Altior could fall and be remounted twice and still win the Arkle - Francome

Cheltenham Festival preview night
Woodlands Hotel, Waterford

The panel's picks

Mick Fitzgerald Empire Of Dirt (Ryanair Chase)

Noel O'Brien Vroum Vroum Mag (OLBG Mares' Hurdle)

David Casey Augusta Kate (Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle)

Katie Walsh Let's Dance (Trull House Stud Mares' Novices' Hurdle)

Hayley O'Connor Un De Sceaux (Ryanair Chase)

Davy Russell Uxizandre (Ryanair Chase)

Jim McGrath Beware The Bear (JT McNamara National Hunt Chase)

Henry de Bromhead Monalee each-way (Neptune Investment or Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle)

Oliver Sherwood Dino Velvet each-way (Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle)

Jack Kennedy Death Duty (Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle)

John Francome Moon Racer (Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle)

Brian Gleeson Monalee (Neptune Investment or Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle)

What they say

"Not one of them has run to a Timeform figure good enough to win the last five renewals"
Jim McGrath condemns the Supreme Novices' Hurdle market leaders

"He was in last year and has a pain in his arse from going around Thurles in schooling hurdles"
Melon won't want for hurdling practice according to David Casey

"You can't remount anymore but he could have fallen a couple of times in the past and still won"
John Francome reckons Altior will simply be far too good for his Racing Post Arkle Trophy rivals

"I'm surprised Death Duty is not running in the Neptune. I think he's the best novice hurdler either side of the water and I'd be afraid three miles might be too far for him"
Davy Russell thinks connections are asking too much of Death Duty

"It has devalued a lot of the championship races, and it's sad that Yorkhill won't be taking on Altior"
Senior Turf Club handicapper Noel O'Brien doesn't agree with the expansion of the festival programme

"You've never backed a horse in your life, because if you think that Bristol De Mai is going to win the Gold Cup, you'd be broke - and you are not broke!"
Russell derides Francome's outside fancy in the big race