PROVIDING the weather does not intervene and prove a spoiler, National Hunt followers are in for a treat this afternoon.

The great Sprinter Sacre returns to action at Ascot, while The New One, undefeated since his luckless effort in the Champion Hurdle last March, promises to play a starring role at Haydock.

All eyes will be on Sprinter Sacre, a magnificent looking horse, who was head and shoulders over his counterparts in two-mile chases before suffering a heart problem 13 months ago at Kempton which ruled him out for the remainder of the season.

Patience has been the watchword within the Nicky Henderson yard to get this supremely talented performer back to the track and he looked in great nick when turning out at Newbury a couple of weeks ago to have a public school before racing.

Today is the acid test.

The ground will be testing and the opposition in the Grade 1 Sodexho Clarence House Chase will include the useful Dodging Bullets, who is race-fit.

But, if Sprinter Sacre is anything like the horse he was when recording ten straight wins over fences, he will prevail.

The main priority, however, is that he jumps around cleanly and returns safely.

Fingers are firmly crossed on his behalf.

Remaining at Ascot, the OLBG.com Mares’ Hurdle is the target for Carole’s Spirit, trained by Robert Walford, brother of Sheriff Hutton-based trainer Mark.

A class act, Carole’s Spirit trotted up by eight lengths on her reappearance at Kempton, which pushed her handicap mark up to 149.

She has some smart rivals to contend with here, but Daryl Jacob’s mount is fancied to continue her progression through the hurdling ranks.

The £70,000 bet265 Handicap Chase looks a tightly-knit affair, but few horses in the field are in better nick than Mister Grez from the Dan Skelton yard.

The nine-year-old has won his last two races at Bangor and Catterick in fine style.

This event represents a marked step up in class for him, but he is expected to go well with his light weight.

Henderson, trainer of Sprinter Sacre, has plenty to occupy him throughout the afternoon and, regardless of what happens in the feature race, should not be allowed to return home empty-handed.

The Lambourn trainer can land the opening race with exciting French recruit Top Notch (12.40), an impressive winner at Newbury last month, while Out Sam (4.05), conqueror of the smart Thomas Brown at the same meeting, can complete a first-and-last-race double for Henderson.

The New One contests the £75,000 StanJames.com Champion Hurdle Trial at Haydock and will start at prohibitive odds to extend his winning sequence to four this season.

He has yet to be seriously tested and is unlikely to be so this afternoon.

The Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained gelding, despite having to concede weight all round, is easily the highest-rated runner in the line up.

This should be a normal day at the office for him before he returns to Cheltenham in March for another crack at the Champion Hurdle, in which he finished third last year after being almost brought down by a faller early on.

Kingswell Theatre is napped to win the opening Ideal Recruit Handicap Hurdle for Scottish trainer Lucinda Russell.

The six-year-old has won both his races over hurdles and was hugely impressive at Newcastle on his latest start.

He can complete a hat-trick in this handicap on testing ground which seems to bring out the best in him.

Her Majesty the Queen will be represented by Close Touch in the CE Facilities Novices’ Chase.

The Nicky Henderson-trained seven-year-old returned from a lengthy absence to win well at Wincanton on Boxing Day. He is a high-class horse.

The Sky Bet Supreme Trial Novices’ Hurdle looks a winnable target for Venetia Williams’ Aso, already a dual-scorer this season, while the £50,000 Peter Marsh Chase should see Toby Lerone running well.

The eight-year-old ran a sound race to finish third to Broadway Buffalo on this course last month after previously winning at Lingfield.

Ascot today: 12.40 Top Notch, 1.15 Village Vic, 1.50 Carole’s Spirit, 2.25 Garde La Victoire, 3.00 Sprinter Sacre, 3.35 Mister Grez, 4.05 Out Sam.

Haydock today: 12.20 Kingswell Theatre (NAP), 12.55 Close Touch, 1.30 Aso, 2.05 The New One, 2.40 Third Intention, 3.15 Toby Lerone, 3.50 One For Arthur.