Trainers from Britain & Ireland prepare to take the wraps off their stable stars ahead of the Cheltenham November Meeting.
Racecourses all around the UK are still feeling the effects of the driest summer ever recorded on these shores, but 6mm of rainfall earlier in the week ensured the going description eased slightly from 'GOOD, Good to firm in places' to 'GOOD, good to soft in places'.
This change in the ground means that connections will be more likely to unleash their top prospects at Prestbury Park.
The Real Whacker in 2022/23 was the last horse to follow up a victory at the November Meeting with success at the following Festival, however, that could all change given the quality of horse on display over the next three days.
We take a look at a trio of horses that can get familiar, or in some cases, reacquaint themselves with the winner's enclosure ahead of the big four days in March.
Meetmebythesea
There haven't been too many races from the Festival to work out better than the Jack Richards Novices' Chase - won, in fine style, by Meetmebythesea.
The runner-up, Gold Dancer, landed a Grade 1 next time out, and had the third, Regent's Stroll, right behind him in second. Fourth placed, King Alexander, has since won a Galway Plate and even the fifth, Kiss Will, came down when having every chance in an Irish National.
As a consequence, Meetmebythesea will contest the Paddy Power Gold Cup off a mark 12lbs higher than the one he plundered handicap glory from last Spring.
Should he justify favouritism then his next target will surely be at Graded level, with a potential Ryanair or Gold Cup tilt to look forward to in a few months time.
Crystal Island
Crystal Island has only had two career starts so far, impressing in both visits to the track.
A point-to-point winner over three miles at Rathcannon, he looked every inch a stayer when defeating Off The Jury (now rated 129 over hurdles) and subsequent Persian War winner West Hill Verde in an Ascot maiden hurdle last December.
Put away for 123 days, he returned to win over an intermediate trip at Ffos Las in April, again looking like he'll only get better the further he goes.
Connections look as if they are going to try and exploit a mark of 133 over fences first up this season, before surely setting their sights on taller targets down the line.
Old Park Star
Of all the novice hurdlers from last season, Supreme winner Old Park Star is probably the most exciting of the bunch.
Two-mile greats Sprinter Sacre, Altior, Shishkin and Jonbon have all hailed from Nicky Henderson's yard and it's impossible not to dream big when you consider what he has achieved in his short time at Seven Barrows so far.
He could take on Kabral Du Mathan -- only excluded from the list because we've already seen him this season -- in Saturday's Arkle Trial, setting up what is, undoubtedly, the race of the meeting on paper.
