Horseracing betting: weekend outlook

It has been an odd week for punters, but it has highlighted that if you keep plugging on, fortune favours the brave. A man in the north of England scooped £1m from a stake of just 50p last weekend, and despite a firm ruling that races in Dubai guarantee a maximum payout of only £100,000, William Hill decided to give the punter the full amount anyway, despite him including races from the Middle East in his eight-horse accumulator. The quixotic Graham Culvert, who is trying to prise back his £2m losses from William Hill, has also seen an upshot in his fortunes after he was granted permission by Mr Justice Biggs to include personal injury damages as well as his claim for his losses in his case against the high street bookie. We could all do with a bit of good fortune in the few weeks leading up to the Cheltenham festival, luck that would hopefully boost our coffers in preparation for the imminent four-day war against the layers in Gloucestershire. This weekend looks a quiet one in terms of quality with the Festival looming large, and if anyone needs confirmation of this, the National Britannia Veterans Handicap Chase (2.40, Saturday) at Newbury on Saturday clearly illustrates this. As the name of the race suggests, the 17 possible runners at this early stage are all aged in double figures and punters who have been in the game for a while should recognise them all. Sir Rembrandt, who snuck a place twice in the Gold Cup is in the line-up, as is Royal Emperor, who finished second in the 2004 Royal & Sun Alliance Chase at the Festival. Old favourite Spectrometer, who has run over 60 times in his 11-year career also made the five-day declarations, while Joes Edge, who is 28/1 with Paddy Power for the Grand National, makes his seasonal bow having been off for 322 days. It's a beguling contest, full of some of the best-loved steeds in racing, and although the race might not get the pulse racing, it certainly will be worth a look. On the same card is the best race of the weekend, the Connaught Gold Cup (3.15, Saturday). Charlie Hall winner Ollie Magern leads the weights at this early stage, although Nigel Twiston-Davies' ten-year-old might find it tough trying to force the pace with the likes of Mister Quasimodo and Mister McGoldrick also entered for the 2m 4f event. All eyes however, will be on Cloudy Lane, the Grand National favourite. Ginger McCain's gelding is a best-priced 12/1 for the big race at Aintree and punters will be keen to get an insight into his jumping ability over this shorter, quicker trip. Not least because former favourite, Mr Pointment, runs in the Grimthorpe Hanicap Chase at Doncaster (3.30, Saturday) quarter of an hour later. Coral and VCbet go 14/1 about Mr Pointment for the National and Paul Nicholls looks to have found the perfect opportunity of getting his nine-year-old back into the minds of punters. Cloudy Lane has also been declared for this 3m 2f contest, and if both turn up, we would all be very lucky indeed.