THE open lightweight division has a particularly strong look to it this weekend, boosted to an extent, by the looming deadline facing some connections to get their horses qualified for the St James’s Place Festival Hunter Chase at next month’s Cheltenham Festival.

The open races at this time of the year can often prove to be particularly competitive, as those owners and handlers hoping to have a runner at Prestbury Park in the blue-ribboned race in the hunter chase calendar, go in search of what could be an all-important open victory prior to the February 24th qualification cut-off.