Talented youngster looks up to the mark with conditions in his favour

JLT Novices' Chase1.30 Cheltenham

Terrefort (161) has made a big impression in two runs since joining his current yard, winning easily at Huntingdon prior to beating a smart rival in a good time in a Grade 1 at Sandown.

Connections were initially reluctant to commit the five-year-old to the festival but, with the ground in his favour, he looks to have a lot going for him in a race where none of the runners has yet matched the average winning RPR of 165.

He may not have taken to fences quite as well as had been hoped, but Grade 1-winning hurdler Finian’s Oscar (160) is next best in on the figures and is tried in headgear on his first start since a wind operation. He was pulled up when tried back over hurdles on Trials day and it is difficult to know what to expect from him here.

In receipt of the mares’ allowance, Shattered Love (158) may prove the pick of the Irish.

Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle 2.10 Cheltenham

Sort It Outcaught the eye when finishing strongly to snatch a place on his switch back to hurdles at Punchestown last month and is fancied to improve upon his previous run at the festival when he finished runner-up in the 2015 County Hurdle.

He was doing his best work at the finish that day and confirmed he was a horse for the big occasion when going one better when stepped up in trip at Punchestown the following month. He gets the nod over the joint top-rated Delta Work, who heads a long list of dangers.

Ryanair Chase2.50 Cheltenham

Although twice a festival winner, Un De Sceaux(174) hasn’t really had his ground on three previous appearances at the meeting. The conditions are in his favour here and he is understandably a warm order to register back-to-back Ryanair Chase wins.

Sub Lieutenant (166) chased him home last season but will do well to match that this time around.
Cue Card (170) looks a bigger threat, the veteran having bounced back to something nearing his best when second in the same Grade 1 Ascot contest he plundered en route to landing this race in 2013.
Balko Des Flos (168) posted a career-best figure when chasing home Gold Cup-bound Road To Respect in a Grade 1 at Leopardstown over Christmas and may prove best of the rest.

Sun Bets Stayers' Hurdle3.30 Cheltenham

Yanworth(165) is fancied to break his festival duck at the fourth time of asking. Fourth in the 2015 bumper, he was done for speed by Yorkhill in a steadily run Neptune the following year and again lacked the necessary pace when a well-beaten favourite in last year's Champion Hurdle.

Although he won a Grade 2 at the track in January, he has not really convinced over fences this season and, with the ground looking likely to suit, the switch back to hurdles looks a good call.

He proved himself over this trip when beating Supasundae (165) at Aintree last April and is fancied to confirm superiority on this easier surface.

Sam Spinner (164) has been hugely impressive in making all twice this season and holds Unowhatimeanharry (164) on Ascot form.
However, he will probably need to step up again to complete the hat-trick and it wouldn’t be the biggest surprise if Unowhatimeanharry turned the tables this afternoon.

Only third when odds-on favourite for this race last year, Harry Fry’s veteran should appreciate the easier ground and could again run into a place.

Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate Handicap Chase 4.10 Cheltenham

Traffic Fluide(nap) has cut little ice on his last three runs, but they were all in Grade 1 company and those defeats have certainly worked wonders for his handicap mark.

Beaten less than eight lengths into sixth in last season’s Champion Chase, he ran off an official rating of 156 when finishing a staying-on fourth in the Old Roan Chase on his reappearance at Aintree, but can run off just 145 this time.

There are obviously questions to answer, but he is available at huge odds and is worth chancing in a wide-open Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate.

Trull House Stud Mares' Novices' Hurdle4.50 Cheltenham

Laurina(150) created a big impression when easily landing a Grade 3 at Fairyhouse in January and is fancied to improve past the likeable Maria's Benefit (150) in a race where it is hard to see beyond the pair.

Maria’s Benefit had to work hard to complete the five-timer at Doncaster, but had previously been impressive at Taunton and will be no pushover.

Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Amateur Riders' Handicap Chase5.30 Cheltenham

His form figures are uninspiring, but The Young Masterhas run well in defeat at the last couple of festivals and showed enough behind the ill-fated Fountains Windfall at Kempton in January to suggest he retains the bulk of his ability.

He has reportedly been pleasing at home after a recent wind operation and is handicapped to go very close if back to something like his best in a tricky finale.

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Published on 14 March 2018inHorse racing tips

Last updated 18:36, 14 March 2018

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