MATCH OF THE DAY starts earlier than normal this weekend.

Forget the kick-abouts Gary Lineker and his pals are dissecting. The real action takes place at Ascot where Altior and Cyrname butt heads in the Christy 1965 Chase.

This is a proper heavyweight clash and with any luck our dynamic duo will stand toe-to-toe after the last and take the roof off the stand.

Talking of which, Somerset shrewdie Alan Jones gets the award for celebration of the week after landing a touch with Duhallow Lad (15-8 to 5-4) at Plumpton on Monday.

Superglue Tom O’Brien sat tight when this fella walked through the third last, but the real fun was watching Jonesy slip the security team so he could view events from the middle of the track.

Our man was last seen sprinting up the run-in punching the air, so it’s safe to assume this one mattered.

Gary Moore is zinging after a spell in the doldrums and has found a good’un in Goshen who won pulling a couple of carts at Fontwell Park the other day.

This big boy has muscles on his eyebrows and Gazza reckons he’s got enough class to do some damage in top company.

Goshen has an introductory hurdle at Sandown Park on his dance card next and it will take something special to turn him over.

In-form Noel Williams top-and-tailed the card at Lingfield on Tuesday, winning the opener with well-bet Opsrey Call (12-1 to 15-2) before Delight of Dubai nicked the last.

Trackstar

HIGHEST SUN (12.55, Ascot) set a personal best behind Champ at Newbury last time and looks handily treated on that form. The step-up to 3m should help and he must go close.

(Bet now)

Natty Noel could walk on water at moment and plans to run stable star Sensulano in a Listed novice chase at Warwick on December 12. She’s the apple of her trainer’s eye and won’t be far away.

Meanwhile, the money buyers had their backsides slapped at Kempton Park on Wednesday where three odds-on jollies were beaten in as many races.

Khuzaam (15-8 to 5-6) gets the job as chief mourner after being smashed off the boards in the night’s feature only to be nutted close home by Set Piece.

Jim Crowley was gutted to get chinned on this one. The in-running boys weren’t too chipper either as the horse was done for a nice few quid at 1-50 after booting clear a furlong out.

As for the winner, he’s had more cosmetic surgery than Katie Price – he’s been gelded, had a wind-op and wore first-time blinkers – but is verging on top class according to James Doyle.

By the way, Kempton’s ever-alert security team were double busy after a crafty gang of chaps were caught betting with counterfeit readies.

Apparently the snide notes weren’t all that convincing. In fact, I’m told the picture on the front had more than a passing resemblance to Olivia `The Crown’ Colman and would have been spotted by Mr Magoo.

You just can’t beat little Hollie Doyle in a tight finish and the mighty atom piggy-backed Fearless Warrior home to pinch a decent handicap at the end of the card.

That was win number 99 of the year for Hollie and she hit the ton when dotting-up on Archie Watson’s The Perfect Crown at Chelmsford on Thursday night.

You just won’t find anyone in the game to say a bad word about this kid and she deserves every success that comes her way.

Today, Bristol De Mai is virtually unbeatable at Haydock Park and is fancied to outstay Lostintranslation in the £200,000 Betfair Chase (3.00).

Meanwhile, Paul Nicholls’ Capeland deserves to get the nod in Ascot’s Gerard Bertrand Hurst Park Handicap Chase (3.20).

This fella was put through the wings of the last when coming to win here last time and has top-notcher Harry Cobden doing the steering.

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