It’s one of the best weekends of the year with the Paddy Power Gold Cup the centrepiece of the three day Open Meeting at Cheltenham.

The race has been dominated by the big southern yards over the years although the last couple of renewals have gone to Gary Moore and Kerry Lee and this year’s edition looks fascinating.

It is customary to look at the big two-and-a-half-mile handicap chases at the preceding Festival when analysing the race and Simply The Betts, the winner of the Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate in March, was one of the most progressive handicappers of last season having also beaten the now 157-rated Imperial Aura at Prestbury Park on Trials’ Day in January.

In March he beat last year’s winner of this race, Happy Diva off level weights but has to concede 6lbs to the runner-up on Saturday.