'He's one of the best bets of the entire weekend - I'll certainly get stuck in'

The professional punter and former bookmaker, now co-host of the Racing Post's flagship Cheltenham Festival ante-post show Upping The Ante, with his weekly dose of betting wisdom

We get to scrutinise some of the biggest names in the sport this weekend with festival winners from last season returning to the fray along with plenty of others who are taking their first step towards the most famous address in jump racing next March.

Let's start with the opener at Punchestown – the Lily & Wild Beginners Chase (12.30). It looks a straight shootout between Journey With Me and Kilcruit and, although both were slightly disappointing at the end of their novice hurdle campaigns, this is a new discipline and one in which there could be huge improvement from either or both of them.