Support The Hunt Family Fund December Gold Cup: Runner-by-runner guide Saturday's feature race at Cheltenham has been renamed the Support The Hunt Family Fund December Gold Cup Handicap Chase as the sport does what it can to support popular commentator John Hunt and his daughter Amy in their charitable endeavours. There is a top prize of more than £71k for the winner and a field of 11 runners were declared for the Premier Handicap contest run over the extended two-and-a-half-miles at Cheltenham. Here's our look at the contenders. Ga Law Top-weight for this Jamie Snowden inmate but Isabelle Ryder can take off 7lb in the saddle. He's a dual winner around here and two of his disappointments have come in Grade 1 company at The Festival. He is, though, rated only 2lb lower than when well beaten off in this race a year ago. Jagwar Winner of the Festival Plate over this trip in March, he's rated 9lb higher now but many observers believe the Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero inmate can rate even higher. He's 4-5 over fences, goes well fresh and seemingly connections are happy with conditions after skipping the November Gold Cup. Colonel Harry The second runner for Jamie Snowden, he took a fall here on New Year's Day that cut last season short, but he looked better than ever when scoring at Aintree in last month's return. He must prove he handles Cheltenham and is now rated a career-high 148. Imperial Saint Three-times a winner over fences last season - all at Aintree - and signed off with a big effort when second to Cruz Control there at the National Meeting in April. He was only fifth in the Old Roan on Merseyside as favourite on his comeback, but he's on a fair mark and has run well at this track before. Martator 0-3 here, latest when finding things happening too fast in the Grand Annual in March, the Venetia Williams inmate ran no sort of race on comeback in the Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter, but was much better when second to Calico in a valuable Ascot event. Remains on a fair mark. Il Ridoto Paul Nicholls' challenger is much more exposed than plenty of these rivals and was beaten 16-lengths when eighth in the November Gold Cup off just 1lb higher. With two wins in 16 starts over fences at this course, he seems likely to play a minor role. Vincenzo Sam Thomas' son of Doctor Dino hasn't finished out of the first two in his five starts over fences, with figures of 12122, including a clear second-best in the November Gold Cup on his seasonal return. Nudged up 2lb for that and should continue to go well. Es Perfecto Kempton winner on seasonal return last year and scored at Sandown in February before finishing fifth here at The Festival behind Caldwell Potter in the Grade 2 novices' handicap chase. He travelled well for a long way in the November Gold Cup before stopping fast and being pulled up. Low miles but not getting any younger at 10. Hoe Joly Smoke Stays much further, as evidenced when third behind Three Card Brag over 3m1f here in October, but Dan Skelton's charge was a game third in the November Gold Cup since over this trip despite clattering the second last. Runs off the same mark but may find one or two better equipped. Kim Roque French import ran a big race on stable bow for Joseph O'Brien last month here in novice company when finding only Kdeux Saint Fray too strong - with that rival going well again since at Aintree. Stamina on his side and there could be more to come from this five-year-old. Glengouly Now with Faye Bramley after losing his way for Willie Mullins, he had a wind op in the summer and his most recent runs at Aintree and here (both 2m) were his most encouraging in a while. Not the most convincing stayer and he's 7lb out of the handicap, though having champion jockey Sean Bowen is equitable to that.
