Cheltenham

1.30pm

You have to respect Lostintranslation and Defi Du Seuil but I have a sneaking suspicion that Kildisart could just beat the pair of them. He was a pretty smart hurdler but he already looks a much better chaser on the evidence of his three starts over fences, and that handicap win over course and distance last time looks strong form. He was raised 6lb for that, which took him out of the handicaps, but this could be more than adequate compensation.

2.10pm

I will give you two against the field in what is obviously a very tough race. I think Boyhood’s course form will stand him in very good stead and he looks okay each way, and Aaron Lad comes here on a roll. He went up a lot for winning twice earlier in the season, but all roads will have led here after his course win in December and there could be more improvement in him.

2.50pm

Un de Sceaux has never quite got the credit he deserves for a top-class career which has seen him win Grade 1s by the bucketful and I can see him recapturing the race he won in 2017, and finished second in last year. He has presumably been waiting for his ground since making Altior work a bit in the Tingle Creek in December.

3.30pm

I hear there is a lot of confidence behind Faugheen but it’s Paisley Park for me if he turns up in the same form as when destroying the opposition in the Cleeve Hurdle. And they won’t see what way he went after the last if he improves upon that run.

4.10pm

I think our Azzerti has a good chance. He fell 3 out in Kildisart’s handicap here in January and, although it was only a three-runner race, he got back on track with a nice, confidence-boosting win at Ludlow last time. We think he is fairly handicapped.

4.50pm

The way Nicky Henderson was talking about Epatante at the Unibet Cheltenham Preview night last week, I wouldn’t be in a mad rush to oppose her!

5.30pm

I like Its All Guesswork in here. He shaped really well over hurdles last month after a break, and I thought he looked like winning the Munster National when falling at the last on his previous start back in October. He is just 3lb higher, and he is weighted to make his presence felt.