'33-1 for the Gold Cup is a great price' - your jumps season questions answered

Welcome to the Punting Club! Unlike most clubs there's no joining fee or annual charge, and the only criterion for being part of the gang is simple: an appreciation for big-race punting and an enthusiasm for chewing over the big talking points.

Punt regulars Tom Collins, Maddy Playle and Robbie Wilders (Punting Club membership numbers #1, #2 and #3) answer your questions on the 2021-22 jumps season and share their best bets and insight.

I personally think that Bravemansgame is overrated and will be laying him in any race at the Cheltenham Festival. How highly do you guys rate him or do you agree with me? Sam Bennett

Maddy I respect Bravemansgame but I'd be with you, Sam, and I'd expect him to find one too good at the Cheltenham Festival. I spoke to Paul Nicholls after he won at Newton Abbot and he was keen to stress the festival wasn't everything for this horse and that he has his eye on the 2022 King George. I think part of the issue for Bravemansgame is that he is going head-to-head with Bob Olinger, who is a mighty prospect.

Tom I like that you've got a strong opinion, but I don't agree with it! Now, that's not to say that I will be backing him at Cheltenham – we are WAY too far out for me to contemplate that just yet – but I think he possesses the characteristics to excel in the care of the best trainer of chasers in the country. He has already set the bar pretty high with his Newton Abbot reappearance effort.

Robbie It was an excellent chasing debut from Bravemansgame but he was weighted to win quite comfortably considering he was receiving 12lb from Fusil Raffles and The Big Breakaway. I think he's top class but will probably end up being overshadowed by Bob Olinger again this season. He might be the Min to Bob Olinger's Altior in the coming years.

'Did Denman put in a better display on his first run in a chase? Probably not'

Hi guys and gals. What horse are you most looking forward to this season? I'm really excited about a Gavin Cromwell horse called Letsbeclearaboutit. Gary Slater

Maddy Hi Gary. I'm usually referred to as one of the lads so appreciate the differentiation there! Letsbeclearaboutit is a good one. I'll nominate a horse called Porticello, a three-year-old who has moved to Gary Moore's yard. He won his only start at Auteuil in smooth fashion. The second, Magistrato, bolted up on debut for Paul Nicholls at Chepstow, while the third won his next two, including a Listed race. I think he's about 33-1 for the Triumph – Magistrato is shorter but he's beaten him already – and although it's a long way off hopefully he can give the Moore team redemption after their drama with Goshen in 2020.

Tom I'm just going to chuck three names at you for the tracker – Boothill, Low Lie The Fields and . Hopefully they record a fair few victories between them this season.

RobbieO'Toolefor Stuart Crawford. I haven't heard too much chatter about this horse which is a surprise considering he split the two best bumper horses last season, Kilcruit and Sir Gerhard, on just his second start in Punchestown's version of the Champion Bumper in April. I'm not sure what trip will suit him best but he could be the best under-the-radar novice hurdle prospect around.

Have the Brits got a stronger bunch of horses to go to Cheltenham with this season or could Ireland dominate in the same way as they did last season? GoatyMcBoaty

Maddy I think the Irish domination will continue for a while yet and I went into why I think that is in my Weekender column after the festival last year. That said, there are some really exciting British-trained horses around this year like Monmiral, My Drogo, Ahoy Senor and Bravemansgame.

Tom I'm in agreement with Maddy and think the showpiece events will go back to Ireland like last season. Saying that, hopefully Paul Nicholls and Nicky Henderson, among others, have a couple of promising recruits that can challenge in the novice divisions.

Which novice has the most potential to be top class this season? Jason Bate

Tom is my long-term fancy for the Ballymore at the Cheltenham Festival – he could go to the Albert Bartlett, but I think he has the speed for the former. He looked exceptional on his rules debut at Gowran Park and could follow in the footsteps of stablemate Bob Olinger. And yes, I have put my reply first as Maddy was going to steal my thunder...

Maddy over fences and, TC is going to hate me, Journey With Me over hurdles. I think Henry de Bromhead is in for another huge season.

Which horse are you putting in your Ten To Follow you think won't be picked out by the masses? Jamie Hart

Tom Can you send me a sneak-peak preview of the horse list, Jamie? Journey With Me is the horse I'm most excited about, but I think might win a couple of big handicaps for JP McManus. Hopefully the latter is obscure enough!

Robbie As employees of the Racing Post we are unable to compete in the Tote Ten To Follow but if I had a stable I'd speculatively throw in Champion Green for Joseph O'Brien. Owned by JP McManus, this 90-rated recent Flat maiden winner has been earmarked for juvenile hurdling. Interestingly O'Brien is yet to recruit any three-year-old jumpers from Ballydoyle this year and this son of The Gurkha might be his finest juvenile talent.

Do you think Galvin is a possible Gold Cup horse? Frank Hill

Maddy I'm not sure why Frank, but I've never particularly warmed to Galvin, which is perhaps a little unfair considering his record. The National Hunt Chase has a good history of producing Gold Cup winners (Native River comes to mind), so we know he stays the trip while he's also a strong traveller. However, I thought he made heavy weather of his reappearance at Punchestown when his jumping was very rusty, so I'd pass on him for now.

Galvin: could last year's National Hunt Chase winner go for the Cheltenham Gold Cup?Credit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Tom Gordon Elliott suggested he could be a Grand National horse rather than a Gold Cup horse after he made a winning reappearance at Punchestown earlier this month, but who knows how quickly he could develop this year.

Robbie I think you're right. As Maddy alludes to, plenty of horses have come from winning or running well in the National Hunt Chase to go close in the Gold Cup. Minella Rocco (second in the 2017 Gold Cup) also springs to mind and Galvin is on a steep upward curve with six straight victories. He registered an RPR of 167 on his return (a career-best by 8lb) and only needs to improve half a stone on that to be a major player. 33-1 for the Gold Cup is a great price.

Galvin has Elliott eyeing Grand National tilt after smooth success

There are a lot of talented young trainers about, who in particular do you think it would be wise to follow? Colin Birley

Maddy In Britain, I'm a big fan of , who I think gets the absolute best out of his string and is very good at placing his horses. Richard Hobson and Tristan Davidson also have good strike-rates and fit into that mould. In Ireland, someone like Gavin Cromwell probably gets more in the way of ammunition.

Tom Rumour has it Toms stick together. , whose chasers should never be ignored, and Tom Symonds, who had a breakthrough season last year, would sit at the top of my shortlist.

Robbie I'll also throw in Sam Thomas, who enjoyed a 28 per cent strike-rate (26-92 +£55.23 level stakes) last season. He excels with a small team and the well-supported Before Midnight (3.30 Cheltenham on Saturday) has a great chance of giving the yard a 50 per cent strike-rate (2-4) over the last fortnight.

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What did you think of Sarah Humphrey's Nickle Back who won at Fontwell? He looked a bit of a weapon. GoatyMcBoaty

Maddy Shhh, Goaty! You're supposed to keep that one quiet. I don't think he beat much at all at Fontwell but there is no denying he was incredibly impressive and he has some interesting form to his name. He fell two out when disputing the lead with My Mate Mozzie in a point-to-point and that horse bolted up in a maiden hurdle the other day. He also wasn't far behind Cadzand at Southwell in March, and I don't think we've seen anything like what that horse is capable of yet either. Nickle Back looks a real chaser in the making and I hope we can get a decent price about him when he goes up in grade, because he's bound to be overlooked due to his connections.

Tom I love Cadzand, so I think his form stacks up quite nicely. Sarah Humphrey could have a nice one there!

Hi Tom. I think My Drogo is the most exciting horse Britain has to offer this year for the Cheltenham Festival. Which race do you think he will be aimed at? The Marsh would be my choice. Daniel Lock

Tom Hi Dan. He looked an exceptional talent last year and hopes are high that he can fly the flag for Dan Skelton this season. I'd imagine the Marsh over 2m4f on good ground would be ideal for My Drogo. Our jumps stable tours are being released on a daily basis at the moment and Skelton's won't be too far away, so you might get an extra pointer there.

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