1.20 Marsh Novices’ Chase

Envoi Allen is the banker of the week for many punters. He has won at the Festival for the past two years and is unbeaten in all 11 lifetimes starts (12 if you count his point-to-point). Simply superb on his three chasing starts to-date, he has little to fear here. The only question mark is whether the horse will be upset by the move from Cullentra House Stables in Co Meath to Henry de Bromhead’s yard in Co Waterford two weeks ago. However, we would have heard by now if the horse was off-colour or off his feed.

Nicky Henderson has put up Chantry House as one of his best hopes of the entire week. Based on that claim, he should be a clear second best. As a course and distance winner, Chatham Street Lad has to be respected and what a result it would be for Kanturk, Co Cork, trainer Mick Winters.

SELECTION: ENVOI ALLEN. ALTERNATIVE: CHANTRY HOUSE

1.55 Pertemps Final Handicap Hurdle

Imperial Alcazar has a lot of improvement in him and can defy the poor record in this final by winner of qualifying races. He went up 8lb for his Warwick qualifier success, which was not too harsh, given that the form has worked out well. He can provide trainer Fergal O’Brien with a first Festival success.

Top weights have a good record in recent years and The Bosses Oscar represents a yard which has supplied the winner for the past three years. He looks sure to run a big race but it’s also a big ask of 7lb claimer Jordan Gainford to avoid trouble and time his run.

Dandy Mag defeated The Bosses Oscar in the Leopardstown qualifier (traditionally the best trial for this race) but Dandy Mag is not the most consistent. Still, he could win this on his best form. Mrs Milner, fourth at Leopardstown, has a big race in her too.

Of the others, Champagne Platinum caught everyone’s eye when second at Haydock recently, while Southfield Harvest and Come On Teddy are exactly the type of hard-knocking handicappers who will thrive in this environment. The ground might not be soft enough for Brinkley to continue his progression.

SELECTION: IMPERIAL ALCAZAR. ALTERNATIVE: SOUTHFIELD HARVEST.

2.30 Ryanair Chase

Trying to figure out the best of Willie Mullins’ four runners is hard enough, never mind pick the winner.

Allaho has finished third at the last two Festivals, both races over three miles. The slightly shorter trip here looks ideal for him but is truly a Grade 1 horse?

Melon always runs well at this venue and has to be forgiven his latest blip at Leopardstown, when hold-up tactics backfired. He looks a great each-way bet.

Paul Townend has opted to ride last year’s winner Min and this horse, too, can surely be forgiven his disastrous performance at the Dublin Racing Festival. His errant jumping there was totally out of character. Min has been there and done it, and he can win it again.

One outsider with a shot is Real Steel. He travelled well for a long way in the Gold Cup last year before fading. Of the others, Mister Fisher has not convinced at Grade 1 level, and it’s hard to see Samcro bouncing back to his best.

SELECTION: MIN. ALTERNATIVE: MELON.

3.05 Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle

Following the defection of Thyme Hill, this race is Paisley Park’s to lose. He blotted his copybook in the race last year but there was an excuse found (fibrillating heart) and he appears to be over it now. However, he has lost his aura of invincibility and it is worth trying to find one to best him.

Vinndication is a fascinating runner. Kim Bailey’s runner has not been seen since the Ladbroke Trophy at Newbury in November, a race in which he was sent off joint-favourite but he unseated his jockey just as the race was starting in earnest. His previous hurdles form is nothing special but he was never highly tried and he looks to be a Grade 1 horse. Yes, he has never won a race on a left-handed track but that appears to be a coincidence rather than any reflection on his ability.

It’s hard to see Flooring Porter making all the running in a race like this. He can also get a bit worked up before his races, so watch him closely in the preliminaries.

Sire Du Berlais won the last two runnings of the Pertemps but hasn’t quite made the transition to graded company this season. His stable companion The Storyteller is enjoying a second lease of life in his old age and looks sure to give a very good account of himself. A Cheltenham winner in 2018, The Storyteller was a close second to Sire Du Berlais in the Pertemps Final last season and is arguably in even better form now.

SELECTION: VINNDICATION. ALTERNATIVE: THE STORYTELLER

3.40 Paddy Power Plate Handicap Chase

Always a wide-open affair, this is not a race in which to bet big.

The Shunter goes in search of a £100,000 bonus, having won at Kelso a fortnight ago. Trainer Emmet Mullins has put up 7lb claimer Jordan Gainford (also rides The Bosses Oscar in the 1.55) and that could be a great move, though the jockey will need plenty of luck.

A Wave Of The Sea had The Shunter back in third when winning over two miles at Leopardstown last month. Now both of them are trying a longer trip and it may be that A Wave Of The Sea has a lot more to give over the extra five furlongs.

His stable companion Fils D'oudairies is interesting. He was no match for Monkfish or Envoi Allen in his latest two races, but this represents a big drop in class and he is a good enough jumper to be able to cope with a big field of handicappers.

Sully D’oc Aa looked good when winning at Ascot in October and there was nothing wrong with his third place finish at Newbury a month later. It looks like the wind operation he had last summer has brought about improvement and there could be more to come.

Farclas is a bit of a Tiger Roll in that he is a former Triumph Hurdle winner who has managed to hold his form remarkably well over fences. He should again give a good account.

SELECTION: A WAVE OF THE SEA. ALTERNATIVE: SULLY D’OC AA

4.15 Parnell Properties Mares’ Novice Hurdle

The Irish look to hold all the aces here but, for once, it might not be Willie Mullins who supplies the winner. The key trial was undoubtedly the Grade 3 at Fairyhouse last month won by Roseys Hollow. Royal Kahala was a clear second best that day but there is good reason to believe she was not at her best that day and, on better weight terms here, she can reverse that form.

Mullins runs four and perhaps the best of them is Glens Of Antrim. Even though she has yet to win a race of any description, she has been running with great credit against males.

We had a fairytale success here on Wednesday with Heaven Help Us and we might have another if Skyace scores. She was bought by current connections for only £600 and just keeps winning. She is the best value outsider.

SELECTION: ROYAL KAHALA. ALTERNATIVE: ROSEYS HOLLOW

4.50 Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Handicap Chase

This is another very tricky looking event.

Milanford is chosen as one of the least exposed runners in the field. A point-to-point winner, he looked a great jumper when second in a Grade 2 novice chase back in December, so it was disappointing to see him skew at several fences when a moderate second in a minor race in January. He is surely better than that.

Mount Ida has a similar profile to several previous Festival handicap winners from Cullentra House Stables, in that this is her first handicap and she is stepping up in distance.

Hold The Note has run well here before and has possibly improved a bit for a recent wind operation.

SELECTION: MILANFORD. ALTERNATIVE: MOUNT IDA