The jumps season is now getting in full swing, and the highlight this weekend is the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby (3.35pm) in which Ollie Magern is bidding to land back-to-back victories.

Nigel Twiston-Davies’ 10-year-old ran his field ragged with a bold display of front jumping in this contest last season and had enough up his sleeve to repel the late challenge of State of Play by one and three quarter lengths.

He renews rivalry with Evan Williams’ stable star again on Saturday, but I’ve got a feeling that this race is Ollies “Gold Cup” and his bang-in-form trainer will have him spot on to confirm the lacings.

In fact, the main threat may actually emerge in the form of Albertas Run, who looked a potential star and Gold Cup prospect when winning last year’s Sun Alliance at the Cheltenham festival.

Jonjo O’Neill’s seven-year-old, owned by Trevor Hemmings, jumped really well that day and quickened readily under a superb ride from Tony McCoy.

He then went off a heavily backed favourite to follow up at Aintree but failed to sparkle and could finish only third to Big Bucks. However, I’m prepared to forgive him that blip as he may well have been feeling the effects of a long hard season, and my spies at Jackdaw Castle tell me that he has improved physically during the summer break and is considered to be a real challenger to the mighty Denman. If that’s the case it could well be worth taking a chance on him first time out at around 5-1.

On a good supporting card, Nicky Henderson’s progressive mare Chomba Womba shoulders top weight in the 2.20pm but looks sure to take all the beating, and first-season trainer Michael Scudamore – son of the legendary Peter – looks to have a promising hurdler on his hands in the shape of Gloucester who should be able to go one better than his recent second in a top class field at Cheltenham and land the 1.15pm.

Wanderers take on Manchester City at the Reebok on Sunday and desperately need to find a winning formula after a 1-0 home defeat at the hands of Everton in midweek saw them drop to second bottom in the league.

Under-fire manager Gary Megson, the subject of abuse from fans after the Everton game, needs to change things fast if the Wanderers are to get themselves out of the drop zone and avoid relegation, for which they are now as short as 6-5.

Bolton have now not won at the Reebok since the opening day of the season and have failed to find the back of the net in six out of 10 Premier League games.

It’s therefore not surprising that they start the game against City as 9-5 outsiders, with Mark Hughes’ men 6-4 and the draw 9-4.

However, Bolton fans will be hoping that strikers Kevin Davies and Johan Elmander can start finding the back of the net again, and they are 13-2 and 7-1 respectively with me to grab the opener of the game. City’s Brazilian star Robinho is not surprisingly favourite in this market on 11-2 after his recent hat- trick against Stoke.

I really do hope – especially being a United fan – that Bolton can put one over on City and regain some pride and confidence to get them out of trouble.Therefore, in what will surely prove a tough game, I am going to plump for a 2-1 Bolton win at a decent price of 10-1.

Finally, good luck to Lewis Hamilton in this Sunday’s Brazilian Grand Prix in his bid to become world champion.

He only needs a top-five finish to clinch the coveted prize that narrowly eluded him last season and is a 1-7 shot with me to do just that.