Simon Holt's Cheltenham Festival preview and tips

Recommended bets:

2pts win Yanworth in 3.30 Cheltenham at 3/1

1pt win Ballyandy in 1.30 Cheltenham at 7/2

1pt e.w. Dancing Shadow in 4.50 Cheltenham at 25/1 (1/5 1,2,3,4)

1pt win Singlefarmpayment in 2.50 Cheltenham at 8/1

YANWORTH, who began the season as a candidate for the Stayers Hurdle, is strongly fancied to take the Stan James Champion Hurdle on Tuesday's opening Cheltenham Festival card.

Alan King's charge was given the change of direction when it became clear that Unowhatimeanharry, in the same ownership of J P McManus, had become a major staying force.

But Yanworth has done everything asked of him since, beating The New One, Ch'tibello and My Tent Or Yours in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton and then overcoming Ch'tibello again and stable companion Sceau Royal in the Kingwell at Wincanton where he was fitted with cheekpieces.

Neither of those flat courses would have been ideal for a horse who stays much further than two miles and who looked slightly unlucky, forced wide on the home turn, when beaten into second by Yorkhill in the Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle (2m5f) at last year's Festival, his only jumping defeat so far.

Under it's previous guise as the Sun Alliance Novices Hurdle, the Neptune produced future champion hurdlers like Dawn Run, Hardy Eustace and Rock On Ruby, while Faugheen won the 'Neptune' in 2014.

There can be little doubt that a Champion Hurdle winner needs to have both class and stamina in what is invariably a strong test at the trip, and Yanworth fits the bill.

Ground conditions are important for one or two of his main rivals and, looking at the dry weather forecast, could suit Brain Power best.

Nicky Henderson's gelding has matured this season, putting up a terrific performance to defy top weight at Ascot in December after which he was raised to a mark of 162, just 2lb shy of Yanworth's figure.

Stable-companion Buveur D'Air, who began the season over fences, may prefer plenty of cut in the ground and it was soft when he beat the reopposing Petit Mouchoir at Aintree last April. Earlier, this strong-travelling gelding had chased home Altior and Min in what looked a hot renewal of the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at this meeting.

Petit Mouchoir has gone from strength to strength this season, winning Grade Ones at Leopardstown on his last two starts, latterly on good ground, and looks another big player in a slightly below-par renewal.

With ALTIOR appearing a class above his rivals in the Racing Post Arkle Trophy, in which he will start a very short price after four outstanding performances over fences this season, many punters will seek value in the other races on the card.

The meeting begins, as ever, with the Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle in which the Willie Mullins-trained Melon has been favourite since justifying a tall home reputation to win at Leopardstown in January.

Apparently, this French import works the house down at home but he lacks experience and BALLYANDY looks a solid alternative.

The winner of the bumper last year, Nigel Twiston Davies' gelding has improved steadily over hurdles and it was impressive how well he travelled before fending off Movewiththetimes in the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury last time.

That performance, in a big field of handicappers, will stand him in good stead here and it is certainly helpful that Moon Racer, who beat Ballyandy twice earlier in the season, has been re-routed to the Champion.

The four-miler, this year the J T McNamara National Hunt Challenge Cup, has often been a good race to seek some value and, while there are better horses in the race, no horse will stay the trip more strongly than DANCING SHADOW.

Victor Dartnall's gelding has been a consistent if slightly frustrating sort in the past but, after a string of placings, has now won his last two chases including the 4m1f Edinburgh National at Musselburgh on his latest start.

Few runners come into the race in better form than Dancing Shadow and he is worth chancing each-way despite having something to find on official ratings.

Earlier, the Ultima Handicap Chase can go to SINGLEFARMPAYMENT who is a winner over hurdles and fences on the course and would probably have been involved again here in January but for being brought down.

Tom George's novice won well over this Old Course in December and, on that form, easily holds Label Des Obeaux.

Noble Endeavour figures towards the top of the market but is 11lb higher for winning at Leopardstown over Christmas.

Posted 1152 GMT on 13/03/2017

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