'He's been campaigned like a cocky student who doesn't think they need to revise - and this is the one to beat him'

The sport's top judges answer the key Cheltenham Festival questions. Next up it's Keith Melrose, the Racing Post's betting editor

What's the best bet of the meeting?

A few weeks ago, I would have said Jagwar was a bit obvious for the novice handicap chase and I would not have trusted the JP McManus operation not to shuffle the pack and send him to the Plate. With the novice race now looking much more likely, and bookies edging him out even so, he looks a better bet all the time. He is rated 139 but I expect him to run in a Grade 1 at Aintree.

Can anything stop Constitution Hill in the Champion Hurdle?

The only thing that can get Constitution Hill beaten is if his Kempton run was a mirage. The chances of that being the case are not totally remote as the bare form was unconvincing, but it is not the sort of basis you want to be betting on. I hope he is back to his best because some people are still holding out on calling him the best two-mile hurdler there has ever been. He is, or at least was.