Gerhard has more to give

Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1)

AS the crowds return to Prestbury Park for the Festival so will the famous Cheltenham roar which will greet a white-hot Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.

I Like To Move It heads the ratings having been given the opportunity to realise his potential on the clock in the well run Betfair Hurdle at Newbury. However, the battalions of Willie Mullins and Nicky Henderson are the novices to concentrate on as I fully expect them to improve past Nigel Twiston-Davies’s gelding given a strongly run race.

Dysart Dynamo has rated higher than stablemate Sir Gerhard but I have no doubt last season’s Champion Bumper winner will run much faster when required and he would be my preference as the seven-year-old clocked a faster circuit time than Honeysuckle at the Dublin Racing Festival.

I would expect Constitution Hill to win the battle of Seven Barrows to chase home the first of many Irish winners over the week.

Edwardstone has much in his favour

Sporting Life Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices’ Chase (Grade 1)

RIVIERE D’Etel has met with defeat twice since recording the standout novice chase performance on my ratings and I have my suspicion Gordon Elliott’s mare is at her best at Navan where she also posted her best performance over hurdles.

Edwardstone is unlucky not to be unbeaten over fences having been brought down on his debut at Warwick where he has since won twice.

Alan King’s eight-year-old jumped impeccably on his most recent win, making ground on his opponents at most obstacles and will thrive on the demands of the tight old course chase track. I anticipate it being Great Britain one, Ireland one after two races.

Honeysuckle in a class of her own

Unibet Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy (Grade 1)

HONEYSUCKLE has back-to-back Champion Hurdles at her mercy and despite being short of her best on the clock this season, I cannot see her beaten.

Adagio stepped-up significantly on his previous best when giving Goshen a fright in the Kingwell Hurdle and brings plenty of course experience to the table, the five-year-old would present an alternative bet in the ‘without the favourite market’.

Heaven could strike again

Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle (Grade 1)

WILLIE Mullins seeks a 10th victory in the Mares’ Hurdle and is well represented towards the front of a market headed by Telmesomethinggirl for Henry de Bromhead. A clear winner of last year’s novice equivalent, the seven-year-old’s best performance this season came in the Grade 3 at Leopardstown’s Christmas meeting behind Royal Kahala and Heaven Help Us. If enough rain arrives for Royal Kahala to take her chance she would be my choice. Last year’s Coral Cup winner Heaven Help Us is an able deputy if it does not come right for Peter Fahey’s mare.

Three Stripe could surprise favourites

Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1)

THE Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle could be the calm after the storm if the current principals in the betting take up their Supreme entries.

This being the case I would side with Three Stripe Life who would represent the Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle form. After making a mistake at the final hurdle, Gordon Elliott’s gelding picked up well again to be narrowing the gap on Sir Gerhard.

Stage Star has impressed on each run this season and his achievements are certainly at the lower end of his ability on the clock. The six-year-old possesses speed to supplement his stamina and lists a faster closing sectional than Jonbon on his profile.

Bravemansgame will be tough to master

Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase (Grade 1)

A RACE dominated by the preference of Galopin Des Champs and Bob Olinger although if they are absent, their form could be represented by Gaillard Du Mesnil and Capodanno who have placed behind those exciting novices.

Bravemansgame may inherit favouritism and is similar to his stablemate Stage Star with his ratings to date underestimating his ability, the slick jumping seven-year-old will be the one to beat in my opinion and of the two Irish challengers I would prefer the chances of Capodanno who will enjoy the step up in trip.

Shishkin has all the answers

Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase (Grade 1)

WEDNESDAY’s feature race may well turn out to be the highlight of the week as Shishkin and Energumene lock horns for a second time.

Nicky Henderson’s unbeaten chaser thrives when facing the Cheltenham hill so I would expect him to confirm the form.

Funambule Sivola is suggested as the most likely outsider to support either in the without the favourite market or each-way to fill the bottom place on the podium.

Fortune favours flying Vega

Weatherbys Champion Bumper (Grade 1)

WILLIE Mullins usually dominates the bumper and when the winner alludes him it hails from Gordon Elliott’s Cullentra House stable.

This renewal looks like following a similar pattern as they are represented by the exception Facile Vega and American Mike.

My preference would be Facile Vega based on his faster finishing sectionals.