Bingley trainer Sue Smith and her husband Harvey, the former top show-jumper, never afraid to take on the big guns when the occasion demands it, stage a double-assault at Cheltenham tomorrow.

Better Days runs in the £100,000 Paddy Power Gold Cup, while Royal Emperor gives the Smiths another fine chance in the £65,000 Servo Computer Services Trophy Handicap Chase.

Better Days figures at the foot of the handicap in the day's major race and makes plenty of appeal following a creditable effort to finish a close second to Spring Grove over this course and distance a fortnight ago.

Sure to be all the better for that outing, Better Days, highly-rated in the Smith stable, looks sure to go well in this fiercely competitive handicap and looks a very tempting each-way wager at around 25-1.

Royal Emperor, a good third to Grey Abbey in the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby last month on his seasonal bow, ran as though needing that race and will be a fitter horse this time.

One of last season's leading staying novices, he has the Gold Cup as his ultimate target this term.

Even with top-weight of 11st 12lb, a weight he has earned, he looks the one to beat in this stamina-sapping three-and-a-half mile event.

Paperprophet, trained in Cumbria by Nicky Richards, will not be short of supporters in the Lombard Properties Handicap Hurdle over an extended three miles.

Runner-up to stablemate The French Furze at Ayr last Sunday, Paperprophet might well have won that day had he not blundered at the second-last flight.

Tomorrow's step-up in trip will suit him and, with Tony Dobbin taking over from an inexperienced claiming rider, Paperprophet is napped to make his long journey from Cumbria well worthwhile.

Middlethorpe goes for a quick double at Wetherby in the £10,000 'Leeds Rugby' Handicap Hurdle.

Mick Easterby's gelding won well here a fortnight ago when ridden by Tom Greenall, who takes the mount again tomorrow for local owners John Quickfall and Alan Black, the York chartered surveyor, who also bred Middlethorpe.

Sue Smith saddles Omni Cosmo Touch in the 'Leeds Tykes' Novices' Handicap Chase, and this gelding is fancied to gain compensation, having hit the deck here two weeks ago when looking very much like a winner.

Noshinannikin, already the winner of a good race here this season, provides Smith with another solid chance in the £15,000 totesport.com Handicap Chase.

Saturday's tips:

Cheltenham

1.00 Ball O Malt, 1.35 Be Fair, 2.10 Paperprophet (Nap), 2.45 Better Days, 3.20 Royal Emperor, 3.55 Cerium.

Wetherby

12.20 Squandamania, 12.50 Young Scotton, 1.25 Omni Cosmo Touch, 2.00 Middlethorpe, 2.35 Oso Magic, 3.05 Noshinannikin, 3.40 Lennon.

Tomorrow's other meetings are at Lingfield, Uttoxeter and Wolverhampton.

Updated: 13:54 Friday, November 12, 2004