Altior fancied to score handsomely in Arkle

Tipster's Picks

Willie Mullins to train a ­Royal Ascot winner
2-1 Betfred
The leading jumps trainer may not have saddled a winner at the Royal meeting in 2016, but he enjoyed success at the fixture in 2012, 2014 and 2015 and saddled Simenon to finish second in the Gold Cup in the intervening year (2013). There is nobody better at preparing runners for the big day than Mullins and he will likely have strong contenders in all the staying races come June. The 2-1 about him saddling another winner this coming year looks more than fair.
Graeme Rodway

Altior to win the Racing Post Arkle by five lengths or more
7-2 Sky Bet
For Noel Fehily to say Altior would win a Champion Hurdle on the evidence of a piece of work he did prior to annihilating his rivals in the Wayward Lad Novices’ Chase at Kempton speaks volumes. He is a deadly accurate jumper and looks a better chaser than he was a hurdler. He beat Min by seven lengths in the Supreme and I don’t see any reason why he won’t beat him by the same, if not more, in the Arkle. With Identity Thief a major doubt and Yorkhill and Buveur D’Air seemingly all set to go down the JLT route, it could be another small Arkle field and the 7-2 Sky Bet are offering about Altior winning by five lengths or more is far too generous. Douvan won it by seven lengths. Un De Sceaux by six. Sprinter Sacre by seven. Altior can do something similar.
David Jennings