What kind of guide are this weekend's major races to the Cheltenham Festival?

We have a big weekend ahead. The Grade 1 Matchbook Clarence House Chase takes centre stage at Ascot, while there are countless Grade 2 contests in Britain and Ireland in which plenty of Cheltenham contenders are likely to have their final start before the festival. But what does history tell us about the prospects of this weekend's winners and runners-up come March?

Ascot

Matchbook Clarence House Chase (3.35)

This Grade 1 has been a good barometer for Cheltenham chances over the past decade.

No fewer than four winners in the last six years – Altior (2019), Dodging Bullets (2015), Sire De Grugy (2014), Sprinter Sacre (2013) – have gone on to win the Champion Chase, while 2012 runner-up Finan's Rainbow achieved the same feat after finding Somersby too good at Ascot.

Un De Sceaux has won three of the last four runnings of the Clarence House and followed each of those with good performances at Cheltenham.

Un De Sceaux: winner of the Clarence House on three occasionsCredit: Caroline Norris

Second in the Champion Chase behind Sprinter Sacre in 2016, the now 12-year-old won the Ryanair Chase in 2017 before finishing runner-up in the same contest in 2018.

He features among the declared runners once again but will need to reverse this season's Tingle Creek form with current Champion Chase joint-favourite Defi Du Seuil.

If history is anything to go by, JP McManus's seven-year-old will only elevate his festival chances should he oblige on Saturday.

bet365 Mares' Hurdle (1.50)

While not quite boasting the Cheltenham record of Clarence House winners, runners in this Grade 2 mares' hurdle have done relatively well at the festival.

The only subsequent winner was the Willie Mullins-trained Vroum Vroum Mag, who won at Ascot in 2016 before following up in the mares' hurdle at the festival.

Bitofapuzzle (2015) was an admirable third in the same race – would have been fourth had it not been for Annie Power's fall – while Sparky May (2011) could not get the better of Quevega.

Magic Of Light: could return in a bid to retain her crownCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

Last year's winner Magic Of Light finished a good seventh in the Ultima Handicap Chase at Cheltenham three starts later, the same path followed by 2011 runner-up Carole's Legacy, who finished a narrow second behind Bensalem.

Magic Of Light could return to defend her crown this season but will face stern competition from the likes of Papagana and Sensulano.

Haydock

New One Unibet Hurdle (3.15)

At the other end of the scale, this Grade 2 – known officially as the Champion Hurdle Trial Hurdle – has failed to throw up a Champion Hurdle winner in the same season since Flakey Dove in 1994.

The New One, a four-time winner of the race from 2015 to 2018, came closest to Champion Hurdle success when third behind Jezki in 2014.

Global Citizen (2019), Melodic Rendezvous (2014), Celestial Halo (2012) and Medermit (2010) couldn't finish better than seventh in the Champion Hurdle having won at Haydock.

Pentland Hills: decent seasonal return at Cheltenham on SaturdayCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

However, 2019 runner-up Silver Streak proved it is not all doom and gloom at Cheltenham for the race's runners when he finished a creditable in the festival's feature hurdle race last season.

Nine names are still in line for this year's running with Pentland Hills, Fighting Fifth winner Cornerstone Lad and Call Me Lord among the leading candidates likely to have major festival aspirations should they win at Haydock.

Sky Bet Supreme Trial Rossington Main Novices' Hurdle (2.05)

This race has been more positive as a Cheltenham trial, with two festival winners and two placed runners among its roll of honour over the past decade.

Both Peddlers Cross (2010) and Cinders And Ashes (2012) went on to collect the Supreme Novices' Hurdle some eight weeks later, but no other winner has finished better than eighth in the festival's curtain raiser since.

Punters would perhaps do well to keep Saturday's winner in mind when pouring over the 2m5f Ballymore Novices' Hurdle, after both Neon Wolf (2017) and Its'afreebee (2016) finished placed at Cheltenham following Haydock successes.

The Alan King-trained Edwardstone is among the 11 entries and is currently priced between 10-1 and 14-1 for the Supreme, but those odds will surely tumble should the six-year-old retain his unbeaten record over hurdles on Saturday.

Patrick Coyne Memorial Altcar Novices' Chase (1.30)

Taquin Du Seuil (2014) is the only winner of this Grade 2 to go on to festival success when he got the better of Uxizandre in the JLT Novices' Chase (now Marsh Novices' Chase).

Classy staying chaser Bristol De Mai was the winner in 2016 before going on to finish second in the JLT, while Our Mick (2012) reverted to handicap company at the festival to finish third in the JLT Specialty Handicap Chase (now Ultima Handicap Chase).

Bristol De Mai: won in 2016Credit: Grossick Racing

Other Cheltenham success stories to emerge from the race surround horses who failed to win.

Politologue finished second in 2017 before trailing Yorkhill by ten lengths in the JLT, while Le Breuil stepped up dramatically in trip to win last season's National Hunt Chase after finishing fourth at Haydock.

Talented novice chasers Mister Fisher, Torpillo, Windsor Avenue and Knight In Dubai are among this year's eight entries.

Peter Marsh Handicap Chase (2.40)

Only one winner of this Grade 2 handicap chase went on to run at the festival, but Our Vic's 14th place in the Byrne Group Plate (now the Brown Advisory & Merribelle Stable Plate) is little to write home about. However, keen-eyed punters keen to get a jump start on the ante-post market for the Grand National should watch with interest.

Navan

Eco Friendly Cups Beginners Chase (3.05)

This race could have an impact on the RSA Chase market as Minella Indo, last year's 50-1 winner of the Albert Bartlett, is the leading Irish-trained contender behind Champ in the ante-post market.

Minella Indo: second to the talented Laurina on his chase debutCredit: Caroline Norris (racingpost.com/photos)

Second to Laurina on his chasing debut over 2m4f in November, the Henry de Bromhead-trained chaser is set to move into his comfort zone up to three miles for this race and could face an old adversary in First Approach, who was fourth to him in the Grade 1 novice hurdle at the Punchestown festival after finishing 11th in the Albert Bartlett.

Thurles

Horse & Jockey Hotel Chase (2.45)

Sunday's race, better known as the Kinloch Brae, has a rich history and has been one not to miss given the subsequent Gold Cup heroes to come out of it, with dual winner Don Cossack taking this Grade 2 before his 2016 Cheltenham triumph.

Sizing John repeated that feat a year later, winning the Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown and the Punchestown Gold Cup after Cheltenham in a memorable Grade 1 hat-trick.

Footpad: 2018 Arkle winnerCredit: Caroline Norris

This year's entry is headed by the 2018 Arkle winner Footpad, who was third in the King George at Kempton last time, and Min, who is no bigger than 5-1 for the Ryanair at Cheltenham after his victory in the Grade 1 John Durkan in early December.

Last year's winner Tout Et Permis could also bid to get back to winning ways after two runs over hurdles.

Read The Lowdown from 8.30am daily on racingpost.com and the Racing Post mobile app with all the day's latest going, weather, market moves and non-runner news