Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1) (GBB Race)

Sporting Life Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices' Chase (Grade 1) (GBB Race)

Ultima Handicap Chase (Grade 3) (GBB Race)

Unibet Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy (Grade 1) (GBB Race)

Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle (Registered as The David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle) (Grade 1) (GBB Race)

Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (Registered as The Fred Winter) (Grade 3) (GBB Race)

Ukraine Appeal National Hunt Challenge Cup Amateur Jockeys' Novices' Chase (Grade 2) (GBB Race)

Ballymore Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1) (Registered As The Baring Bingham) (GBB Race)

Brown Advisory Novices' Chase (Grade 1) (Registered As The Broadway Novices' Chase) (GBB Race)

Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) (GBB Race)

Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase (Grade 1) (GBB Race)

Glenfarclas Chase (A Cross Country Chase) (GBB Race)

Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup Handicap Chase (Grade 3) (GBB Race)

Weatherbys Champion Bumper (A Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race) (Grade 1) (GBB Race)

Turners Novices' Chase (Grade 1) (Registered As The Golden Miller) (GBB Race)

Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) (GBB Race)

Ryanair Chase (Registered As The Festival Trophy) (Grade 1) (GBB Race)

Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle (Grade 1) (GBB Race)

Craft Irish Whiskey Co. Plate Handicap Chase (Grade 3) (GBB Race)

Ryanair Mares' Novices' Hurdle (Grade 2) (Registered As The Dawn Run Mares' Novices' Hurdle) (GBB)

Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Amateur Jockeys' Handicap Chase (Sponsored By JRL Group) (GBB)

JCB Triumph Hurdle (Grade 1) (GBB Race)

McCoy Contractors County Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) (GBB Race)

Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1) (Registered As The Spa Novices' Hurdle) (GBB Race)

Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase (Grade 1) (GBB Race)

St. James's Place Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters' Chase

Mrs Paddy Power Mares' Chase (Registered As The Liberthine Mares' Chase) (Grade 2) (GBB Race)

Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

FREE BETS & OFFERS - MARES NOVICES' HURDLE

The Mares' Novices' Hurdle is a Grade 2 contest run over 2m1f on the third day of the Cheltenham Festival. View the racecard here.

Compare the odds for all the runners in the Mares' Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. Find out which bookmaker is offering the best odds.

Mares' Novices' Hurdle Chase tips and predictions from our horseracing experts for the sixth race on day 3 of the Cheltenham Festival 2022. Click to see more. 

Mares' Novices' Hurdle - Racecard & Runners | Racing Post

The National Hunt Supported By Tattersalls Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle, also known as the Dawn Run Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle, is one of the newest races at the Cheltenham Festival, having first been staged in 2016. It is run on the third day of the festival and has been dominated so far by Willie Mullins, who has trained all five winners. Check the Mares Novices Hurdle runners and riders ahead of the race and place your bets by clicking the odds buttons.

Compare the odds for all the runners in the Mares Novices' Hurdle on day three of the Cheltenham Festival. Some bookmakers offer different odds and unique offers so look out for the offer icons under the bookmaker logos. The Mares Novices' Hurdle favourite is Minella Melody which means bookmakers and punters alike think she has the best chance. However, you may want to look for an each-way alternative at bigger odds, which is where the Mares Novices' Hurdle odds comparison comes in handy.

Mares' Novices' Hurdle Betting Odds Comparison 2022 | Racing Post

Mares' Novices' Hurdle Tips - Cheltenham Festival | Racing Post

Rachael Blackmore continued to dominate the headlines with success on Tellmesomethinggirl to edge her closer to the leading jockey’s title. Her mount was a fancied 5-1 chance and Blackmore moved with confidence to pick her way through the field and when she asked the question of Tellmesomethinggirl, she delivered. Kenny Alexander’s mare kicked on with a venomous turn of foot to beat her Henry de Bromhead-trained stablemate Magic Daze by five and a half lengths. The success ended Willie Mullins’ unbeaten record in the race since it was first introduced in 2016. For De Bromhead, it continued a running theme of success with mares after Honeysuckle and Put The Kettle On plundered big prizes earlier in the week.

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The Mares Novices&#8217; Hurdle odds comparison grid is simple and easy to use. All the runners are listed down the left, whilst each bookmaker is presented across the top. The odds box that crosses the horse and the bookmaker, is the odds that bookmaker is offering on that specific horse.
The odds that have a bold number indicate the best price available for that horse in the Mares Novices&#8217; Hurdle. The odds boxes are coloured red and blue to indicate whether a horse is being supported or not. The red boxes show a drift in price, which means the odds are getting bigger as less punters are betting on that horse. In contrast, the blue box shows when the odds are contracting, indicating the horse is being supported in the betting.
Underneath the bookmaker logo, are the offers available for the Mares Novices&#8217; Hurdle by that bookmaker. Some bookmakers offer more places for each way bets, or money back specials if your horse finishes second, so it’s always worth checking and comparing before placing your bet.

Willie Mullins suffered his first loss in six runnings of this race last year when Henry de Bromhead demonstrated his own strength in the mares’ division by saddling a one-two with Telmesomethinggirl and Magic Daze. Sixth was the best Mullins could do in a below-par year but Ireland still dominated, filling the first four places. Mullins has leading candidates this time in Brandy Love, who was a somewhat wayward second in a Grade 3 mares’ novice hurdle at Fairyhouse, and Dinoblue, who won by 15 lengths on her debut in a mares’ maiden hurdle at Clonmel. Dan Skelton is quite well stocked for mares and has last year’s Champion Bumper third Elle Est Belle, although she could wait for Aintree. Gordon Elliott’s Party Central won the mares’ handicap hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival, although handicap options look tempting for her, while another potential British runner is the Harry Fry-trained Love Envoi, who won at the valuable Lingfield Winter Million meeting in January.

Willie Mullins lost out last year but he had previously won the first five runnings of this race, with hot favourites on the first three occasions and with his shortest-priced runner in 2020, but he had 50-1 and 66-1 shots separated by a short head up front in 2019. That's one way of saying that all of his seven declarations this time round need a close look, even though it's Dinoblue and Brandy Love who head the betting for him. Statuaire, for one, also looks interesting. However, Gordon Elliott's pair Party Central and SAY GOODBYE may prove the overall pick, with the latter an appealing each-way option given the strong finish she produced behind her stablemate last time. She's not far off the top-rated runners as it is, and may well be seen to very good effect at this track. Love Envoi has done well on heavy ground in Britain.

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<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;" data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;Year&quot;}">Year</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;Horse&quot;}">Horse</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;Previous Form&quot;}">Previous Form</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;Age&quot;}">Age</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;Price&quot;}">Price</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;Trainer&quot;}">Trainer</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;Jockey&quot;}">Jockey</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;" data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:3,&quot;3&quot;:2021}">2021</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;Telmesomethinggirl&quot;}">Telmesomethinggirl</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:3,&quot;3&quot;:13113}">13113</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:3,&quot;3&quot;:6}">6</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:3,&quot;3&quot;:44566}" data-sheets-numberformat="{&quot;1&quot;:5,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;d-m&quot;,&quot;3&quot;:1}">5-1</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;Henry De Bromhead&quot;}">Henry De Bromhead</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;Rachael Blackmore&quot;}">Rachael Blackmore</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;" data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:3,&quot;3&quot;:2020}">2020</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;Concertista&quot;}">Concertista</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:3,&quot;3&quot;:-535774}" data-sheets-numberformat="{&quot;1&quot;:5,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;d-m-yyyy&quot;,&quot;3&quot;:1}">4-2-0433</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:3,&quot;3&quot;:6}">6</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:3,&quot;3&quot;:44601}" data-sheets-numberformat="{&quot;1&quot;:5,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;d-m&quot;,&quot;3&quot;:1}">9-2</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;Willie Mullins&quot;}">Willie Mullins</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;Daryl Jacob&quot;}">Daryl Jacob</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;" data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:3,&quot;3&quot;:2019}">2019</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;Eglantine Du Seuil&quot;}">Eglantine Du Seuil</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;1-13&quot;}">1-13</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:3,&quot;3&quot;:5}">5</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;50-1&quot;}">50-1</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;Willie Mullins&quot;}">Willie Mullins</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;Noel Fehily&quot;}">Noel Fehily</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;" data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:3,&quot;3&quot;:2018}">2018</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;Laurina&quot;}">Laurina</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;F2-11&quot;}">F2-11</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:3,&quot;3&quot;:5}">5</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;4-7F&quot;}">4-7F</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;Willie Mullins&quot;}">Willie Mullins</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;Paul Townend&quot;}">Paul Townend</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;" data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:3,&quot;3&quot;:2017}">2017</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;Let’s Dance&quot;}">Let’s Dance</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;21-111&quot;}">21-111</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:3,&quot;3&quot;:5}">5</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;11-8F&quot;}">11-8F</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;Willie Mullins&quot;}">Willie Mullins</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;Ruby Walsh&quot;}">Ruby Walsh</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;" data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:3,&quot;3&quot;:2016}">2016</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;Limini&quot;}">Limini</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:3,&quot;3&quot;:11}">11</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:3,&quot;3&quot;:5}">5</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;8-11F&quot;}">8-11F</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;Willie Mullins&quot;}">Willie Mullins</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;Ruby Walsh&quot;}">Ruby Walsh</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

Latest odds for the Mares Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival

Mares Novices' Hurdle Odds 2022

<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">Aged five or six, 6/6</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">Top-three finish last time out, 6/6</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">Top-three finish in a Listed or Graded hurdle, 6/6</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">Adjusted RPR of at least 148, 5/6</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">Rated within 4lb of RPR top-rated, 5/6</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">Two to four hurdle starts, 4/6</li>
</ul>

Mares Novices' Hurdle tips from our racing experts for the mares novices' race on day 3 of the Cheltenham Festival.

Mares Novices' Hurdle Tips 2022

Mares Novices' Hurdle Tips and Predictions

Racing Post experts predict the likely big players and identify the each way value in the Mares Novices' Hurdle 4as well as analysing the trends and predicting the winner.

Daylesford Mares' Novices' Hurdle (Grade 2)

Honeysuckle’s victory here last year set the ball rolling in an unforgettable week for trainer Henry de Bromhead, who became the first to land the holy trinity of Champion Hurdle, Champion Chase and Gold Cup in the same year, and jockey Rachael Blackmore, the first woman to be the festival’s leading rider after finishing with a super six. Whatever the rest of the four days have in store for them this year, Honeysuckle is expected to put the pair centre stage again by retaining her crown. The wondermare remains unbeaten and comes here off the back of a third consecutive triumph in the Irish Champion Hurdle, which stretched her amazing winning streak to 14. Having been sent off 11-10 last year, she is set to be a very hot odds-on favourite this time, which reflects both her own brilliance and the paucity of the opposition against her. Sharjah, beaten six and a half lengths into second in this race last year (and also runner-up in 2020), is absent through injury and no other rival has got any closer to Honeysuckle than him over 2m in the past two years. A new challenger is the Willie Mullins-trained Appreciate It, who ran away with the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle on this day 12 months ago but hasn’t been seen since. Quilixios, Adagio and Zanahiyr, three of the principals from last year’s Triumph Hurdle, plus the rapidly improving Teahupoo, are other second-season hurdlers set to try their luck. A couple of older campaigners from different ends of the spectrum are Nicky Henderson’s 2020 winner Epatante and late bloomer Tommy’s Oscar, who has burst on to the scene this season for Ann Duffield’s small yard.

She's up against some exciting new challengers who may have the potential to steal her crown, but HONEYSUCKLE just keeps on winning and is taken to become the first mare to win the Champion Hurdle twice. She has already won three Irish Champion Hurdles and, having shown her career-best form when impressive in this race last year, it will take a mighty performance to burst her bubble. Appreciate It is an enthralling rival on his first start since winning last year's Supreme and he is feared most, ahead of the improving Teahupoo who looked very good on his latest outing and helps to give Ireland a very strong hand. Smart youngster Adagio and 2020 winner Epatante look best of the British runners.

The famous Cheltenham roar will be back with a vengeance after last year’s behind-closed-doors festival and there is the prospect of a good old-fashioned Britain v Ireland battle on the track as Nicky Henderson’s Constitution Hill, seen by many as one of the home bankers, goes up against the might of the Willie Mullins machine. Constitution Hill has won his two hurdles starts by a combined 26 lengths, latterly in the Grade 1 Tolworth at Sandown, but Dysart Dynamo (who might well be Mullins’ chief contender) can better that with a 38-length aggregate in his two wins. Mullins has other options in Sir Gerhard and Kilcruit, first and second in last year's Champion Bumper, while Henderson has strong back-up of his own in the highly touted Jonbon. Gordon Elliott, another big trainer with plenty of choices to make, looks set to go with Mighty Potter here. 

This is a cracker to get the Festival under way and CONSTITUTION HILL is the one who can be roared home in front. He has looked a hugely exciting prospect when skipping clear at Sandown on his two hurdle starts, in the Grade 1 Tolworth most recently, and in the process he's demolished some useful rivals. The Willie Mullins-trained Dysart Dynamo has also been winning with plenty in hand and is the main threat to Nicky Henderson's representative. The selection's unbeaten stablemate Jonbon is next on the list, ahead of the Mullins-trained Kilcruit who, unlike the aforementioned three runners, brings Cheltenham form having finished second in last season's Champion Bumper.

This is the second big contest on the opening day that will define whether Britain is capable of fighting back after last year’s 23-5 drubbing by Ireland or is going to be overwhelmed again. As in the curtain-raising Supreme, the home team is set to field the favourite here and this time it is the Alan King-trained Edwardstone, who has come back strongly from a stuttering start over fences to put together an impressive four-race winning sequence, including the Grade 1 Henry VIII at Sandown. Ireland’s challenge is set to be led by Willie Mullins’ Blue Lord and Gordon Elliott’s mare Riviere D’Etel, who were separated by half a length in the Irish Arkle at the Dublin Racing Festival. Mullins has good back-up in Saint Sam and Haut En Couleurs, respectively third and an early faller in the Irish Arkle. Other trainers with bright hopes are Dan Skelton with Third Time Lucki, who has crossed swords with Edwardstone twice already, and Henry de Bromhead with Coeur Sublime and Magic Daze. 

In the absence of Ferny Hollow, the warm ante-post favourite before picking up a suspensory ligament injury, the suggestion is RIVIERE D'ETEL (nap) who pulled well clear with that rival at Leopardstown in December. Subsequently runner-up to Blue Lord in a dramatic Irish Arkle over the same C&D, the selection can turn the tables today and maintain her superiority over third-placed Saint Sam. The unexposed pair Haut En Couleurs and Magic Daze are fascinating contenders but the rock-solid second choice is the likeable Edwardstone.

This is one of the big chances for a trainer outside the big five to get on the scoreboard and Fergal O’Brien will be hoping Imperial Alcazar can give him a first festival success to crown his best-ever season. His eight-year-old won the often informative novice chase on Cheltenham’s Trials day, going up to a mark of 152. A little lower are the Kim Bailey-trained Does He Know (147) and Lucinda Russell’s Corach Rambler (140), two more novices with winning course form this season. Gordon Elliott has never won this race but has strong possibilities with Death Duty, Floueur and Frontal Assault. Noble Yeats (Emmet Mullins) and Diol Ker (Noel Meade) are other leading hopes for Ireland.

Frodon has come undaunted through many years of hard work but giving this weight to whippersnappers along with well-treated rivals asks a lot of him. FLOUEUR caught the eye in a big way over hurdles at the Festival last year and his Fairyhouse win in January showed he has considerable potential as a chaser. He will be suited by the return to less testing ground after finishing behind Death Duty at Punchestown, whereas the latter, although well treated on his old form, could do with a good dollop of rain. Does He Know and Noble Yeats are open to improvement and the former may be the main danger to the selection, although Ben Dundee, who ran so well at Leopardstown last time and has course form at the Festival, has a big run in him. Fantastikas and last year's winner Vintage Clouds can also have a say.

Ireland’s domination of this division continued last year with Black Tears’ victory under the handling of Denise Foster, standing in for Gordon Elliott during his suspension, and it is unlikely to change now. Ante-post favourite is Telmesomethinggirl, who won the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at last year’s festival for Henry de Bromhead. She hasn’t won in three starts since but her course form is a big plus. The Peter Fahey-trained Royal Kahala was ninth in the novice event last year but had Telmesomethinggirl (giving 5lb) back in third in a Grade 3 at Leopardstown’s Christmas meeting and scored again at Gowran in January. Elliott’s big hope is Queens Brook, third in the Champion Bumper two years ago and twice a winner over hurdles. Willie Mullins’ team looks likely to be led by Stormy Ireland, who was fifth to Honeysuckle in this race two years ago and put up a good performance to win an open Grade 2 at Cheltenham’s New Year’s Day meeting. His other possibles, with varying degrees of likelihood, include Burning Victory, Concertista (last year’s runner-up but now chasing), Echoes In Rain and Finest Evermore. Two more winners from last year’s festival – Heaven Help Us (Coral Cup for Paul Hennessy) and Mrs Milner (Pertemps Final for Paul Nolan) – are also set to line up with good chances.

Since Quevega took her first of six as a 2-1 shot in 2009 the longest-priced favourite in this has been 6-4 but this year's renewal has a more open look to it. TELMESOMETHINGGIRL hasn't won in three outings since last year's Dawn Run success but she produced a clear career best on RPRs when failing by only just over 1l to give weight away in a Leopardstown Grade 3 over Christmas and a repeat of that form might be good enough. There's a possibility that Queens Brook just needed her first outing in nearly four months when beaten by Burning Victory at Punchestown three weeks ago and she can turn the tables on that rival and provide the chief threat. Relkeel winner Stormy Ireland is also on the shortlist.

The trend towards big-priced winners returned with a vengeance last year with Jeff Kidder’s victory at 80-1, beating 9-2 favourite Saint Sam into second. Seven of the last ten winners were at least 25-1, although the trend was broken recently by 7-2 favourite Band Of Outlaws in 2019 and Aramax (15-2) in 2020. The big stables are always worth noting in this fiercely competitive and often wide-open handicap hurdle. Paul Nicholls has been responsible for three winners, as well as several placed horses, Gordon Elliott has had two and Nicky Henderson and David Pipe have had a winner apiece. Joseph O’Brien, having won with Band Of Outlaws, is another significant player given the strength of his juvenile hurdling team. Willie Mullins looks set to run Gaelic Warrior, a smart French recruit who has been kept back for this spring, and Elliott’s options include Fil Dor, The Tide Turns and Britzka. O’Brien has a likely type in Champion Green, who has followed a similar route as Band Of Outlaws. 

The ex-French Gaelic Warrior has long been the talk of the town for this race and his French form does stack up impressively, so he could quite easily make a mockery of this initial handicap mark. However, there is no shortage of alternatives at bigger odds and the nicely progressive HMS SEAHORSE is intriguingly Paul Nolan's first runner in this since he took the inaugural running in 2005. Champion Green is another Irish contender who looks on a competitive mark. The best of the British may be Saint Segal and Too Friendly.

This is the longest and oldest race at the festival, although two years ago the race distance was reduced to 3m6f and with two fewer fences to jump. Four of the last ten winners had the highest official rating. Last year’s winner Galvin was second-highest on 152 and runner-up Next Destination was top on 153. The big yards have dominated in recent years and it has been a happy hunting ground for the Irish with Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott winning six times between them in 11 runnings since 2011 (Galvin last year had been trained by Elliott before his suspension and returned to him from Ian Ferguson afterwards). Run Wild Fred for Elliott and Mullins’ Stattler have dominated the ante-post market and have the required class, having been running to a high level in Graded contests. Other Elliott possibles are Fury Road and Farouk D’Alene, while Mullins also has Jungle Boogie and Ontheropes. Last year’s Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle winner Vanillier looks set to go with a big chance for Gavin Cromwell.

The most eyecatching recommendation is probably Run Wild Fred's second in last season's Irish Grand National, a performance which he has backed up over 3m this term. He also represents Gordon Elliott, who has been the leading trainer in this race in recent years, but watch out also for BRAESIDE, Elliott's other runner, whose best performances this term suggest that he too has what is required. The stable may well be set for a one-two. Stattler needs to be taken very seriously and it is impossible to forget the way that Vanillier motored clear at this meeting last year as a staying novice hurdler.

This race at the intermediate trip is caught in the space between possible runners who could drop to 2m for the Supreme or go up to 3m for the Albert Bartlett and, perhaps more than ever, this year’s final field is hard to predict. Sir Gerhard or Dysart Dynamo would assume favouritism if sent here by Willie Mullins, but as usual the festival’s top trainer has plenty of options, including Kilcruit, State Man and El Fabiolo. He also has Minella Cocooner, who looks one of the more likely candidates after his Grade 1 win over 2m6f at the Dublin Racing Festival. Henry de Bromhead has Journey With Me in the Bob Olinger colours, Gordon Elliott’s chief candidate is Grade 1 winner Ginto and another interesting possible is Grade 1 Challow winner Stage Star for Paul Nicholls.

Last year's Champion Bumper winner Sir Gerhard has made an excellent start to his hurdling career and could be very hard to beat but his stamina for this trip is not copper-bottomed and preference is for the other Grade 1 hurdle winner, STAGE STAR. Paul Nicholls' runner drew clear for an emphatic success in the Challow at Newbury in December and, amidst the talk of Irish dominance at the Festival, he might have been underestimated in this field. Journey With Me represents last year's winning connections and also has a significant role to play. Whatdeawant is a more speculative option to consider.

This is shaping up as another fascinating Britain v Ireland battle with Paul Nicholls’ Bravemansgame for the home side and the Willie Mullins-trained Galopin Des Champs for the visitors. There is little between them on Racing Post Ratings and both are Grade 1 winners over fences, just as they were in their novice hurdling campaigns, although Galopin Des Champs is the only one with a festival victory to his name, having landed the Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle last year. Bob Olinger, last year’s Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle winner, would have a big chance here for Henry de Bromhead but looks set to go for the Turners Novices’ Chase on Thursday. Lucinda Russell’s Ahoy Senor, whose career score against Bravemansgame stands at one-all, would add another intriguing element if he is sent here, although he could be held back for Aintree. Mullins has other possibles in Capodanno and Jungle Boogie, while Nicholls also has Threeunderthrufive, and there are several Gigginstown-owned stayers in the mix, including the Gordon-Elliott-trained Fury Road.

Old foes Ahoy Senor and Bravemansgame meet for the third time, with the score currently one apiece. The latter has been the more professional over fences to date, jumping notably soundly, but the imposing Ahoy Senor has untapped potential and could produce a career best if getting into a good rhythm. It's unlikely that Capodanno has reached his ceiling either and he may emerge the pick of the Irish, but the claims of L'HOMME PRESSE are especially persuasive and he gets the vote. Venetia Williams' lightly raced 7yo has looked a complete natural over fences and can continue his winning spree on his first attempt at 3m.

Only three favourites (outright or joint) have won this highly competitive handicap hurdle in 28 runnings. The most recent was Dame De Compagnie (5-1 in 2020), who was only the third winner at single-figure odds since 2004. This race tends to suit younger, less exposed types, and the number of hurdles runs is a key factor. Son Of Flicka in 2012 (with 22) is the only winner in the last 14 renewals to be into double figures. Last year Heaven Help Us was having her seventh outing over hurdles and came to the festival after winning a competitive mares’ handicap hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival that featured two other festival winners last year (Telmesomethinggirl and Mrs Milner). That same mares’ handicap hurdle went this year to the Gordon Elliott-trained Party Central, who has scored over 2m4f and could run here, although the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle looks more likely. Elliott has other possibles including Grand Roi, I A Connect and Saint Felicien. Good Time Jonny (Tony Martin) and Winter Fog (Emmet Mullins) are in the reckoning for shrewd Irish trainers. British hopes include Ascot handicap hurdle winners Good Risk At All (Sam Thomas) and Unexpected Party (Dan Skelton).

The Coral Cup can go to GOWEL ROAD (nap) who beat another leading contender in Unexpected Party over C&D in November and should take another step forward now that he is stepped back up from 2m. Saint Felicien takes a marked step up in trip but is highly talented yet seriously unexposed, so it would not be a shock were he to emerge as a blot on the handicap and he is feared most. His trainer Gordon Elliott has seven declared in total and the most interesting of his others may be Indigo Breeze. The best of the more experienced Irish runners could turn out to be Ashdale Bob, ahead of The Shunter. Ante-post favourite Good Risk At All is the first reserve.

Shishkin v Energumene II promises to be a festival highlight after the first instalment in the Clarence House Chase at Ascot lived up to all the hype. Only a length separated the top-class two-milers at the line as Shishkin swooped late under Nico de Boinville to deny the pace-setting Energumene and Paul Townend. That leaves the Nicky Henderson-trained Shishkin’s unbeaten record intact as he heads to the rematch on a 11-race winning streak, including festival victories in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and Arkle Chase. Willie Mullins’ Energumene has yet to run at Cheltenham, having missed an Arkle clash last year through injury, but his connections and fans will be hoping the shorter trip here will help him to turn the tables from their Ascot showdown. Let’s not forget Mullins has another highly rated challenger in Chacun Pour Soi, who is back for another go after last year’s disappointing third as odds-on favourite. The Dan Skelton-trained Nube Negra, runner-up last year, also tries again and so does Paul Nicholls’ 2021 fourth Greaneteen, but really most eyes will be on the big two as they square up to each other again. 

In theory, the captivating rematch between SHISHKIN and Energumene could go the latter's way over this slightly shorter trip, considering how the Clarence House panned out. However, there are other factors to bear in mind, such as the possibility of a significant pace collapse (Energumene may not have things completely his own way this time) and the fact that dual Festival winner Shishkin is guaranteed to come home strongly up the hill, whereas his Irish rival is having a first taste of Cheltenham. While the very talented Energumene could still make a bold bid and potentially turn the tables, Shishkin is taken to grab glory in the final stages and maintain his unbeaten chase record. Chacun Pour Soi is roughly on a par with stablemate Energumene based on Irish form but he still has something to prove on British soil, so Nube Negra is the suggested third choice and each-way angle.

This unusual event has had classy winners recently with triple scorer Tiger Roll (2018, 2019 and 2021) and the French-trained Easysland, who beat Tiger Roll into second by 17 lengths in 2020 before the placings were reversed just as emphatically (18 lengths) last year. Both have been rated close to Grade 1 standard at their peak. Tiger Roll’s trainer Gordon Elliott has been the one to watch since the race was changed to a conditions event in 2016, having previously been a handicap. He had the runner-up in 2016, a one-two in 2017, two wins with Tiger Roll (last year Elliott was suspended and his yard’s runners handled by Denise Foster) and the second and third (Tiger Roll and Out Sam) behind Easysland in 2020. Tiger Roll and Easysland (who has moved from France to Jonjo O’Neill’s yard) are set to renew their rivalry but they face a stiff challenge from some new rivals. Chief among them is the six-year-old Prengarde, who became the new French star in this discipline and was bought by JP McManus (also Easysland’s owner) to join Enda Bolger, while Elliott is also set to run the high-class Delta Work.

Brahma Bull and Delta Work are classy contenders who can play leading roles if transferring their ability to the cross-country sphere at the first attempt, while the 6yo Prengarde could be a serious force having convincingly won a Listed cross-country chase in France in November. However, they'll all struggle to cope with TIGER ROLL if he reproduces anything like the same form as when bolting up in this race last year. He's failed to shine on his two starts this season but he answered a similar question in fine style 12 months ago and this remarkable 12yo can win today's contest for a fourth time. Delta Work is feared most, ahead of Prengarde, although the highest-rated horses aren't guaranteed to run their races and Shady Operator could be the one to benefit if they don't.

With the move from Friday to Wednesday, this race had a significant change last year by switching from the New course to the Old. The Old course is slightly sharper and tighter, favouring a quicker, strong-travelling type, and 14-1 winner Sky Pirate was described in the Racing Post comments as “prominent on inner” and “travelling strongly”. The quality of this 2m handicap chase has improved year on year and nine of the last 11 winners were rated at least 140 (2019 winner Croco Bay was just below at 139). Nine of the last 13 British-trained winners had won at Cheltenham before, including Sky Pirate. This has been a good race for novices with 14 winners since 1983, with Sky Pirate adding to the total last year. The big stables have likely types in Ciel De Neige (Willie Mullins), Coeur Sublime (Henry de Bromhead) and Buddy Rich (Gordon Elliott) but there is plenty of hope for other yards with Brave Seasca and Frero Banbou (both Venetia Williams), Amarillo Sky (Colin Tizzard) and the returning Sky Pirate.

Some of the novice chasers in this field are very interesting, notably THYME WHITE who scored on the bridle at Doncaster 11 weeks ago, could well have plenty more to offer over fences and represents a yard that has won the Grand Annual four times. Second choice is Amarillo Sky, who ties in with the selection and also looks capable of further progress. Third choice is Buddy Rich, who should be well primed for this prize. Second-season chasers Andy Dufresne and Embittered are worthy of respect, while last year's winner Sky Pirate and Thyme White's stablemate Il Ridoto are others to consider. Several possible challengers for the early lead include Editeur Du Gite and Before Midnight, who are progressive and have good form but could help to set the race up for the closers.

This race has long been dominated by the Irish and in recent years it has developed into a battle between Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott, their top two trainers. Between them, they have saddled the last five winners and Sir Gerhard’s victory for Mullins last year came only after a late switch to his stable following Elliott’s suspension. The two big rivals have the standout candidates again in the Mullins-trained Facile Vega, son of festival legend Quevega and an impressive Grade 2 scorer at the Dublin Racing Festival, and Elliott’s American Mike, who has been kept fresh since putting down his own strong marker at Navan just before Christmas. Mullins, who is going for his 12th success in this race, has his usual long list of options including Redemption Day, James’s Gate and Mercurey, while Elliott also has recent winners Music Drive and Imagine. Britain, which had the most recent of its rare successes in 2016, has outside chances in Our Jester (Hughie Morrison), Poetic Music (Fergal O’Brien) and Mullenbeg and Rosy Redrum (both Milton Harris).

Yet again this looks all about the Irish, who have won 22 of the 29 runnings. With AMERICAN MIKE and Facile Vega both unbeaten and held in the highest esteem by their powerhouse connections, this is one of the matches of the meeting. The last three winners were expensive recruits from the Irish point scene and American Mike has looked awesome in winning races that Gordon Elliott consistently targets with his best prospects. Not that Facile Vega could have won his races any easier and, when bearing in mind that Willie Mullins has not won this with his apparent first string since 2005, impressive debut winner Redemption Day also enters the reckoning together with the stable's five other last-time winners. The British contingent, of whom Our Jester might be the best hope, looks substandard.

Running plans for the novice chases will remain fluid right up to race week, leaving the picture especially murky for this one at the intermediate distance, but a couple of leading fancies who have been running at this sort of trip and appear highly likely to come here are Ireland’s Bob Olinger and Britain’s L’Homme Presse. The Henry de Bromhead-trained Bob Olinger left a big impression with last year’s Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle triumph, although it’s fair to say he hasn’t done the same over fences, having failed to convince entirely with his jumping. He faces a stiff test against Venetia Williams’ L’Homme Presse, who has made rapid progress in winning all four chase starts in the space of just two months. Willie Mullins would have the favourite if he diverted Galopin Des Champs here, but he might rely on one or two of his others like Jungle Boogie or Capodanno.

This is one of the most eagerly awaited novice chases for many a year as last year's Festival winners GALOPIN DES CHAMPS and Bob Olinger put their unbeaten records over fences on the line. Either could be the next big thing but preference is for the Mullins runner, who already boasts Grade 1 honours as a chaser and not many novices have made Leopardstown's fearsome fences look a piece of cake. Although Bob Olinger has not been quite so spectacular en route, he has nonetheless made a rock-solid start over fences, and let's not forget that he took the breath away in how he won last year's Ballymore. Galopin Des Champs will need to be the superstar that he's looked to beat him and, with stamina to burn, he's taken to dominate from the front.

This staying handicap hurdle had long been dominated by the home contingent but that stranglehold was broken in 2016 by Pat Kelly’s Mall Dini and it has been one-way traffic since then for the Irish courtesy of Presenting Percy (for the same connections), Delta Work and Sire Du Berlais (twice) for Gordon Elliott, and Paul Nolan’s Mrs Milner last year. The top trainer to note is certainly Elliott, who won three straight runnings (with two 1-2s in that run). At the five festivals before last year’s suspension he had nine runners in this race and all finished in the first five. Dunboyne is high up the betting for Elliott, whose other possibles include Sire Du Berlais, Folcano and Dallas Des Pictons. Alaphilippe (Fergal O’Brien) is a leading British candidate and it is possible Sporting John (Philip Hobbs) could run here instead of the Stayers’ Hurdle. Winter Fog is a leading fancy for the shrewd Emmet Mullins and The Big Galloper looks interesting for Charles Byrnes.

There are some fascinating new challengers to consider but SIRE DU BERLAIS can be the first to win this race three times since Willie Wumpkins completed a hat-trick in 1981. Although ten now, he has been sparingly raced over the years and has shown his best form at the last two Festivals, successfully conceding weight all round in 2020 and runner-up in the Grade 1 Stayers' Hurdle last year. Ballyandy has been thoroughly revitalised by staying trips of late and he can prove the main danger, although Alaphilippe has plenty of potential on last season's form, Winter Fog is open to improvement for Emmet Mullins and Dunboyne has had no luck on his last two starts. The Jam Man, Sassy Yet Classy and smart chaser Remastered are others to consider.

The Willie Mullins-trained Allaho put up one of the performances of last year’s festival in running away with this race, beating Fakir D’Oudairies by 12 lengths, and he appears to have his opponents at his mercy again if he turns up in the same form. That is likely judged on another 12-length victory over Fakir D’Oudairies on his latest run at Thurles in January. Several possible rivals were well beaten last year, including Fakir D’Oudairies, Tornado Flyer (third) and Mister Fisher (pulled up), and it might take a fresh opponent to pose a threat to Allaho. One could be Eldorado Allen, who was second in last year’s Arkle and won the Denman Chase when upped in trip at Newbury in February. Gordon Elliott’s Conflated would be interesting if he dropped back in trip after his Irish Gold Cup triumph, while Dan Skelton could field Shan Blue for the first time since his fall in the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby in October when running a big race.

This would represent a tougher test than the one ALLAHO faced in the race 12 months ago, but both his performance that day and his latest win over a horse who won a Grade 1 less than four weeks later suggest he is one of the best chasers in training. If he is at his best, he can become just the second back-to-back winner of this race. Janidil and Conflated remain with untapped potential and the former is nominated as the likeliest to complete the forecast, with Shan Blue another to consider strongly each-way.

Familiarity with the combatants is one of the attractions of the staying division and plenty of old favourites are set to do battle here in an open-looking contest, including the last three winners of this race. Heading the list is Gavin Cromwell’s title-holder Flooring Porter, who has not won since but comes here fresh from a good run in the Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown, as he did last year. He had to settle for second there, though, after the Willie Mullins-trained Klassical Dream stole a march at the start and could not be pegged back. Had he not blotted his copybook afterwards in the Galmoy Hurdle, Klassical Dream would probably be favourite here. The British challengers are closely matched too – Nicky Henderson’s Champ reverted to hurdling to win the Long Walk at Ascot from Thyme Hill (Philip Hobbs) and Paisley Park (Emma Lavelle) but then 2019 Stayers’ hero Paisley Park returned to form to defeat Champ in the Cleeve Hurdle on Cheltenham’s Trials day. With last year’s runner-up Sire Du Berlais (Gordon Elliott), 2020 winner Lisnagar Oscar (Rebecca Curtis) and Galmoy scorer Royal Kahala (Peter Fahey) also in the mix, this looks highly competitive.

The previous Festival form of THYME HILL helps to make him the most appealing option. He was third in the 2019 Champion Bumper and an unlucky fourth in the 2020 Albert Bartlett, and now back at Cheltenham he can build on his promising second to Champ in the Long Walk at Ascot. All of the market principals have had their colours lowered at some point this season and, with this likely to be run a good clip, perhaps 2020 winner Lisnagar Oscar will be the main threat at another big price. Klassical Dream can play a leading role if bouncing back from a disappointing run in the Galmoy Hurdle, while Champ, Paisley Park and last year's winner Flooring Porter can also have good cases made for them on this season's best efforts.


Established in 1951 and traditionally known as the Mildmay of Flete, this race has been the biggest graveyard for favourites over the years but last year the gambled-on The Shunter became the second successful market leader in a row and the fourth consecutive winner at no bigger than 5-1. There had been only one Irish winner in the race’s long history until a hat-trick from 2016 to 2018, followed by The Shunter last year. Celebre D’Allen went back to chasing to complete a hat-trick for Philip Hobbs at Warwick in February and is on the right sort of mark, having gone up to 141. Other leading British challengers could be Imperial Alcazar (Fergal O’Brien) and The Glancing Queen (Alan King). Enda Bolger’s Birchdale won the handicap chase at around this trip at the Dublin Racing Festival.

This looks the perfect target for IMPERIAL ALCAZAR (nap) who won well over C&D in January, has more to offer over fences and brings very appealing credentials. The Glancing Queen (second choice) and Grand Paradis (third choice) are other highly interesting novice chasers in this field, while Celebre D'Allen is unbeaten for his current yard and has to be feared. Fusil Raffles, Spiritofthegames and 2020 winner Simply The Betts are solid contestants who hold every chance of picking up a share of the prize-money, which goes down to eighth place.

Covid restrictions last year meant that professionals rode in this race – as in the others usually restricted to amateurs – but normal service will resume this year. The best amateur jockeys are in demand for this contest and Jamie Codd has been the main man with four wins in the last 12 runnings up to last year, most recently aboard Cause Of Causes in 2016. Gordon Elliott has become a powerful force with two winners, two seconds and two thirds from just ten runners (last year’s winner Mount Ida came from his stable, officially under Denise Foster’s name). With little between most of the runners nowadays, the higher-rated runners have started to do well and 11 of the last 13 winners carried 11st 4lb or more. Elliott’s options include Frontal Assault and Smoking Guin, while Ain’t That A Shame (Henry de Bromhead), School Boy Hours (Noel Meade) and Mister Fogpatches (Pat Fahy) are other interesting types.

A chance is taken on THE MIGHTY DON who has dropped to an attractive mark. A return to form is needed but he's never run a bad race in four attempts over fences at Cheltenham and James King is a positive booking. Gordon Elliott's Cullentra House yard has a fine recent record in this race and Frontal Assault is a big danger with the return to a staying trip in his favour, and with Rob James removing 3lb. Mister Coffey could have untapped staying potential and is next on the list, ahead of the unexposed and progressive Omar Maretti. Irish raiders School Boy Hours and Smoking Gun are respected under their leading amateurs, while British challengers Come On Teddy and Powerstown Park are also of interest.

Six of the last nine winners of the juvenile hurdling championship race have been Irish-trained and the raiding party contains the top contenders again, with Willie Mullins’ Vauban set to take on at least one of the Gordon Elliott-trained pair Pied Piper and Fil Dor, who are in the same ownership. The three have interwoven form lines after Vauban and Pied Piper met on their debuts at Punchestown on New Year’s Eve (victory going to Pied Piper by half a length) before Vauban defeated Fil Dor in the Grade 1 Spring Juvenile Hurdle, Ireland’s top trial for the Triumph, at the Dublin Racing Festival in February. In between, Pied Piper was given a run-out on Cheltenham’s Trials day and put down a strong marker with a nine-length victory. The others have a lot of work to do to bridge the gap on Racing Post Ratings but among those set to try is Porticello, whose trainer Gary Moore was so unlucky to lose this race two years ago when Goshen unseated at the last. Also on the home team are the Milton Harris-trained Knight Salute, who has beaten Porticello, and Dan Skelton’s undefeated Doctor Parnassus.

Vauban has been a short-priced favourite for this race on the strength of his tidy win from Fil Dor in last month's Leopardstown Grade 1 and that is the best form. For his stablemate Il Etait Temps to finish third in that race was almost as eyecatching, seeing as that was his first run both for Willie Mullins and over hurdles. Meanwhile, Pied Piper could not have won more easily over C&amp;D on his latest start. He may prove the pick of the Irish-trained runners, but watch out also for DOCTOR PARNASSUS who has raced in lesser company for his two starts over hurdles, but looked an excellent prospect given the way he put so much daylight between himself and his rivals. Porticello has a place shout.

This is an ultra-competitive handicap and being in the right ratings bracket has become a virtual prerequisite. All bar three winners since 2006 were rated in the 130s with six of the last ten having run off 137-139. Ireland has accounted for ten of the last 15 winners, with seven of them trained by a Mullins. Paul Nicholls has done best of the British trainers, winning four times since 2004, but the one to watch recently has been Dan Skelton, who has won three of the last six runnings with Superb Story in 2016, Mohaayed in 2018 and Ch’tibello in 2019. The Betfair Hurdle and the Liffey Handicap Hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival have been key pointers (nine of the past 21 winners had run in one of those hot contests) but  five of the last six winners were returning from long breaks (72 days-plus). Willie Mullins will be the first name to check and his team is likely to feature a mix of established class from the likes of Echoes In Rain along with less exposed types such as State Man. Gordon Elliott has a likely sort in Top Bandit, while Dan Skelton has followed a tried-and tested method by giving Greatwood winner West Cork a long break.

The unexposed Irish-trained handicap newcomers State Man and Top Bandit could be ahead of their marks but SUPRISE PACKAGE is undoubtedly well treated under a 5lb penalty for Saturday's dominant victory in the Imperial Cup, and Peter Fahey and Kevin Sexton can win this for the second year running having struck with Belfast Banter last March. From a punting perspective the second-best option could be an each-way wager on Tax For Max. He's returning from an absence and is yet to set the world alight over hurdles, but a gelding operation since his last run could prove to be key and he had useful Group-race form on the Flat in Germany. Greatwood winner West Cork is another to consider, while Eclair De Beaufeu needs to stage a revival but is an interesting each-way contender given his previous Festival form.

This is always the trickiest of the Grade 1 novice hurdles to unravel, with so many of the runners unexposed at the 3m trip, and the winning SPs have included 50-1, 33-1 twice, 16-1, 14-1 twice and 11-1 in just the last eight runnings. Ireland has won six of those last eight and Gordon Elliott appears to hold the strongest hand at the top of the market with Ginto, Minella Crooner and Hollow Games among his possibles as he tries to land this race for the first time. Willie Mullins has options with Minella Cocooner and The Nice Guy, while John McConnell’s Bardenstown Lad is an Irish hope from outside the big yards and brings winning form over 3m at Cheltenham. The British contenders are set to include Henry Daly’s giant Hillcrest and, intriguingly, Stag Horn for Flat trainer Archie Watson.

Henry Daly's strapping chap HILLCREST might just be the real deal. He has clocked times to suggest that he wouldn't have been out of place in Wednesday's shorter Ballymore and yet he was relentless from the front over this trip at Haydock, looking as though he could have gone round again. Gordon Elliott has long talked a good game with Ginto and, despite having performed to such a smart level at 2m4f, it bodes well that he's evidently keen to take him further. As for the rest, the four Willie Mullins runners all won last time and could have improved efforts in them, while Good Time Jonny might have been winning only handicaps, but he has the battle-hardened and progressive profile that always commands respect in this notoriously tough test for novices.

Five of the last six Gold Cups have gone to Ireland and they have a stranglehold again after dominating the key build-up races. Last year’s Irish 1-2-3 are set to return, although there are question marks against Henry de Bromhead’s title-holder Minella Indo after a winless season and Willie Mullins’ Al Boum Photo, who has turned ten now as he attempts to regain the crown he won in 2019 and 2020. A Plus Tard, last year’s runner-up in a De Bromhead 1-2, is top on Racing Post Ratings after his impressive Betfair Chase victory but he was then beaten in the Savills Chase at Christmas by Galvin, who has emerged as a strong new challenger for Gordon Elliott. Tornado Flyer (Mullins) and Conflated (Elliott) put themselves in the picture with surprise wins in the King George VI Chase and Irish Gold Cup respectively. The chief British hope is Dan Skelton’s Protektorat, who has been kept fresh since a wide-margin success at Aintree in December.

A terrific contest, thoroughly worthy of the Blue Riband of chasing. Several have already proved themselves at the top level and there are two intriguing young pretenders to spice things up. Last year's winner Minella Indo had something in hand when beating A Plus Tard and he was back in better form at Leopardstown last time after the unnerving appearance of cheekpieces for the King George, which didn't go to plan at all. He is preferred of the first three in last year's race, as the third Al Boum Photo, who had won the previous two runnings, spoilt his chance with some small mistakes. GALVIN (nap) never shoots the lights out on the track but he is an improving stayer who has a good record at the Festival and whose never-say-die attitude earned him a deserved win over A Plus Tard at Leopardstown. The boisterous Protektorat and King George winner Tornado Flyer will do very well to outstay him, and Minella Indo may be the one to follow the selection home.

Last year the Will Biddick-trained Porlock Bay became the fourth British winner in the past five years, giving some respite from the Irish onslaught in most other races. Porlock Bay also continued the recent run of success for older runners, being the seventh in a row aged in double figures.  Despite that upward trend, 17 of the last 30 winners have been aged nine or younger. Billaway, runner-up as favourite in the past two runnings, is likely to head the market again as he bids to make it third time lucky for Willie Mullins. A big threat is the David Christie-trained Winged Leader, who beat Billaway by 12 lengths in a Thurles hunter chase in January. The best British chances may lie with Paul Nicholls’ pair Cat Tiger and Bob And Co, who was still on the bridle when unseating three out in last year’s race.

Paul Nicholls has won this four times and it could have been five had BOB AND CO not departed when travelling ominously well 12 months ago. He was returning from nine months off when second to Cousin Pascal at Haydock and can leave that form behind. Billaway is respected despite twice failing favourite backers in the race, though Winged Leader did beat him fair and square at Thurles and he is the younger horse. Pont Aven, with plenty of back-class and still useful by the looks of it, should also make his presence felt.

This was a new race on the festival programme last year and predictably it went to Willie Mullins, who has dominated the mares’ races over hurdles for years. Mullins landed a one-two with Colreevy and Elimay, in a reversal of their positions at the head of the market, and Ireland had the first five in the 11-runner field. Elimay looks set to return, fresh from a Listed mares’ chase success over 2m at Naas, along with stablemate Concertista, who was a narrow runner-up in last year’s Mares’ Hurdle and has made a smooth transition to chasing with a pair of Grade 2 wins in mares’ contests. Gordon Elliott has a big contender in Mount Ida, who won last year’s Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Handicap Chase and beat Elimay at Fairyhouse on New Year’s Day. He could also send Irish Arkle runner-up Riviere D’Etel here. The British challenge may be led by the Alan King-trained The Glancing Queen, a good second to the high-class L’Homme Presse in the Grade 2 Dipper Novices’ Chase over course and distance on New Year’s Day.

Three Irish mares head the betting and CONCERTISTA is the most appealing. She has made an impressive start to her chase career and the pick of her hurdling efforts suggest there is more in the tank. She would be meeting Elimay and Mount Ida on better terms in a handicap, but Elimay hasn't been quite at her best this winter and, despite last year's Festival win, Mount Ida would prefer to go the other way around. The second Munir &amp; Souede runner Zambella wasn't totally out of it when coming down last year and she is the most appealing each-way contender.

This handicap hurdle for conditional riders is not an easy ‘getting out stakes’ for punters at the end of the festival. Nine of the 13 winners have been sent off at double-figure odds and Sir Des Champs in 2011 is the only successful favourite. Interestingly, seven of the last eight winners ran in Graded company on their previous outing (the exception was 2020 winner Indefatigable, who had won a Listed mares’ hurdle last time out). Eight of the last 11 runnings were won by Willie Mullins, Paul Nicholls or Gordon Elliott. With this race earning a reputation as a proving ground for future top chasers, the Gigginstown House Stud runners are worth a close look. The top two Irish yards have to be the starting point here. Gordon Elliott’s possibles include Chemical Energy, who looks to be on a handy low mark having been out of the fray for most of the winter. Likely types for Willie Mullins are State Man, Adamantly Chosen and Deploy The Getaway. Langer Dan, runner-up last year for Dan Skelton, would be interesting if he comes back.

Langer Dan beat all bar a handicap good thing in this race 12 months ago and appears to have a strong chance off just 2lb higher this time round, although he faces several interesting novice hurdlers from the Mullins and Elliott yards that have won this contest five times in the last eight years. CHEMICAL ENERGY, I A Connect and Hollow Games are particularly strong contenders for the Cullentra team, in that order of preference. Chemical Energy, who is 2-2 over this trip, and I A Connect are fresh horses who should be well primed for this prize, while Hollow Games brings a high level of form. The other Elliott runners can't be dismissed, while Adamantly Chosen and Five O'Clock fly the flag for Closutton. Some of the other Irish contestants also have possibilities. The aforementioned Langer Dan and the improving Cobblers Dream look best of the British runners.