THE big race this weekend is the Connaught Gold Cup at Newbury and Maljimar looks the one that they all have to beat.

Trainer Nick Williams has decided to bypass a tilt at one of the big races at the Cheltenham in favour of the £65,000 added event and that looks like a tip in itself.

The eight-year-old has not been seen since slamming Burntoakboy by 11 lengths in another Grade Three handicap at Cheltenham in January, but is reported to have been working very well at home.

The handicapper has upped the horse 14lb for his stroll' last time out, but that may still not be enough to stop this improving type, who will be ridden by the very able Daryl Jacob on Saturday.

He is likely to be opposed by a couple of improving types in the form of Nevertika and Mister Quasimodo, but I am sure punters will be piling on him to take their scalps and boost the Cheltenham Festival betting fund.

Over at Kempton, I am sponsoring the whole card, and there promises to be plenty of competitive action on offer.

Two of the races are featured on Channel 4 - the 2.20 Betfredcasino Handicap Hurdle and the 2.55 Betfred Novices Handicap Chase.

The hurdle race is a particularly close affair, but Charlie Mann's Hoh Viss looked to be returning to form last time out and must have a chance, along with Venetia Williams' lightly race Super Nick and the lightly weighted Mossville.

The latter could be thrown in on his best form, and a market move would be significant.

In the chase, a lot will depend on whether the bookies nightmare' Paul Nicholls allows top-weight Desert Quest to take his chance.

If he does then he is the one they all have to beat, but Gary Moore's Adopted Hero was a decent hurdler and was unfortunate not to score when falling last time out and could give him a real fright.

On the football front, Bolton will be hoping to avenge their 4-0 defeat at Anfield when they take on Liverpool on Sunday.

Understandably they are the outsiders to win this at 100-30, with Rafa's men 8-11 to complete the double over them.

However, home advantage could play a big part in this one, and I'm sure that fans will be buoyed by the fact that Liverpool have been very hit and miss of late and still seem to be reeling from being dumped out of the FA Cup by lowly Barnsley.

Much will depend on how the first half goes in this one, but if Wanderers can hold the Scousers or poach a lead - possibly through Kevin Davies who is 13-2 to net first - then a shock could well be on the cards. I make the draw a 9-4 shot.

Stelios, 10-1, and Kevin Nolan, 11-1, could also be a bit of value to grab the opening goal in the game, and Gary Megson's side to win 2-1 at 16-1 could be worth a couple of quid with a saver on a 2-2 draw at 14s.