Mike Cattermole previews Thursday at Cheltenham

Twelve months ago, Thistlecrack started evens favourite and duly delivered in the Sun Bets Stayers’ Hurdle and for many, Unowhatimeanharry has just as good a chance in this year’s renewal.

And why not? Unowhatimeanharry has been a revelation since joining Harry Fry, winning all eight of his starts and his most recent success, under an 8lb penalty in the Cleeve Hurdle here in January, was arguably his best yet. 

He is also now unbeaten in four starts at Cheltenham, including last year’s Albert Bartlett, and it will be a big surprise if he is turned over, especially as the drying ground shouldn’t prove an issue.

Jezki could easily complete a JP McManus 1-2 and has been recommended by AP McCoy as his banker of the week. But it is not easy to work out how much ability he retains. Interestingly, the only previous time he tackled three miles was at Punchestown two years ago when outstaying Hurricane Fly.

The ground is coming right too for Cole Harden, winner of this two years ago but who was a disappointing fourth last year. But he returns on the back of his excellent second to Unowhatimeanharry in the Cleeve Hurdle. However, he did get 8lb from the favourite that day, who was well on top at the line.

Shaneshill has a solid each-way shout and returns to the Festival for the fourth time after fine seconds in the Bumper, the Arkle and the RSA Chase. He also chased home Thistlecrack at Aintree last April and looks sure to give another good account.

The finish of the rerouted Clarence House Chase here at the end of January, when Un De Sceaux beat Uxizandre by five lengths, will surely provide clues to the Ryanair Chase.

It was the sixth time that Un De Sceaux had scored at the highest level and he had warmed up for it by winning the Tingle Creek at Sandown. However, Uxizandre had been absent since winning this race in 2015 and absolutely delighted Alan King, especially as the trip would have been sharp enough.

If he doesn’t “bounce” – and King doesn’t believe he will - he would have a decent shot of winning it again although Un De Sceaux clearly has great credentials too, as he tries this trip over fences for the first time (stayed over hurdles). However, will the drying ground suit?

It will be in more than okay for Empire Of Dirt who hacked up on good ground in the Stable Plate last year (when with Colm Murphy) and he gets the nod to give Michael O’Leary a first win in he race he sponsors.

Empire Of Dirt has continued to progress and won the Troytown Chase at Navan before splitting Sizing John and Don Poli in the Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown last month. He looked a touch unlucky as he was short of room on the inside in the closing stages.

With Don Poli missing out on the Gold Cup, connections are still sticking to Plan A as he is a good traveller, is in the form of his life and will be hard to beat.

All eyes will be on Yorkhill’s jumping in the opening JLT Novices’ Chase. Last year’s Neptune Hurdle winner clearly has a huge engine but has a marked tendency to jump left. His recent schooling session at Leopardstown didn’t inspire.

He could still win but I am a fan of Top Notch, a natural jumper, who comes here on the back of a very convincing win in a Grade One at Sandown. Fifth in last year’s Champion Hurdle, there is a chance he could just fall short but you know will do his best.

Politologue is a likeable type who has improved over fences but he can take a strong hold. However, if he gets into a nice rhythm from the front, he might be hard to peg back.

This is Disko’s trip and he has to be in the mix too in an intriguing contest.

The Pertemps Final could throw up one of the stories of the week if Tobefair wins again. Since joining Carmarthenshire-based Debra Hamer, he has won all seven of his starts, improving to the tune of 62lb! I will be cheering him on.

Presenting Percy is strongly fancied but may be a bit high in the weights now and the Philip Hobbs pair of Golden Doyen and For Good Measure should both run well, too.

Everybody seems to have cottoned onto Diamond King in the Brown Advisory & Merribelle Stable Plate, especially as the ground is now spot-on.

Last year, Gordon Elliott’s gelding won the Coral Cup of 149 and lines up here on just his fourth chase start on a mark of 150.

Baron Alco was 12th in that Coral Cup and is 5lb worse with Diamond King, but Gary Moore’s gelding has really come on since going chasing and his seconds to Whisper (who got 5lb) here in December and Top Notch at Sandown were very good runs. In between, he won at Plumpton. He has to raise his game again but should be competitive.

The one I like most, however, is Starchitect who can have his big day here after a fourth in the 2015 Fred Winter and fifth in last year’s County Hurdle. David Pipe sent Starchitect up to Ayr for his warm-up and he did the job very nicely indeed on testing ground. 

He has had just the three chase starts but is open to stacks of improvement and is currently 7lb lower than his hurdles mark. Crucially, he has plenty of form on fast ground, too, and can give the Somerset team another big handicap win.

SELECTIONS: 1.30 TOP NOTCH, 2.10 TOBEFAIR, 2.50 EMPIRE OF DIRT, 3.30 UNOWHATIMEANHARRY, 4.10 STARCHITECT, 4.50 LET’S DANCE, 5.30 ANOTHER HERO