Champers may flow once again as in-form grey returns to where it all began

Citipost Handicap Hurdle | 3m | ITV4/RTV

Champers On Ice is on a hat-trick as he returns to a venue where he has become a familiar sight in the last five years.

After topping the Cheltenham Festival sale when knocked down to David Pipe for £205,000 in 2015, he returned to win over hurdles at the track ten months later before finishing third in the Grade 1 Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle.

The grey was unplaced in two runs over fences at Cheltenham in 2017 and was pulled up in last season's Pertemps Hurdle Final but has bounced back this term and won at Ffos Las and Newbury.

"He's in good form and they've had plenty of rain, which will help him," Pipe said.

"He's done really well of late. He's up 4lb from last time but he runs well at Cheltenham and he has an each-way chance."

Tizzard issues Storm alert

Shouldering top weight and having been off since April does not mean Kilbricken Storm has no chance as he returns to the scene of his greatest triumph.

"He's had the wind op and he's had a clear run this season," said trainer Colin Tizzard's son and assistant Joe. "He's been for a couple of racecourse gallops. He's fit and well.

"We were struggling with him all through last season and it wasn't quite happening but he seems very well now.

"He's got top weight but he's off 145 and on some of his previous form, when he won the Albert Bartlett, he could be well handicapped, although it's still plenty of weight to give away."

Kilbricken Storm: won the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham in 2018Credit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

What they say

Graeme McPherson, trainer of Ask Ben
He has come out of Haydock extremely well and the rain hammering down will help him, so I expect him to run a nice race. He was put up 3lb for Haydock and he was outside the first three, so you feel a bit hard done by but he wasn't beaten far in a very good race.

Nicky Henderson, trainer of Falco Blitz
It's all a matter of stamina. It's a big step up from winning over two miles round Fakenham to going three miles round Cheltenham. But he ran a very good race at two miles five round Cheltenham last time and he's a point-to-pointer, so he has the experience.

Dan Skelton, trainer of No Getaway
He won well at Hereford but this is a very big step up in class. He's gone up 12lb but that is less of a concern than the grade. He's a nice horse, we're giving him some experience round the bigger tracks now and he'll make a fine chaser next year. He wouldn't be without an each-way chance.

Lucy Wadham, trainer of Regarding Ruth
She's improved for the step up to three miles this season and she's in good form. She ran well last time at Market Rasen, where she got stopped and unsighted at the second-last. We're looking forward to it. She has a lovely light weight, she's not a very big filly and every pound off her back is a help.

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