Tony Calvin: Out Sam the pick for the Sky Bet Chase

There is a brilliant weekend of racing in store, both here and in Ireland, and my only hope is that I am still around to see it. I am now three weeks into a violent cough and dose of flu, and it's genuinely getting worse by the day.

Anyway, I am nothing but a trooper - and you don't want to read me whingeing about man flu anyway - so I'll crack on. This week's may be a bit snappier than usual, though, given breathing is a bit of a struggle, let alone typing.

Thistlecrack's price for the Cotswold Chase is surprising

The obvious starting point is the Cotswold Chase, and I am a bit surprised to see Thistlecrack is available at 1.4840/85 to be honest, given he went off at 11/10 to win the King George.

He meets two solid citizens in last year's 1-2 of Smad Place and Many Clouds - I have actually been backing the grey for the Gold Cup and have currently £29.97 on at an average of 313.4615623/50 - but defeat would obviously be a major surprise.

Layers are presumably taking some encouragement from his jumping at the ditches here in November, and he can be a bit too brave and extravagant for his own good, but he was spectacular at Kempton and it is hard to see his colours being lowered here if he jumps adequately.

Unowhatimeanharry isn't bullet-proof

Stayers' Hurdle favourite Unowhatimeanharry is only a marginally bigger price to carry on his unbeaten run in the Cleeve Hurdle but defeat for him is easier to envisage.

Ballyoptic wasn't beaten when he came down at the last in the Long Walk last month and a case can be made for the likes of Ptit Zig, Un Temps Pour Tout and even Henri Parry Morgan at the prices. But I want to see the final declarations and make-up of the race on Friday before stepping in.

Betfair Sportsbook and Paddy Power are the only two firms to have priced up the Grade 2 juvenile hurdle, and fair play to them because it may be unlikely that the two market-leaders (both JP McManus-owned) will line up against each other.

They just favour Kempton winner Charlie Parcs ahead of Chepstow scorer Defi Du Seuil - 8/11 plays 7/4 on Betfair - and that slightly surprises me given the latter's Grade 1 win last time is by far the best form being brought into the race.

There are also six other Cheltenham races active on the exchange and the rescheduled Clarence House, is the most high-profile, but I can't build up much betting enthusiasm for that.

I will keep my Cheltenham powder dry at the moment but Singlefarmpayment interests me off 142 in the handicap chase, and it is no surprise to see Drumcliff and Le Rocher towards the top of the market for the handicap hurdle.

Out Sam is well worth a good look

Anyway, more of Cheltenham on Friday - when we may even touch upon the possible return of Faugheen in the Irish Champion Hurdle, and Arkle second favourite Min running at Leopardstown, as well - but I do like the look of one in the Sky Bet Chase at Doncaster, so you haven't been reading in vain. Hopefully.

Back Out Sam each-way at 14/1 with the Betfair Sportsbook, and look to get matched at 13.012/1 or bigger on the exchange.

This horse has spectacularly failed to deliver since looking so good when winning a three-runner race at Newbury - on which form he looks a very well-handicapped animal - and his jumping has been far from fluent. Pretty awful, in fact.

But his last four starts were at Cheltenham and Aintree, tracks that are unforgiving jumping tests, and he was much better when third at Kempton last time in first-time cheekpieces.

He races off the same mark here, I believe the headgear will be retained - he may be worth trying in blinkers, in fact - and Doncaster's fences are not the most foreboding which could be crucial to his winning chances.

Apparently, he has been in great form since that run over Christmas, working well on Saturday morning, and he is an intended runner, with Andrew Tinkler already jocked up. The ground is currently good to soft, and that is ideal.

Everything looks in place for the horse to finally start to fulfil his potential.

Recommended Bet

Back Out Sam 14/1 each-way with the Betfair Sportsbook for the SkyBet Chase on Saturday