What to look out for at the International meeting

Big-race clues
They usually come thick and fast at Cheltenham’s two-day International meeting and the first race of the first day has as good a pedigree as any for unearthing a star. Last year subsequent RSA Chase hero Blaklion landed the spoils but he was not the only festival winner, with Minella Rocco, who failed to complete, winning the National Hunt Chase in March. Kings Palace, Sam Winner and Time For Rupert all feature on the roll of honour and champion trainer Paul Nicholls has won it four times in the last ten years.

Rich pedigree
The concluding novice hurdle on Friday also has a history for unveiling useful types and it will be no surprise if a star emerges from some smart entries. Last year North Hill Harvey took the prize and anyone who stuck with him would have been rewarded in the Greatwood Hurdle back at Cheltenham last month. His trainer Dan Skelton runs Lieutenant Gruber this year, and Listed bumper scorer Poetic Rhythm is pencilled in for his first start over hurdles.

Excellence of Enda
If it had not been for Philip Hobbs-trained former stablemates Balthazar King (twice) and Lacdoudal then runners from Ireland would have completed a clean-sweep in the last ten runnings of Friday’s cross-country race. Willie Mullins has twice saddled the winner in that period but it’s cross-country king Enda Bolger who should be feared most. Three horses have given him four winners in the race in the past decade and Cantlow looks his main hope today.