Nine horses bidding for repeat Cheltenham glory

Douvan and Holywell are both seeking their third wins at the Cheltenham Festival while Altior and Yorkhill are bidding for their second successes.

Here are nine more horses bidding to win a race at the four-day extravaganza for a second time. 

Ballyandy

Saw off Willie Mullins' battalion to win the Weatherbys Champion Bumper 12 months ago and seems set to face another strong challenge from the Irish Champion trainer's yard in the form of Melon in the Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle. Has achieved more than that rival (and most of the other possibles) and holds leading claims.

Cause Of Causes

The ultimate Festival horse. That may be stretching it but he's won a National Hunt Chase and a Kim Muir on his last two visits to Prestbury Park in March and has also finished second in the Kim Muir and seventh in the Supreme. Now bidding to add the Glenfarclas Chase having had a sighter on the cross-country course in January and it would take a brave person to rule him out. 

Diamond King

Bidding to do an 'Alderwood' in winning a handicap hurdle and handicap chase in consecutive years. Alderwood won the County off 139 and returned to win the Grand Annual off 140 which bears a striking similarity to Diamond King's handicap marks as the hot Plate favourite is just 1lb higher than when winning the Coral Cup.

Ibis Du Rheu

Rated 139 when leading Flying Angel over the line in the Martin Pipe and hasn't fared as well as Diamond King in the handicapping department as he'll be racing from 146 if he lines up in the Ultima Handicap Chase rather than the novices. His form is solid though and he could progress again for stepping back up in distance.

Lac Fontana

Given a positive word at a preview evening by Nick Scholfield, the eight-year-old is rated 12lbs below his peak and is back down to 139, the same mark from which he won the County Hurdle. Missed nearly all of 2016 but progressed from his reappearance to shape well over three miles at Newbury and looks tailor made for he intermediate trip of the Martin Pipe.

Martello Tower

Won the Albert Bartlett on soft ground in 2015 before filling seventh spot behind Thistlecrack in last year's World Hurdle. Took well to chasing, beating National Hunt Chase favourite A Genie In Abottle on his second attempt over the larger obstacles but hasn't matched that form twice since. Rated just 144 as a result and could take his chance in the Ultima or Kim Muir in preference to the novice races.

The Druids Nephew

No doubt about this fellow's target as he bids to reprise his 2015 victory in the Ultima Handicap Chase. He's back down to the same mark from which he was successful and trainer Neil Mulholland believes that he's just as good, if not better, than he was two years ago.

Un De Sceaux

The 2015 Arkle Challenge Trophy winner had to play second fiddle to Sprinter Sacre in the Champion Chase when a length in front of Dodging Bullets and is now set to be stepped up in trip with Douvan the heir elect in the two mile division. A winner over two miles five in France but yet to race beyond two miles two in Ireland so (arguably) has his stamina to prove under conditions that may not be ideal.

Vroum Vroum Mag

Where does she run? Is she back to her best? Brilliant in the Mares' Hurdle last year, she holds entries in everything from that race to the Gold Cup and the Champion Hurdle. A long way below her best form when showing plenty of fight to win at Doncaster in January, she's reportedly worked well since but could be set the toughest question of her career to date.