English weekend preview: Azertyuiop can confirm his position as the top two-mile chaser with victory over arch-rival Moscow Flyer in the William Hill Tingle Creek Trophy at Sandown today.

The pair are the heavyweights of their division and head a fantastic weekend of racing that will no doubt provide some informative clues for the Cheltenham Festival next March.

Irish raider Moscow Flyer defeated the Paul Nicholls-trained seven-year-old in this race 12 months ago. However, Azertyuiop (Ruby Walsh) gained revenge when Moscow Flyer unseated Barry Geraghty four out in the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham, leaving Nicholls' stable star to romp to an impressive nine-length victory.

Nobody knows what would have happened on that March afternoon if both horses had charged up the famous Cheltenham hill together, but the argument as to who is superior will be settled once and for all today.

Moscow Flyer (Barry Geraghty) had a fitness advantage when beating Azertyuiop last year but both horses head into the two-mile showpiece match fit this time, with the latter having showed his superstar status at Exeter last month.

On that occasion, he gave 18lb and a five-length beating to the smart Seebald, with Nicholls insisting Azertyuiop was well over his ideal racing weight. That victory will have put the John Hales-owned gelding cherry ripe for the Tingle Creek.

Martin Pipe has farmed some of the big jumps races so far this season and he looks to have another live chance of taking another good prize with hot-favourite Manx Royal in the William Hill Handicap Hurdle.

This unexposed five-year-old could be well-in at the weights, but the Henry Daly-trained Green Tango appeals at a double-figure price. The gelding scored a shade cosily at Newbury last weekend and it will be a shock if he is not involved in the finish of the day's main betting contest.

Other Cheltenham clues will be on show at Haydock as Sir Rembrandt puts his Cheltenham Gold Cup credentials on the line in the Tommy Whittle Chase. A fast-finishing second to Best Mate in last season's blue riband, the eight-year-old ran as if he needed the race on his seasonal bow when finishing runner-up to Grey Abbey in the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby.

He was then all at sea when going right-handed last time out and came home a remote fourth at Exeter, but the Robert Alner-trained gelding is rated well ahead of his rivals and should have no problem in opening his account for the season.