We went all the way to Haydock with Sir Ivan  last weekend, but I wasn’t going to let him take his chance on the ground there.

So we roll up here at Newbury this weekend for the Grade 2 novices' chase (12.45pm).

He’s done everything right in his last two starts and is in great form, so hopefully he can keep going on an upward curve.

Air Horse One  is very well in himself. The form of his Ascot race couldn’t have worked out better.

In fact, it’s worked out so well that he went up 3lbs by just standing in his box over the weekend - that’s a little frustrating to put it mildly!

He was fourth to Elgin, who went on to win the Greatwood, the horse who came second, Limited Reserve, won well at Haydock last week and the horse who came fifth, Verdana Blue, has also come out and won.

So, while the form has worked out very well, it has resulted in a rise in the weights even though we haven’t run.

That aside, he’s in very good order and may well be my best chance of a winner this weekend in the 1.50pm.

American  has been brilliant since we galloped and schooled him at Newbury last week.

I couldn’t be any happier with him at home - he’s done everything we’ve asked of him.

It’s a big ask going for a race like this first time out, particularly with it being only his fourth start over fences, but because of his fragile nature we didn’t have the luxury of giving him a prep run.

We’ve therefore deliberately targeted the hugely valuable and competitive chase at 3.00pm and we’re very hopeful of a big run.

As for tactics on the day, he’s quite often made the running but we don’t have to.

Noel [Fehily] will just look to get him in a good rhythm and ride him accordingly, whether that’s bowling along in front, handy or mid-division. I’ll leave that up to Noel.

With a 21-runner top-class handicap chase you’re bound to fear a few in the field.

Coneygree is a former Gold Cup winner, Whisper was runner-up in the RSA and Willie Mullins’ Total Recall is potentially dangerous after his win last time.

There’s a whole list of horses we’ve got to beat and we’re just hoping our fella can be in the shake-up.

Overtown Express  is all set to get his season underway in the final race of the day at 3.35pm.

He loves soft ground and, even though the forecast is dry, the ground will be pretty dead with all the frost about so we should be fine.

We think the track will suit him and he should be competitive on his seasonal reappearance.

He won a race at Warwick two starts back before running in a Grade 2 at the same track. He didn’t get involved that day but I’m happy to put a line through it as he wasn’t himself and came back a bit under the weather.

He’s very well in himself now and we’re looking forward to getting his season underway.