1.30 BALLYMORE NOVICES’ HURDLE 2m5f

It is very hard to take on Sir Gerhard. Willie Mullins’s gelding was very good in winning the Grade 1 Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival and though he comes up in trip now, history shows that proven speed is a big asset in this race. He handled the course perfectly when winning the Champion Bumper last season.

Journey With Me hasn’t done enough to convince this season and may well get outpaced here while the form of Stage Star’s Grade 1 win hasn’t worked out very well. Three Stripe Life looks like the one to chase home Sir Gerhard again. Gordon Elliott’s six-year-old also ran well in the Champion Bumper last season and may well be underrated because of his form with the favourite, which could make him an attractive proposition in the ‘without’ market.

Selection: SIR GERHARD Next best: Three Stripe Life

2.10 BROWN ADVISORY NOVICES’ CHASE 3m½f

Bravemansgame will be all the rage here but Cheltenham may not be an ideal test for him, given the speed he showed on the flatter track at Kempton. The British team are strong in behind through Ahoy Senor, L’Homme Presse and Threeunderthrufive, with that last name narrowly preferred. He is a stablemate to Bravemansgame and he may be a little under the radar as a result. He has won his last four over fences, has a course-and-distance win to his name and his form is working out really well.

The Irish don’t have a standout contender but plenty of strength in depth. Beacon Edge should go well for Noel Meade but Capodanno gets the second vote. He was an early faller in the Ladbrokes Novice Chase at Leopardstown last month but this step up to three miles could be the making of him. He has strong form with Bob Olinger from earlier in the season also.

Selection: THREEUNDERTHRUFIVE Next best: Capodanno

2.50 CORAL CUP HANDICAP HURDLE 2m5f

McFabulous could be the answer in a typically competitive renewal. He was well beaten behind Paisley Park over three miles last time but he doesn’t stay that trip and will be better off back at this distance. He was rated 158 after a couple of very smart performances this time last season and he’s 150 now, so has been given a right chance by the handicapper.

Gordon Elliott has a strong hand here and many will be keen on Saint Felicien but one of his stablemates could be a little under the radar and that’s Indigo Breeze. This unexposed six-year-old has been plying his trade well over two miles but could improve significantly now for this rise in trip.

Selection: MCFABULOUS Next best: Indigo Breeze

3.30 BETWAY QUEEN MOTHER CHAMPION CHASE 2m

The race of the week. Everything suggests Shishkin will be crowned the champion chaser after he got the better of Energumene at Ascot in January, when that runner had plenty in his favour. That said, there simply is no room for error here and all it takes is a mistake at the wrong time and Shishkin may have more ground to make up than he did at Ascot. Nicky Henderson’s horse is the most likely winner but at the prices, Energumene seems to be a little underrated and perhaps the gap between the pair in the betting is too big.

A good bet in this race could be Nube Negra in the ‘without Shishkin and Energumene’ market. That leaves Chacun Pour Soi as his main rival and that horse was well below his par in this race last season. Nube Negra finished ahead of him there and probably could have won that race with a clearer run.

Selection: ENERGUMENE Next best: Nube Negra

4.10 GLENFARCLAS CHASE (CROSS COUNTRY) 3m6f

Tiger Roll can make it a magic six wins at the Festival by retaining his crown. Gordon Elliott has made no secret of the fact that the 12-year-old’s season has revolved around this race and indeed he showed up quite well in a Navan handicap hurdle in January. That should leave him cherry ripe for this and with the ground likely to be fine for him, he’ll take a lot of beating.

His stablemate Delta Work is an intriguing cross country recruit but it usually takes a couple of runs to get used to this discipline. Enda Bolger used to farm this race and he has a good chance with Prengarde, Shady Operator and Midnight Maestro. Of the trio, Shady Operator may fare best, with the better ground likely to suit him.

Selection: TIGER ROLL Next best: Shady Operator

4.50 JOHNNY HENDERSON GRAND ANNUAL CHALLENGE CUP 2m

A wide open contest that may go to Elixir De Nutz. He was a smart novice hurdler a couple of seasons ago, winning twice at this course, and though things haven’t really gone to plan since, he has now won his last two over fences and looks attractively handicapped off a mark of 143, given he was rated 153 over hurdles at his peak.

Gordon Elliott has a couple of live chances here with Buddy Rich and Andy Dufresne, but the second vote goes to Sky Pirate, who won this race last year and now returns off just a 4lb higher mark.

Selection: ELIXIR DE NUTZ Next best: Sky Pirate

5.30 WEATHERBYS CHAMPION BUMPER 2m½f

Facile Vega was mightily impressive on his last run at Leopardstown but he is 5/4 against 21 completely unexposed horses and is surely worth taking on for that fact alone. American Mike has also been very impressive but Willie Mullins often wins this with one of his less fancied runners and that could be Redemption Day, who looked a real star in the making when he won at Leopardstown over Christmas.

Joyeux Machin was beaten six lengths by Facile Vega at Leopardstown over Christmas but that form has taken a significant boost since and he overcame significant in-running problems to win his bumper next time out at Navan. At a big price, he could be worth a small play.

Selection: REDEMPTION DAY Next best: Joyeux Machin