Simon Holt's Cheltenham Festival preview and tips

Recommended bets:

2pts win Cue Card in 3.30 Cheltenham at best morning price

1pt win North Hill Harvey in 2.10 Cheltenham at best morning price

1pt win Dadsintrouble in 4.50 Cheltenham at best morning price

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The outcome of Friday's Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup on the final day of the Festival may well depend on whether CUE CARD is as good as he was 12 months ago when, looking poised for victory, he crashed out at the third last in the hands of Paddy Brennan.

This hugely popular chaser, the winner of nine Grade Ones and twice a past Festival winner (in the Bumper and the Ryanair), is clearly the most talented horse in the field based on a career-high rating of 176.

But after a slightly below-par defeat at the hands of his now injured stable-companion Thistlecrack in the King George at Kempton on Boxing Day, Cue Card was dropped 6lb by the official handicapper and, at the age of 11, now bids to become the oldest horse to win the Gold Cup since the 12-year-old What A Myth in 1969.

A subsequent victory, when 4/9 favourite, at Ascot failed to prove that this tremendous stable servant is still quite the force he was, yet his enthusiastic, spring-heeled style of racing remains the same.

In what looks an ordinary renewal, perhaps Cue Card can give many members of the crowd the result they are praying for but, in selecting the old boy, I have to admit that the heart might be ruling the head.

Trainer Colin Tizzard has another strong contender in Native River who, since finishing second in the four-miler here last year, has gone from strength to strength winning the Hennessy and Welsh National before an inconclusive defeat of Le Mercurey and a below-par Bristol De Mai at Newbury.

He has many of the attributes one would wish for in a Gold Cup horse as he jumps solidly and stays well.

Djakadam, on the other hand, is surely up to winning one year after battling seconds behind Coneygree and, after a troubled preparation last year, the now retired Don Cossack.

Willie Mullins has been much happier with the horse this season, though his defeat by Outlander in the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown in December was a bit underwhelming considering he started 5/4 favourite.

However, a return to a course and distance where he has shone before looks sure to bring out the best in Djakadam as he bids to give his trainer a well deserved win after near-misses with the likes of Hedgehunter, Florida Pearl and On His Own in the past.

A surprise result cannot be discounted and some of the other Irish raiders like Outlander, Sizing John and Champagne West look closely matched.

The latter pair filled the first two placings in February's Irish Gold Cup (in which More Of That held every chance when falling at the last) and it marked a step forward in particular for Sizing John who was trying three miles for the first time.

Beaten several times by Douvan over shorter distances previously, Jessica Harrington's talented chaser was gaining reward for his remarkable consistency and could be a danger to all if he can last out an extra two furlongs here in what is often a gruelling race.

On a ferociously competitive undercard, NORTH HILL HARVEY could well give trainer Dan Skelton a second successive Randox Health County Hurdle following the victory of Superb Story last year.

The six-year-old is sure to be well fancied considering his defeat of Modus in the Greatwood Hurdle here in November for which he has been raised 8lb.

However, Modus has gone up 16lb since and, while North Hill Harvey lacks a recent run, he clearly goes well fresh and the form of his fourth place behind Buveur D'Air at Aintree last spring looks a whole lot better following Tuesday's Champion Hurdle.

Later, No Comment could be all the rage for the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys Handicap Hurdle following the victory of Minella Awards, the horse he beat at Plumpton last time, in the EBF Final at Sandown last Saturday.

Ciaran Gethings' mount certainly has plenty of potential but so does DADSINTROUBLE who has been really impressive in winning his last two starts at Haydock. 

Tim Vaughan's gelding failed to make the cut in Thursday's Pertemps Final but this looks a weaker field, and this strong traveller should be effective over a shorter trip.

Earlier in the season, Dadsintrouble was going well when falling over two-miles-and-five- furlongs here and he is a horse who it can pay to follow.

Posted at 1115 GMT on 16/03/17.