1:20 Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle

Appreciate It has been all the rage for this since winning the Grade 1 Future Champions Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown over Christmas and he can give Willie Mullins a seventh win in this race. Second in last season’s Champion Bumper, the seven-year-old has been excellent over hurdles, proving his speed with two Grade 1 wins over the two miles. The suggestion that he could be vulnerable in a sprint finish seems far-fetched on that account and the history of this race is littered with horses who have stayed well, in any case.

Ballyadam got closer to Appreciate It at the Dublin Racing Festival and could get closer again, but he made a bad mistake when trying to challenge the Mullins runner at the last in Leopardstown and there lies his biggest problem. Soaring Glory is the latest Betfair Hurdle winner to try his luck here but makes less appeal than previous ones considering he only won off a mark of 134 at Newbury - this is a significant step up. For Pleasure is a big price for a horse who may be able to build up a nice lead over this small field. He did that to great effect when winning the official trial for this race back in November and may be able to hold on to a place here.

SELECTION: APPRECIATE IT. ALTERNATIVE: FOR PLEASURE

1:55 Sporting Life Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices’ Chase

Shishkin has been flawless this season and can stay unbeaten. Three out of three over fences, he has jumped immaculately and posted some very nice times on the clock. He showed his liking for this course 12 months ago when overcoming significant interference to outdo Champion Hurdle contender Abacadabras in the straight, the front two pulling clear.

Allmankind is respected and will test Shishkin’s ability to jump at pace again. He is three from three over fences himself and has a Grade 1 win to his name, having taken the Henry VIII Novices’ Chase at Sandown and then went on to comfortably beat the very useful Sky Pirate in the Kingmaker at Warwick. After Energumene’s late withdrawal, Willie Mullins now relies on Franco De Port and he appeals as one who could benefit from the way this race sets up. If his jumping holds up, he could well come through to pick up the pieces late on, just as he did for his Grade 1 win at Leopardstown over Christmas.

SELECTION: SHISHKIN. ALTERNATIVE: FRANCO DE PORT

2:30 Ultima Handicap Chase

Alnadam could be the answer to what looks a less competitive renewal of this traditional day one heat. Two from four over fences this season, he stayed on strongly to win over two and a half miles at Sandown last time, having earlier struggled to deal with a flat track at Kempton. He has plenty of scope to improve now, coming up in trip, and the recent rain that has fallen on the track will help him. It goes without saying that his trainer Dan Skelton is in excellent form also.

Happygolucky has a lovely profile for this, having won over an extended version of today’s distance back in November and it looks like he has been kept back for this since. His record at Cheltenham is good and this will be just his fourth start over fences so, although inexperienced, he has a lot of scope to improve further.

SELECTION: ALNADAM ALTERNATIVE: HAPPYGOLUCKY

3:05 Unibet Champion Hurdle

Honeysuckle can give Rachael Blackmore and Henry de Bromhead a famous win. The seven-year-old mare is unbeaten in 10 starts on the track and delivered a clear career-best when 10 lengths too good for Abacadabras in the Irish equivalent of this contest at Leopardstown last time. She showed she can handle Cheltenham when beating Benie Des Dieux in the Mares' Hurdle 12 months ago and she has answered the questions she needed to answer about her jumping this season.

Epatante is the reigning champion but was beaten fair and square by Silver Streak at Kempton last time and has had niggly problems since. Goshen looked back to his best at Wincanton last time and is a more dangerous opponent ,for all that it probably wasn’t ideal to have run on heavy ground just 24 days before this race. Abacadabras has been the subject of good support. He does have 10 lengths to make up with Honeysuckle but he should get a faster pace to run off here and he showed his liking for this course when only just edged out by Shishkin in the Supreme 12 months ago.

SELECTION: HONEYSUCKLE. ALTERNATIVE: ABACADABRAS

3:40 Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle

Concertista was impressive at this meeting last season and has looked good on both of her starts so far this season but the calibre of her opposition in this race may be a little underestimated. At the time of writing she is drifting in the betting and it isn’t a huge surprise that Roksana has come in for sustained support. Dan Skelton’s mare is a previous winner of this race and has had her best ever season, jousting with the likes of Paisley Park and Thyme Hill in the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot and then proving much too strong for the useful mare Magic Of Light back at that course. She holds the same rating as Concertista, so there may not be much between them.

Black Tears is a lively outsider also. She finished second off a mark of 144 in the Coral Cup last season, showing a liking for this course, and warmed up for this with a smooth win at Punchestown.

SELECTION: ROKSANA. ALTERNATIVE: BLACK TEARS

4:15 Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle

This is often develops into a cavalry charge up the hill and the Willie Mullins-trained Saint Sam makes plenty of appeal. He has some top class form in the context of this race and did well to get so close to Triumph Hurdle hope Quilixios, considering his reluctance to settle in the Grade 1 Spring Juvenile Hurdle at Leopardstown. He wears a first-time hood today which should help on that count, and is the choice of Paul Townend from the stable’s two runners.

Cabot Cliffs is improving at just the right time for the Skeltons and is another worth shortlisting. The stoutly-bred son of Gleneagles was a 17-length winner over a well-touted rival at Warwick last time and an 8lb rise for that impressive win may not be able to keep up with his scope for further progression.

SELECTION: SAINT SAM. ALTERNATIVE: CABOT CLIFFS

4:50 Sam Vestey National Hunt Challenge Cup Novices’ Chase

The complexion of this race changed completely when long-time favourite Royale Pagaille shifted to the Gold Cup which likely influenced connections of Next Destination to come here instead, and the nine-year-old novice chaser has been sent into favouritism. He appeals as well-equipped for this sort of contest - a solid jumper who doesn’t lack a gear which will come in handy if the field moves along at a slow pace, which is often the case. Two from two over fences, he is close to Grade 1 standard already and can improve again.

Former stablemates Escaria Ten and Galvin make plenty of appeal also, though the latter has changed stables very late in the day which may count against him. Remastered appeals more for the David Pipe team. He looked good when too tough for the talented Demachine in the Reynoldstown at Ascot last time and that made it three wins from three starts over fences for him. He is progressive and shouldn’t be discounted.

SELECTION: NEXT DESTINATION. ALTERNATIVE: REMASTERED