1:30 MARSH NOVICES’ CHASE

This looks a below par renewal and it’s fantastic to see Faugheen get the chance, probably at his last ever Festival. Connections report him to be in fantastic form and if you just forget he is a 12-year-old, the bare facts are that he is dual Grade 1 winner over fences this season, beat the second Samcro by 10 lengths at Limerick and he is a former Champion Hurdle winner with overall fantastic record at the Festival. There is a strong case that he should be favourite for what would be a famous win.

There is renewed confidence in Samcro, who has undergone another wind operation but you’re still guessing with him. Itchy Feet is a more solid proposition. He finished third in the Supreme last season and won the Grade 1 Scilly Isles this season on just his second start.

SELECTION: FAUGHEEN ALTERNATIVE: ITCHY FEET

2:10 PERTEMPS NETWORK FINAL HANDICAP HURDLE

Irish horses The Storyteller and Relegate have been lined up for this all season but it’s still a hugely competitive affair, and of the home team, Kilbricken Storm really catches the eye. He won the Albert Bartlett over this course and distance and has tumbled down to a mark of 140, despite running okay in graded races.

Skandiburg is another to keep an eye on. He has a lovely progressive profile for Olly Murphy and is also a course-and-distance winner. Sire Du Berlais will carry top weight but he won this last year and can go well again for Barry Geraghty and Gordon Elliott.

SELECTION: KILBRICKEN STORM ALTERNATIVE: SIRE DU BERLAIS

2:50 RYANAIR CHASE

A Plus Tard is many people’s idea of a bet of the week and he holds solid claims returning to the scene of his 16-length triumph last season. He is a Grade 1 winner over two miles, with a victory over Chacun Pour Soi at Leopardstown and he is the right favourite here. However he may be a little short against this small but select field. Min always runs well at Cheltenham but he may have a stamina question to answer today, despite his excellent performance at the flatter track at Aintree last spring.

Last year’s winner Frodon could be the answer. He is specialist around this course and distance and looked as good as ever last time out at Kempton where he saw off the notable challenge of Top Notch and then later challenge of Keeper Hill. That should have left him spot on for a repeat bid and you can guarantee he’ll be trained to the minute by Paul Nicholls.

The front two in the market are very much respected but Aso looks a really good each-way play. He has been placed in this contest for the last two years and although the wheels have come off for his latest two starts, he has been freshened up and wears first-time blinkers.

SELECTION: FRODON ALTERNATIVE: ASO

3:30 PADDY POWER STAYERS’ HURDLE

It’s hard to look beyond Paisley Park, last year’s winner, who is unbeaten for the last two seasons. He is a rock solid type for this race, in the way he settles and then lifts himself back up for a power finish. Unlike the other Festival features, lots of horses come back to win this race again and again, and Paisley Park can become another.

It’s always a sign of a rock solid favourite when a horse he beat last time is second favourite again, signifying he has most of these covered. That said, Summerville Boy has scope to progress over this trip so it’s not beyond possibility he could get closer today. Emitom is another unexposed type who could go well. But it is very interesting to see Apple’s Jade declared with first-time blinkers. She deserves to be a big price considering her form this year but remember she bounced right back to her best at Leopardstown over Christmas when given cheekpieces for the first time.

SELECTION: PAISLEY PARK ALTERNATIVE: APPLE’S JADE

4:10 BROWN ADVISORY & MERRIEBELLE STABLE PLATE

Simply The Betts has a really nice profile for this. Harry Whittington’s seven-year-old is three from four over fences and beat Imperial Aura over this course and distance in January. The pair of them pulled clear that day, and even the third On The Slopes has won since the form is red hot.

Returning to the scene of her BetVictor triumph, Happy Diva should go well again. Oldgrangewood is another with very good course form. He has won his last two and the form of his run here the last day, beating Lalor and Saint Calvados looks strong.

SELECTION: SIMPLY THE BETTS ALTERNATIVE: OLDGRANGEWOOD

4:50 DAYLESFORD MARES’ NOVICES’ HURDLE

Minella Melody sets a fair standard here for the Honeysuckle connections. She picked up really nicely to get away from two of her rivals today - Colreevy and Dolcita - at Fairyhouse and she deserves take a position at the top of the market. That said, Floressa should be right up there with her. She has put a couple of very nice performances on the clock and came out of novice mares’ company to run very well against Lady Buttons in a Grade 2. She also has good course form having finished second in a bumper here last April.

Willie Mullins has another strong team in his bid to maintain a 100% record in this race. Concertista, second in this last year, could be his best hope. She really took the eye the way she travelled into that race, on her first start in 620 days, and could be a better and more well prepared mare this year, despite failing to win since.

SELECTION: FLORESSA ALTERNATIVE: CONCERTISTA

5:30 FULKE WALWYN KIM MUIR CHALLENGE CUP

Derek O’Connor won this for J.P. McManus last year and he could do so again with Nicky Henderson’s Champagne Platinum. He has only run three times over fences this season but really caught the eye in the Grade 1 Scilly Isles last time when staying on into third. Coming up to this trip, this former winning pointer could progress significantly and he already looks potentially well treated off a mark of 138 on that Grade 1 form.

Le Breuil won at the Festival last season and the horse he beat Discorama provided a template for coming back here to run well after a poor season by finishing third in Tuesday’s Ultima Handicap Chase. Reunited with Jamie Codd, he should go well. The consistent Fitzhenry and last year’s second Kilfilum Cross also catch the eye.

SELECTION: CHAMPAGNE PLATINUM ALTERNATIVE: LE BREUIL