Talking Horses: Debece can get the jump on rivals in Doncaster test

Unusually fast ground for the time of year has left several races on Trials day at Cheltenham with only five or six just runners, so the 17-strong SkyBet Chase at Doncaster is likely to feature prominently in most betting plans on Saturday.

Few can be ruled out with any confidence, but Debece (3.20) is arguably the best-handicapped horse in the race and could be worth backing at around 8-1 on his second start for Dan Skelton.

The 11-year-old has clearly been a tricky horse to train and will be making only his eighth start over fences but he is on a very fair mark on his best form and his two chase wins to date were both recorded on good ground.

Debece has been a late scratch from two subsequent engagements after a strong second at Sandown last March, but he has had a wind operation in the interim and Skelton is well-versed in getting them ready first time up.

Uttoxeter: 12.08 Good Impression 12.38 Arizona Cardinal 1.13 Drenagh 1.48 Raecius Felix 2.22 Mackelduff 2.57 Precious Eleanor 3.33 Docpickedme 4.08 The Girl That Sang 

Cheltenham: 12.15 Lively Citizen 12.45 Iceo 1.20 When You’re Ready 1.55 Coole Cody 2.30 Simply The Betts 3.05 Champ 3.40 Hillcrest 4.15 Mullenbeg 

Doncaster: 12.25 Jay Jay Reilly 1.00 Speak Of The Devil 1.35 For Pleasure 2.10 Anna Bunina 2.45 Coolbane Boy (nb) 3.20 Debece (nap) 3.55 Our Marty 

Lingfield Park: 12.52 Keep Right On 1.27 Far Away Thoughts 2.02 Sparka 2.38 Chance 3.12 Halimi 3.48 Small Print 4.23 Martineo 

Kempton Park: 4.30 No Diggity 5.00 Noble Order 5.30 Subjective Value 6.00 Stately Home 6.30 Oceanline 7.05 Sophosc 7.35 Tulane

Cheltenham 1.55: There are question marks against most of the principals here relating to either the trip (Magic Saint), the good ground (Farinet) or a sub-par