1.30 Cheltenham

An intriguing event with Yanworth, 4th in the champion bumper last year, going head to head with the re-routed YORKHILL. The former has lived up the hype over hurdles this term with his latest C&D win arguably his best to date. He is going to be tough to beat with few apparent chinks in his armour, however Yorkhill bypassed a tilt at the opener yesterday in preference for this event. His Sandown win last time has worked out extremely well and he could prove a formidable adversary for Yanworth given he sauntered through that race before putting it to bed.
Yorkhill - 2pts @ 5/2

2.10 Cheltenham

World Hurdle winner More Of That has been very well supported for this event despite suffering with one or two physical problems. He is unbeaten in four starts at Cheltenham and his fencing has been proficient enough to suggest he can excel over fences.
No More Heroes is a duel Grade 1 winner over fences this term and jumped superbly at Leopardstown last time. He will be difficult to beat if finding the same rhythm at his obstacles although, like More Of That, he must overcome the stat that only one of the last 50 winners hadn’t run in the calendar year. BLAKLION and VYTA DU ROC are two tough and durable rivals to the main protagonists.
The former has plenty of track experience and stays well, while Vyta Du Roc relished the step upto 3m at Ascot and remains on an upward curve. He was unlucky in the 2m5f novice hurdle 12 months ago when a blunder at the last ended his chance.
Blaklion - 0.5pts e/w @ 9/1
Vyta Du Roc - 0.5pts e/w @ 10/1

2.50 Cheltenham

A typically tough puzzle to solve with Diamond King, Politologue and Arbre De Vie all well backed in the ante-post market.
The former has been aimed at this race all season and won smoothly at Punchestown, while the progressive Politologue represents last year’s winning connections and warmed up for this with an Exeter romp. Arbre De Vie is an intriguing contender given he hails from a top team and is viewed as very-well handicapped by his yard. He returns to hurdles after a spin over fences last time and is hortlisted.
In a very open heat, CALL THE COPS, winner of the Pertemps Hurdle 12 months ago, and QEWY could give punters some fun at bigger prices.
The former drops back in trip after racing too keenly on his Musslburgh comeback (3m) and should strip fitter, while Qewy is another that has had a chasing campaign aborted this term.
He was only 18l behind Douvan in last season’s Superme Novices’ Hurdle and will appreciate the drier ground and strong pace on his return to the smaller obstacles.
Call The Cops - 0.5pts e/w @ 33/1
Qewy - 1pt @ 33/1

3.30 Cheltenham

The exuberant Un De Sceaux faces the last three winners of this race in Dodging Bullets, Sire De Grugy and Sprinter Sacre, but all three face a mighty task to lower his colours. A clean round would make last year’s impressive Arkle winner extremely difficult to beat and his 5l defeat of Sire De Grugy at Ascot was achieved without him looking at his imperious best.
A slight negative could be the presence of last year’s third, Special Tiara, who is a confirmed front runner and seems likely to press the hot favourite for the lead.
The prospect of a strong gallop could help set the race up for FELIX YONGER who is a multiple Grade 1 winner and has the ability and quality to reach the frame at a tidy price.
Felix Yonger - 0.5pts e/w @ 14/1

4.10 Cheltenham

JOSIES ORDERS impressed over course and distance twice before Christmas, beating Any Currency and Sire Collonges on separate occasions. His latest run over hurdles was little more than a warm up for this and he is understandably prominent in the market given his powerful connections. Sire Collonges slipped up when still in the mix behind Josie Orders last November before finishing 2l adrift last time.
He should be on the scene again. The admirable Balthazar King is returning from a long-term injury but has won three times around these fences and is impossible to write off even granted the absence.
Josies Orders - 1pt e/w @ 3/1