Mike Cattermole previews Wednesday at Cheltenham

Wednesday should be Douvan Day as this outstanding chaser bids to extend his unbeaten record to 10 and his overall Grade One tally to nine in the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase. 

Having already won the Supreme Novices and Arkle in his last two Festival visits, this would complete the hat-trick.

The only hope for his rivals is that his slick, flat jumping style may yield a significant error. Who is best equipped to benefit or even chase “the aeroplane” home?

Fox Norton’s record over fences at the course reads 23111, with the third coming in last year’s Arkle, 11 lengths behind Douvan. He would have needed his run behind Altior at Newbury after a lengthy setback and he is, after the favourite, the highest-rated (166) in the race.

Then there’s Gods Own, who beat Vautour at Punchestown last April, and is next best in (on 165). However, I got the strong impression on a recent stable visit that we wouldn’t see him at his best until he defends his titles at both Aintree and Punchestown.

Sir Valentino, also trained by Tom George, has really upped his game this season and went down only narrowly when trying to give Special Tiara 6lb at Kempton. He had beaten Garde La Victoire a short head when getting 4lb in the Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter.

Garde La Victoire’s jumping went to pieces towards the end of last season but he looked back to his best at Sandown last time and he is more than capable of getting into the money with a clear round. I advise a little each-way on both him and Sir Valentino at big prices.

Stand by for something special from Neon Wolf in the opening Neptune Novices’ Hurdle. Harry Fry’s gelding did the job so impressively both at Exeter and Haydock and there should be even more to come now that he steps up in trip. Things seem to come so easily to him.

Elgin, beaten into second last time, was a well held seventh in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, however.

Willoughby Court has made the running when winning both his most recent starts and is going the right way but he was well held by Bacardys in the Aintree bumper last April. The Willie Mullins-trained gelding very much the caught the eye with a strong-finish to take the Deloitte Hurdle at Leopardstown last time. He is probably the biggest threat to the Wolf.

Messire Des Obeaux has done nothing wrong and was trying to give Keeper Hill 8lb when going down narrowly at Huntingdon. His himself gave 7lb and a beating to Ballyandy (fourth in the Supreme) at Sandown in December.

Few horses this year have divided opinion as much as Might Bite, favourite for the RSA Chase. He was in the process of bettering Thistlecrack’s King George time when falling at the last in Kempton’s Kauto Star Chase, being well clear of good subsequent winner Royal Vacation, who reopposes.

If that was a true reflection of his ability, then Might Bite will be very hard to beat indeed but some believe that the Kauto Star was an odd race and that he was flattered. Might Bite had a schooling round at Doncaster last time but he will have to be sharpen his technique, especially on this more undulating track. 

I will give him the benefit of the doubt.

Acapella Bourgeois is Ireland’s Might Bite as he also received mixed reviews when he blew away the opposition at Navan, making all. Some felt he was allowed too much rope but overall, I was quite impressed - and it was his first start at 3m over fences.

Whisper can be considered and Alpha Des Obeaux is not out of it either but his breaking a blood vessel last time is a concern.

For once, the Gigginstown team is more than happy with the handicap mark of one of their horses, which is why Tombstone starts in the Coral Cup, not the Champion Hurdle, and he will be a warm favourite.

Tombstone beat Jezki at level weights at Gowran Park last time even though the former champion hurdler would have hated the ground. The time before, he was third to Jezki at Navan, giving him 6lb. 

It may be dangerous relying too much on the form of a horse who like Jezki who may not be as good as he was but there is further confirmation of Tombstone’s nice mark to be found from his fourth to Altior in the Supreme Novices last year. 

For example, Mister Miyagi, a length and a half behind in sixth, is also on 149. Supasundae, almost alongside Mister Miyagi in seventh is on 145, so you could argue that he too looks reasonably treated. However, he has not looked as progressive as Tombstone.

You can usually rely on Jonjo O’Neill to pull a rabbit out of the hat for this meeting and sending Taquin Du Seuil back over hurdles could be inspired.

He won the Betvictor Gold Cup here over fences in November off 156 but is able to race off an 8lb lower mark now. He shaped very nicely over timber from the same mark at Chepstow on his reappearance and over an inadequate trip.

River Frost arrives here in great form while Hawk High is an interesting outsider and a former Festival winner who looks to have been trained for this.

Many will be rooting for Any Currency in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase having had the race taken away from him later after last year’s success. But at the age of 14, he is not getting any younger.

Cantlow has been turned into a cross-country specialist by Enda Bolger and, this being a conditions event, he takes on his recent conqueror here, Urgent de Gregaine, with a 15lb pull for three lengths.

Kingswell Theatre could run well at a big price as it is rare that Tom Scudamore rides in these events.

I fancy Master Blueyes for the Triumph so I have to go for Divin Bere in the Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle as he gave Alan King’s young star 4lb when getting the better of a close tussle at Huntingdon in January. The two of them were 26 lengths clear of the rest. Nicky Henderson has won the race before, in 2012.

Obviously, Master Blueyes has made great leaps forward since but still, off 139, Divin Bere looks to have been given a very realistic chance.

The King-trained Dino Velvet is one to consider at a bigger price.

SELECTIONS: 1.30 NEON WOLF, 2.10 MIGHT BITE, 2.50 TOMBSTONE, TAQUIN DU SEUIL (EW), 3.30 GARDE LA VICTOIRE, SIR VALENTINO (BOTH EW), 4.10 CANTLOW, 4.50 DIVIN BERE, 5.30 CARTER MCKAY