Thursday rides: Ballyoptic can push Unowhatimeanharry again

I'm sure he’ll run a big race. I liked him a lot when he landed a Grade 2 event at Ascot in December by four lengths from Rock The Kasbah and Cheltenham has always been his major target.

He's a really good jumper who wore a hood for the first time in his prep race at Kempton. We think it will help him deal with the Cheltenham preliminaries - he can get a bit warm before his races - and the ground won't bother him.

I will be hoping to tuck him in this time. It's a hot race, with the likes of Yorkhill and Top Notch in opposition, but Politologue fully deserves his place in the line-up and should go well.

He has been placed supremely well by Paul Nicholls to win five races already this season, and gives the impression there is even more to come. His work ahead of the Pertemps has been most encouraging, and he did everything we asked of him in his Musselburgh prep race.

A fast-run, big-field handicap at Cheltenham should prove right up his street. He certainly knows how to win, and I am full of hope he can deliver another big performance.

He has lots of form with Unowhatimeanharry, the hot favourite, including when falling at the last in Ascot's Long Walk Hurdle.

Ballyoptic was making Unowhatimeanharry work hard at the time, and there's no reason why he won’t give a bold show.

He has worked well in the build-up to this race, and we’re hoping the fitting of a first-time tongue tie will help him.

Once again it's an ultra-competitive event, but Rock Gone doesn't have many miles on the clock for a nine-year-old and there could be more to come from him. He has a nice low weight.

She's a very straightforward, tough and talented six-year-old who won her first three starts for Paul prior to finishing third behind Vroum Vroum Mag in a Doncaster Grade 2.

Coillte Lass jumps well and should give a good account of herself in what looks a hugely competitive race.