Mike Cattermole previews the Cheltenham Festival

However, even though he has not been visually impressive on all three of his wins this season, I feel that Yanworth is best equipped for the job.

Having taken the runner-up spot in last year’s Neptune Novices’ Hurdle – his only defeat over timber - some thought that the Alan King-trained gelding would be stepped up for a crack at the Stayers’ Hurdle. Indeed, that hard-fought win just short of 2 1/2m in the Coral Hurdle, when he seemed to take an age to get the better of Lil Rockefeller, seemed to confirm that.

JP McManus and his team thought differently, however, and the decision to drop back in trip has reaped rewards.  His jumping was hardly fluent in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton but he was well on top at the line from The New One, Ch’Tibello and My Tent Or Yours.

Then he was again admirably strong at the finish at Wincanton in the Kingwell Hurdle, almost confirming the form to the pound with Ch’Tibello (Sceau Royal held). Yanworth is crying out for a more galloping test like this one and he looks poised to give King his second Champion Hurdle and provide Mark Walsh with one of the best days of his career.  

The McManus challenge is bolstered by Buveur D’Air who has also had his campaign altered - from novice chasing in his case. He looked good when outclassing his rivals on the bridle at Sandown and his novice form was very smart. He twice finished in front of Petit Mouchoir, in the Supreme (third and eighth) and then at Aintree in the Top Novices’ Hurdle when separated by only a neck.

Petit Mouchoir has hardly stood still since, though, and has to be respected after two Grade One wins at Leopardstown, twice finishing in front of Footpad. 

That said, I feel that Brain Power may be the biggest danger to Yanworth. He has clearly improved massively and his defying of near topweight in a tough handicap at Ascot before Christmas reads extremely well on paper, even though it was hard to see much of the action in the fog. 

There have been plenty of previous winners of this race who have come through the handicap route, Celtic Shot and Make A Stand to name but two. Also, there is a strong vibe about Brain Power coming from Nicky Henderson himself, a five-time winner of this, so he may be worth a saver.

Of the others, Moon Racer is a fascinating contender as he could have lined up with a strong chance in the first race. He is inexperienced but connections perhaps know that, as an 8-y-o, time is not on their side. Moon Racer is unbeaten in three at the course and, intriguingly, had Yanworth back in fourth when he won the Champion Bumper two years ago.

Moon Racer’s absence from the opening Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and the late withdrawal of Movewiththetimes weakens what appears to be an already sub-standard renewal. 

Willie Mullins can be relied upon to send over a hotpot for this and Melon has been all the rage since he won so impressively at Leopardstown. Melon may well be up to this – on just his second start over hurdles. However, that form has not been holding up and is nowhere near as good as that shown by Ballyandy when winning the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury.

Two recent novice winners of the Newbury feature, My Tent Or Yours and Get Me Out Of Here, subsequently finished second here.

Ballyandy, winner of the Champion Bumper last year, has plenty of experience to lean on and that is something Melon doesn’t have.  

We can all sit back and admire Altior in the Racing Post Arkle, where anything other than a fluent and easy win would be a surprise. Charbel is a good horse but was no match for Altior in the Henry VIII at Sandown and had been a well-held fifth to him in last year’s Supreme, too. He could be the one to chase him home again.

In the Ultima Handicap Chase, The Druids Nephew is on an identical mark (146) as he was when winning the same race in good style in 2015. His seasonal return at Ascot didn’t offer much encouragement but that may be irrelevant. 

Consider he was a good second to The Last Samuri in the Grimthorpe at Doncaster a year ago off a mark of 155 and his chance is an obvious one.

Un Temps Pour Tout won the race last year emphatically from Holywell and is respected from a 7lb higher mark. Holywell, the 2014 winner, has been very disappointing since but is 12lb better for the seven lengths he was beaten last year.

Noble Endeavour hosed up at Leopardstown over Christmas and had a chance when falling two out in the NH Chase last year.

Singlefarmpayment will have his supporters too as he was just getting into it when getting brought down six out here in January. He had travelled very sweetly when winning here in December and this progressive novice is much respected.

Willie Mullins has won the last eight running of the OLBG Mares Hurdle and looks set to make it nine, but what a surprise to see defending champion Vroum Vroum Mag being taken on by stablemate Limini.

It looks very significant that Ruby Walsh gets off Mag and stays with Limini who impressed him when she beat Apple’s Jade so convincingly at Punchestown. She was being considered for the Champion Hurdle and is a strong fancy to add to her win in last year’s novice mares’ hurdle. 

Edwulf has much to recommend him in the JT McNamara National Hint Chase but Tiger Roll can also go well at a value price.

SELECTIONS

1.30 BALLYANDY, 2.10 ALTIOR, 2.50 THE DRUIDS NEPHEW, 3.30 YANWORTH, 4.10 LIMINI, 4.50 EDWULF, 5.30 BUN DORAN