Sky Sports News presenter Alex Hammond's racing blog

Sky Sports News presenter Alex Hammond answers the questions as we look ahead to another fascinating weekend of racing.

Smad Place ran away with the Hennessy Gold Cup in a manner reminiscent of another grey Desert Orchid but do you think he can emulate 'Dessie' in winning the Cheltenham Gold Cup?

Alan King isn't definitely targeting the Gold Cup with his flying grey. He will be entered in the Ryanair and his performance on Trials Day at Cheltenham in January will show the Barbury Castle handler which way he should be going at the festival. The Gold Cup looks like it will be a hot race come March time and if he runs in the Blue Riband he could well be taken on up front by Coneygree, but both have to get there yet. 

Paul Nicholls has announced that Saphir Du Rheu will be aimed at the World Hurdle after 'only' finishing fifth at Newbury while Thistlecrack put down a marker on the same card. Would you be backing either of that pair to win at Cheltenham in March or has something else in the staying division caught your eye?

Well, I wouldn't be backing anything until after the Christmas racing period, so I'll reserve judgement. But, I won't be writing off my old pal Cole Harden just yet. On better ground he will be a different proposition, but you can't knock Thistlecrack. Colin Tizzard's seven year old needed to improve to win and improve he did. He has strengthened up and has now won five of his 10 starts; he's the real deal. He's now the same price as Cole Harden (9/1 with Sky Bet) for the World Hurdle. Saphir Du Rheu is still a young horse, but he made a jumping error in the Hennessy and his Gold Cup aspirations are put on hold for another season. He is held in the highest regard by Paul Nicholls and was smart when reverting to hurdles last season, so he is a leading player in the stayers' division once again. He's 10/1 for the World Hurdle, a race he was second in last season. At this stage the plan is to go chasing again at Aintree in the spring. 

It's been a good week for the novice chasers with the likes of No More Heroes, Three Musketeers, Native River, Douvan and Shaneshill all winning. Has any particular performance, in victory or defeat, caught your eye?

No More Heroes looks like an aeroplane after his win in the Drinmore and he's now 5/1 joint favourite (Sky Bet) with More Of That for the RSA Chase. He showed there he has plenty of gears, but will be even better when stepped up in trip. Three Musketeers looks like he could be a potential flagship horse for Dan Skelton after his Newbury win. He's 14/1 for the JLT, which is his most likely option at the festival, but there look to be some good prizes to win before then.

If he goes to the JLT he could well meet Shaneshill (7/1 favourite) who won his Beginners Chase in a canter at Thurles. He oozed class and will step up in grade over Christmas now. Native River is another exciting horse for Colin Tizzard and another that will step up in grade on his next start. Douvan almost didn't put a foot wrong on his chase debut. He stretched for the last fence at Navan, but it wasn't a serious error and it's onwards and upwards for last season's Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle winner. He's 6/4 for the Arkle, which doesn't tempt me at the moment, but he deserves to head the market. 

We've got a fascinating Tingle Creek to look forward to this weekend, how do you see the race panning out?

The Tingle Creek at Sandown will be without one of its stars on Saturday as trainer Willie Mullins ruled out ante-post favourite Un De Sceaux unfortunately. The seven year old won the Arkle in March and has won 13 of his 14 starts and is favourite to win at the festival again, this time in the Champion Chase, but Mullins reported him to have been a little flat over the last couple of days and he misses this weekend's Grade One contest. He could reappear in the Dial-A-Bet Chase at Leopardstown on December 27 instead.

That leaves the Paul Nicholls trained Vibrato Valtat as the new favourite. He is improving all the time and won the Haldon Gold Cup on his reappearance last month which is generally a decent stepping stone for this. He has form at this track when winning the Henry VIII Novices' Chase on this card last year. I really fancied him at Exeter and was impressed. He's now 2/1 to win on Saturday which may seem a bit skinny, but I think he's a horse going places.

We have the opportunity to back something each-way and it might be worth taking a chance that Sire De Grugy is on the way back and, at 6/1, he's a fair price to make the frame. I really like Vibrato Valtat though and think he can take high order in the two mile chase division.

Simonsig is an interesting runner too having had his first run since winning the Arkle in 2013 over hurdles at Aintree last month. He was runner-up to stable mate Bobs Worth after running too keenly. It's hard to assess him back over fences after such a break, but he has the Barry Geraghty vote of confidence on Saturday, I'm guessing he has 'got off' Mr Mole for JP McManus, that horse will now be ridden by Sean Bowen. Special Tiara has also come in for support this week for Irish trainer Henry de Bromhead. He won the Celebration Chase here and really enjoys the test of jumping that it provides. It would be a worry if the ground got too soft, but that is the same for a few of these here. 

Let's not forget Sire De Grugy as he goes well at Sandown, but it's hard to know if he's as good as he was. He's apparently in better form at home than before the Haldon Gold Cup (where he trailed in last of the five runners) and if that's the case he is in with a shout. With the eight runners we have the opportunity to back something each way and it might be worth taking a chance that he is on the way back and at 6/1 he's a fair price to make the frame. I really like Vibrato Valtat though and think he can take high order in the two mile chase division this campaign. 

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Racing returns to Aintree and the Grand National fences with Many Clouds back on the track, do you think he can win on Saturday and go on to reclaim his crown in the big one in April?

I'm really looking forward to seeing Many Clouds back on track in the Listed Chase now he has that seasonal debut under his belt. He desperately needed the run in the Charlie Hall and Oliver Sherwood says he has come on in leaps and bounds since then. Sherwood has his team in great form and when the TV cameras visited his yard last weekend I thought Many Clouds looked fit and well. Can he win? Of course, but I think Willie Mullins' RSA Chase winner Don Poli could be a tough nut to crack. He had the option of staying in Ireland this weekend, but is due to come over here instead. As for the National, Many Clouds won't carry any of my money in his repeat bid. It's so hard for National winners to follow up that there is sure to be something better handicapped in the big race come April. It would be great if he could earn legendary status by winning it for the second time, but it won't be easy. 

Who do you fancy in the Becher Chase and Grand Sefton?

Both races are wide open, but let's start with the Becher Chase. Paul Nicholls runs Unioniste, who stays the 3m 1 ½ f trip well, but has top weight which makes life difficult on his reappearance. But, he is still only seven and there should be some decent staying prizes in him this season. He fell early in the Grand National back in April on his first experience of the big fences, but does have decent form at this track.

Midlands National winner Goonyella is another leading contender for Jim Dreaper. Unusually for a son of Presenting he doesn't mind a slog in testing ground and the more of a stamina test it is, the better for him. He made a promising reappearance at Cork last month, but it may not be enough of a test unless the ground gets heavy. His only other experience of the big fences was in this race last year when unseating at the first, so we are none the wiser.

In fact, there are a few National winners in the field including Irish National victor Thunder And Roses. Sandra Hughes gave the seven year old a spin over hurdles on his seasonal reappearance and that should have given him the blow he needed ahead of this race. He will relish a slog on soft ground and if he takes to these fences can play a leading role.

Nigel Twiston-Davies knows what it takes to train a horse to win over the unique Aintree fences. Algernon Pazham is his representative and he catches the eye with just the six runs over fences to date. He has hardly slipped under the radar, but is a young improving chaser. Saint Are was runner up to Many Clouds in the big race in April and had a satisfactory spin over fences at Cheltenham last month which should have knocked the rust off him for this. He comes alive at this track and should run his usual decent race here.

At a bigger price Silver Roque could go well for Fergal O'Brien. I've been lucky enough to ride him a few times and he's a gorgeous huge beast! He's the sort that could excel over the fences. It's Double Ross for me, but at 25/1 I'll have £1 each-way on Silver Roque.

2014 Grand National winner Pineau de Re is bidding to win his first race since his Aintree triumph. He's dropped down the weights a couple of pounds and ran well at Sandown last time out. He's in the veteran stage of his career now, but taking into account his latest effort and the fence factor at Aintree, he isn't out of it. David Pipe has Soll declared. He needs to improve on his latest effort at Cheltenham last month, which isn't unfeasible; he broke a blood vessel in the National last season.

For a soon to be 13 year old, Vics Canvas, hasn't had that many chances over fences and he stays well. No Planning could run well for Sue Smith as the track looks like it should suit. It's a pity the ground isn't going to be better for Peter Bowen's Buachaill Allain. He looks the type to run well in this type of race, but has shown a preference for good(ish) ground in the past. He is possibly a bit quirky, but this course often brings out the best in horses like that, particularly on their first attempt. He could be one for each-way punters at the prices.

Paul Nicholls has another top-weight, this time in the Grand Sefton, also run over the National fences. His Rocky Creek is a horse I've always liked, but he has just struggled to make the grade. He drops below three miles for the first time since his rules debut and comes here after a second place in the JNWine.com to Don Cossack.

Double Ross is the ante-post favourite, but whilst this is a competitive race, he has a very good chance and is still a reasonable price. He jumped a clear round here in the Topham in 2014 and won't mind the ground. Venetia Williams' Benny's Mist was third in this last year off the same mark. Last year's winner Poole Master is amongst the entries again this time round and must have a live chance off only a 2lb higher mark. I think Valseur Lido will run in the John Durkan on Sunday.

At a bigger price, Silver Roque could go well for Fergal O'Brien. I've been lucky enough to ride this horse a few times and he's a gorgeous huge beast! That was a couple of years ago and I imagine he's strengthened into his frame and is the sort that could excel over the big fences. It's Double Ross for me, but at 25/1 I'll have a pound each-way on Silver Roque.