It may pay to focus on new faces in the search for this year's Plate winner

4.10 Cheltenham
Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate Handicap Chase (Grade 3) | 2m4½f | 5yo+ | New course | ITV/RTV

Races like this, starting from the BetVictor Gold Cup in November and featuring at every Cheltenham meeting hence, tend to decay through the season. By the time of the festival, only the novices and Irish are really bringing anything new.

Simply The Betts is a logical favourite. His win here on Trials day, against fellow novices, appeals as classy form and also proved he can hold his form through a winter.

The other novice that immediately catches the eye is Deyrann De Carjac. His novice form is solid and he has held his own in small-field Graded races but has always given the impression a big-field handicap will suit. This is his first chance and his mark looks fair.

The upside of many of the exposed runners is that they are known to act under conditions. The Dan Skelton-trained pair of Oldgrangewood and Spiritofthegames should go well, and BetVictor Gold Cup winner Happy Diva remains in better form than figures suggest.

Oldgrangewood: one of two in the race for Dan SkeltonCredit: Edward Whitaker

The most interesting returning hero might be Mister Whitaker. He won the novice handicap chase at the festival two years ago and has been better than the final result suggests on two runs this season, including a never-nearer fifth on his reappearance. He was co-favourite for the Ultima off 1lb lower a year ago and these conditions will suit him better.

Among the six Irish runners, Robin Des Foret catches the eye. He travelled really well into the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup before cutting out and has since produced similar performances in two Irish handicaps. He seems just the type to benefit from his recent wind surgery.
Keith Melrose, betting editor

What they say

Noel Meade, trainer of Snow Falcon
If he can put in a good round of jumping we're hopeful of a good run from him. He has Graded form and we’re dropping him back into handicap company here and taking a further 7lb off so hopefully it works. He’s travelled over brilliantly and is in great form.

Gordon Elliott, trainer of Death Duty and Ben Dundee
Death Duty has been working his way back to form. He needed his first couple of runs and he's getting there. This might be coming a couple of weeks too soon but the ability is still there. I expect him to step forward. Ben Dundee had a very good run in the novice handicap chase here last year. He goes well fresh so it was always the plan to come here after Christmas. With a clear round he could go very well.

Nick Williams, trainer of Siruh Du Lac
I'm really happy with him but could do with the ground drying out a bit. He's over his mid-season injury. He was pulled up here in November and it has taken him this long to get over it. He's been great for us and Lizzie will be on board again. She can only have a few more winners with her 3lb claim, so hopefully this is one of them.

Death Duty: looking to continue his comeback in the PlateCredit: Patrick McCann

Paul Townend, rider of Robin Des Foret
He ran a cracker here on his first run of the season back in December, where he travelled very sweetly. He hasn’t seen out his last three runs too well and I’d imagine we'll be riding for a bit of luck. We would be delighted if he could run into a place.

Harry Whittington, trainer of Simply The Betts
Imperial Aura gave the form of his most recent win a massive boost on the opening day. If he jumps as well as he did last time he'll have every chance but it's a big field so he'll need a bit of luck.

Dan Skelton, trainer of Spiritofthegames and Oldgrangewood
They've both run well in races like this here. They have a nice chance and are hard to split. Bridget rides Spiritofthegames and Harry's on Oldgrangewood, but don't read anything into the jockey bookings.

Kerry Lee, trainer of Happy Diva
The conditions suited her when she won a competitive handicap in November. Hopefully she can produce a similar performance in what will no doubt be a highly competitive race.

Warren Greatrex, trainer of La Bague Au Roi
She's in very good form for her first run in a handicap. Looking at her Grade 1 form from last year I think she's on a fair mark, and she could have had more as she's been rated higher in the past. Hopefully the ground keeps drying out and I think she's come on plenty for her last run.

Tom George, trainer of Clondaw Castle
We'll have a good look at the ground for him as we'd like it to dry up. He ran well in the Arkle last year when he was the only horse that could go with the winner before he got tired. He had a break and then put in a good performance at Warwick where it looked like the step up in trip helped him.

La Bague Au Roi: the Grade 1-winning mare makes her handicap debutCredit: Alain Barr

Joe Tizzard, assistant to Colin Tizzard, trainer of Vision Des Flos
He's not quite good enough to run in the top novice chases so we thought we'd give him a try in this handicap. He's got good bits and pieces of form and I think he'd have a solid each-way chance.

Philip Hobbs, trainer of Springtown Lake and Imperial Presence
We hope the ground doesn't dry out too much for Springtown Lake as soft ground suits him. On the flipside Imperial Presence, who ran well over course and distance last time, probably wants better ground.

Alan King, trainer of Deyrann De Carjac
We made a late change of plan for Deyrann De Carjac after seeing the weather forecast as it looks likely to be better ground on Thursday. He's a proper good-ground horse and that will make a big difference to him.

Spotlight verdict

Preference is for Blazer (nap), who ran very well last time on only his second start back from a significant layoff, is on a decent mark and ran well on his only start at Cheltenham when fourth in the 2016 Coral Cup over hurdles at this meeting. Blazer has long threatened to win a really big handicap and Thursday can be his day. Not Another Muddle, who goes very well fresh, may be next best ahead of the selection's stablemate Livelovelaugh. Spiritofthegames and Ben Dundee are others for the shortlist.
Mel Cullinan

Read The Lowdown from 8.00am daily on racingpost.com and the Racing Post app for all the day's going updates, news and tips