months.

Ballymaloe Foods Beginners Chase

This brings together several interesting types. Last year’s runner-up Balbir Du Mathan sets the standard having run so well to chase home Pont Alexandre at Punchestown earlier in the month. He faces a stiff task against a couple of quality newcomers to chasing in Zabana and Tell Us More. The first-named was only just denied in last season’s Coral Cup and more than confirmed the merit of that effort with a good third to Jezki and Hurricane Fly at Punchestown.

Tell Us More is especially interesting as he looked a tremendous prospect on his first couple of runs. He then met with a surprise defeat in a Naas Grade 1 just under a year before then finishing sixth to Douvan in the Supreme Novices Hurdle. This Scorpion gelding remains a horse of considerable potential and he also has a good record fresh which is something to bear in mind.