ONE MAN or Sound Man? With respect to connections of Big Matt and Strong Promise, punters wishing to make any sort of profit from today's extended two-mile-three-furlong Grade One Comet Chase at Ascot must choose between Gordon Richards' grey and Edward O'Grady's stable star.

For Richards, One Man's performance today should push the Greystoke trainer into making a decision on whether he will be seen on the Cheltenham stage on the Wednesday or Thursday of the Festival.

Fear of another failure in the Thursday event, the three-and-a-quarter-mile Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup, has forced connections into considering other options, including the Queen Mother Champion Chase the day before.

That race, of course, is over two miles and the main aim today must be to prove One Man's ability to match the pace of the speed chasers. And that is where Sound Man comes in.

There is no better horse to test the mettle of One Man than O'Grady's charge. The winner of this race last year, Sound Man is far from foot perfect. Providing all is well with him, he has not been seen on a racecourse since landing the Tingle Creek Chase early in December, he will give his main rival the examination he needs for Richards to decide on his Festival plans.

So back to the original question One Man or Sound Man? It has to be the former. He will gallop his rivals into the ground under Richard Dunwoody and his speed over the fences will unsettle Sound Man and force him into making mistakes.

Dunwoody looks in line for a treble at the Berkshire track with his mount Amancio looking the pick of a small field of progressive novices in the Stanlake Novices' Chase.

And the former champion jockey can guide Sparkling Yasmin to success over the unreliable Top Spin in the Shenley Handicap Hurdle.

Mony-Skip is a sporting nap to deny the Francois Doumen-trained Djeddah in the Grade Two HSBC James Capel Reynoldstown Novices' Chase.

Sue Smith's charge has been a revelation this season, winning novice events at Wetherby, Cheltenham and here in November and performing well twice in defeat at Kelso.

An out-and-out stayer, the eight-year-old looks likely to continue on the upgrade and deny his five rivals who include stablemate Monymoss.

Best bet at Ludlow must be Three Philosophers. Tim Forster's charge has blotted his copybook by falling on three of the four occasions he has been tried over fences, including on his last appearance at Leicester last month. But his third place behind Pharanear at Worcester in December suggests that, the Bridgenorth Novices' Chase is well within his grasp.

Frankie Dettori begins his season at Wolverhampton and one horse who will benefit from his handling will be Maradata in the Thames Handicap.

Ladbrokes report strong support for Imperial Call, and have cut the reigning champion to 4-1 joint-favourite for the Tote Gold Cup from 9-2. "With hindsight, Imperial Call ran a very good trial at Leopardstown," said spokesman Ian Wassell.