Our expert tipsters with their best ante-post bets for the Cheltenham Festival

Tuesday

Epatante
Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle, 33-1 generally
Currently 6-1 favourite for the Grade 2 Mares' Novices' Hurdle on the Thursday, Nicky Henderson's French import could not have been more impressive on her hurdling debut at Kempton in November. Unbeaten in three AQPS bumpers in France – culminating in the non-thoroughbred Grade 1 at Saint-Cloud – the daughter of No Risk At All is certainly worth a saver in the mares' race. But neither Henderson nor owner JP McManus would be likely to skip a crack at the Grade 1 prize if she continues to progress, while the trainer's comments in his Racing Post stable tour that Epatante is "exciting for novice hurdles, be it against boys or girls," also lends hope to the more speculative shy at the Supreme.
Scott Burton

Lalor
Racing Post Arkle Novices' Chase, 8-1 generally
Kayley Woollacott’s stable star is a former Grade 2 bumper and Grade 1 novice hurdle winner on contrasting ground at Aintree, and the scopey son of It's Gino has always been regarded as a future chaser. He ran out an impressive winner of the Grade 2 Racing Post Arkle Trial over this course and distance on his reappearance, and chasing debut, in November on good going. Admittedly, he recoiled from that stellar display when a held third behind Dynamite Dollars in the Grade 1 Henry VIII Novices’ Chase at Sandown on soft this month, the same horse he had beaten so readily at Cheltenham beforehand. It can pay to forgive that lesser effort, though, as it came only 20 days after the biggest performance of his career. He has a strong record after longer breaks between his races and is three from three between March and April, so there is every reason to expect a return to form on the day.
Dave Randall

Ok Corral
National Hunt Chase, 20-1 generally
Bar one mistake, Ok Corral made a satisfactory start to his chasing career at Plumpton on Monday and appears the type who will go on to better things. Always held in high regard, the lightly raced eight-year-old was second in last term's Albert Bartlett and is all about stamina, so the National Hunt Chase – a race JP McManus is fond of – could be the preferred target over the RSA, especially if conditions are on the quicker side. That is not to say he isn't up to running in the RSA, but the same owner's Minella Rocco was classy enough to win the four-miler before finishing second in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
James Burn