Four to follow at the festival selected by our pedigree experts

The Racing Post's bloodstock team pick out a few to follow at this week's Cheltenham Festival, based on form and pedigree...

Cash Back

8yo b g Linda's Lad-Holding (Useful)

Racing Post Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices' Chase, Tuesday

Willie Mullins seemed to reserve a little extra praise for Arkle contender Cash Back as he gave updates on his likely festival squad at a recent press morning at Closutton Stables.

The master trainer even compared the eight-year-old to the wonderful Un De Sceaux, winner of the Arkle in 2015, and said he would hold a leading chance at Cheltenham if the ground was soft.

Cash Back has got his preferred conditions and can become the fifth French import trained by Mullins to win the Arkle in the last six years, after Un De Sceaux, Douvan, Footpad and Duc Des Genievres.

Mullins has already tasted Grade 1 success with Cash Back's full-brother Draconien, winner of the Punchestown Champion Novice Hurdle in 2018. The siblings are by Lingfield Derby Trial winner Linda's Lad out of Holding, an AQPS-bred daughter of Useful, best known in Britain and Ireland perhaps as the sire of smart staying chaser Eudipe.

Martin Stevens, senior bloodstock journalist

Gealach

4yo b g Sea The Moon-Mouriyana (Akarad)

Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle, Wednesday

Some sound minds reckon that Sea The Moon, with his stamina and robust German bloodline, will be a good punt as a top jumps stallion and he already has a Triumph Hurdle fancy from his first crop in Allmankind.

A little more under the radar is Gordon Elliott’s Gealach, who sneaks in at the bottom of the Fred Winter field. He has fitted in enough experience, and a win on decent ground on New Year’s Eve was a glimpse of what he is capable of.

Bought for 24,000gns out of John Oxx's yard, he has a smart Flat pedigree too, as a half-brother to mile to ten furlongs stakes winners Skins Game and Epatha from a good Aga Khan line.

Tom Peacock, bloodstock features writer

Latest Exhibition

7yo b g Oscar-Aura About You (Supreme Leader)

Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle, Friday

Paul Nolan's charge has pressing form claims, having run out a decisive winner of a Leopardstown Grade 1 novice hurdle when last seen, and he boasts a pedigree that looks tailor-made for the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle to boot.

He is by Oscar - sire of Festival winners such as Big Zeb, Lord Windermere, Paisley Park, Peddlers Cross and Rock On Ruby - and is out of Aura About You, who posted a joint career-best effort when third to the mighty Quevega in the 2009 David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle.

Aura About You is by Supreme Leader, meaning that Latest Exhibition is bred on the cross that is responsible for no fewer than three previous Albert Bartlett winners, namely Kilbricken Storm (2018), At Fishers Cross (2013) and Black Jack Ketchum (2006).

Latest Exhibition also beat Andy Dufresne, a £330,000 joint top lot at the 2018 Festival Sale, on his penultimate outing in the Grade 2 Navan Novice Hurdle.

James Thomas, deputy bloodstock editor

Monalee

9yo b g Milan-Tempest Belle (Glacial Storm)

Magners Gold Cup, Friday

The nine-year-old Monalee posted a career-best Racing Post Rating of 170 when just touched off by Delta Work in the Grade 1 Savills Chase at the Dublin Racing Festival and has been a model of consistency at the Cheltenham Festival, having finished in the frame on all three starts at the meeting.

His second to Presenting Percy in the 2018 RSA Insurance Novices' Chase should allay any fears about this step up in trip, while the well-bred son of Milan bids to complete a remarkable double for his breeder Aidan Aherne, who also produced a Grand National winner with the late, great Many Clouds.

Milan has supplied six winners at the festival headed by the Champion Hurdle hero Jezki and Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle winner Martello Tower, while Monalee is bred on the same Milan-Glacial Storm cross at Pertemps Network Final winner Mall Dini and Welsh Grand National scorer Mountainous.

Ollie O'Donoghue, bloodstock journalist