ONE MAN heads to Ascot tomorrow in a bid to confirm his participation in the Queen Mother Champion Chase over two miles at next month's Cheltenham Festival.

The Gordon Richards-trained grey tackles the £60,000 Comet and Sony Chase over a distance just under two and a half miles and will be united with Tony Dobbin, who takes over the mount from Richard Dunwoody.

Although Dunwoody has been One Man's regular partner in recent seasons, and has won two King George VI Chase's on him, he has a long-standing agreement with Irish trainer Arthur Moore to ride Klarion Davis for him in the Queen Mother Champion Chase.

Richards and One Man's owner John Hales are therefore keen to have Dobbin back on board One Man tomorrow before the important date at Cheltenham.

Successful at Wetherby on his first outing this season One Man followed-up in fine style at Huntingdon but failed in his bid to complete a notable 'King George' hat-trick at Kempton on Boxing Day. The 10-year-old could finish only fifth to See More Business, and has since been off the track.

With the Cheltenham Gold Cup no longer an option for One Man after his abysmal efforts in the last two runnings of Britain's premier steeplechase, the Queen Mother Champion Chase, over a much shorter distance, is his preferred target this season.

Whether he has the raw speed to win a top-class event at the minimum distance is open to question, and tomorrow's race will tell us only so much.

Among the opposition is Strong Promise, winner of this race last year and a horse who went from strength to strength. Strong Promise is with out a run so far this term and that may well count against him tomorrow.

There promises to be precious little to choose between him and his famous rival, but One Man is marginally preferred in a race that will be better watched than wagered on in my book.

The £30,000 HSBC James Capel Reynoldstown Chase brings together some high-class young fencers. My vote goes to Strong Chairman, who missed an entry at Uttoxeter last Saturday.

Trained by Paul Nicholls, whose horses are in sparkling form, Strong Chairman looked a very exciting prospect when beating the useful Yahmi at Newbury at the end of November.

Dawn Leader has given the impression of being a top-class horse in the making and Jim Old's charge can prove the point by landing the nap in the Fernbank Novices' Hurdle.

Impressive winner of both his starts this season Dawn Leader can complete a hat-trick at the main expense of Grey Shot, a former top-flight stayer on the Flat who has taken well to hurdling.

The in-form Tompetoo will be hard to beat in the Shenley Enterprises Handicap Hurdle. This progressive gelding, trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies, won well over this course and distance less than three weeks ago, beating Gysart by eight lengths.

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