O'Brien hoping Poetic can find his rhythm back on better ground

Undoubtedly the best piece of form on show for the opening Citipost Novices' Hurdle (2.05) belongs to Poetic Rhythm and if he can put behind him a below par effort over three miles in the Albert Bartlett, a 8lb penalty may not be insurmountable back at this intermediate trip.

"We took him to Aintree but the ground went very soft to go over three miles and we always had the option of going back to Cheltenham instead," said O'Brien of the Challow Hurdle winner.

"He’s got a penalty but he’ll take his chance. Nothing came to light after the Albert Bartlett, where you could blame the ground or whatever you want but he was disappointing."

After finding four too good in the Lanzarote at Kempton and last time in the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle at this course, Diese Des Bieffes reverts to novice company.

Nicky Henderson said: "At the weights they are all in a heap. Diese Des Bieffes has been running in decent handicaps but he wants good ground and he hasn’t had that for a bit."

Theclockisticking and Ciaran Gethings in full flightCredit: Edward Whitaker

Theclockisticking got stuck in the mud in the Grade 2 Sidney Banks Memorial Novices' Hurdle at Huntingdon in February, a lesson which was not lost on Stuart Edmunds when it came to sidestepping a plethora of novice and handicap engagements at the festival.

"We’re very happy with him and we think he’ll bounce off better ground," said Edmunds. "I didn’t think there was any point going to Cheltenham on soft ground and leaving with nothing so hopefully the patience will pay off."

Mister Miyagi ready for Edmunds debut

A winner of the aforementioned novice hurdle two years ago when with Dan Skelton, Mister Miyagi has been off the track since finishing down the field to Supasundae in last season's Coral Cup, and returns to action for new trainer Stuart Edmunds in the 23-runner Kingston Stud Supporting Greatwood Handicap Hurdle (3.15) over an extended two and a half miles.

"We have targeted this race and he wouldn’t have been ready any earlier," said Edmunds. "He seems to be in good form and likes good ground. He doesn’t show much at home but I’m told he never has."

Topweight Activial is back off an even longer break, having failed to recapture his form in two starts for Neil Mulholland in early 2017.

"He’s been a bit frustrating and has had a bit of time off," said Mulholland.

"We’ve been waiting for a bit of nicer ground and it would be good to see him run a lot better."

Henderson believes better ground will help Brave Eagle and Champagne Express, while there is also a degree of confidence in Baden's chances in the Nicholson Holman Chase (3.50).

"He won the Grand Military when I put cheekpieces on him for the first time and it made a hell of a difference – he’ll go well," said Henderson.

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