David Jennings: 'If the ground dries out a bit, he's a corking bet in the Ultima at 16-1'

The sport's top judges answer the key Cheltenham Festival questions. This time, it's our Deputy Ireland editor David Jennings . . .

What's your best bet of the meeting?

It would be pretty depressing if Corbetts Cross wasn't good enough to mop up the National Hunt Chase, wouldn't it? I fully expected him to be the leading staying novice chaser at the start of the season and, while the campaign hasn't exactly gone according to plan, surely he's different class to this lot. I can envisage Derek O'Connor lobbing along in second gear most of the way and proving too classy from the last. He was 7-2 earlier in the week and, while 11-4 may look skimpy now, it wouldn't shock me were he to go off 6-4 on the day. People are cottoning on to the fact he might just be a cut above this sort of grade. 

How do you see the Champion Hurdle now?

It is looking increasingly unlikely that Constitution Hill will be well enough to take his chance and what a shame that is, he is the best hurdler these eyes have ever clapped on. In his expected absence it would be a shock if State Man couldn't convert what looks a penalty kick, given the goals have got bigger and only Irish Point could be considered any sort of a danger.