UK Horse Racing Tips: Cheltenham

KLASSICAL DREAM runs here rather than in the Ballymore and can get Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh off to a flyer. The five-year-old made a big impression when landing a Leopardstown maiden hurdle on Boxing Day and took giant strides forward to edge out stablemate Aramon in Grade 1 company at the Dublin Racing Festival. Recent rainfall won't hamper his chance, having performed well on very soft ground in France, and the money has come for him since the declaration stage. Aramon is rock-solid, having won his own Grade 1 at Leopardstown over the Christmas period, and it will be hard to keep him out of the frame. Tolworth hero Elixir De Nutz is three from four this season, winning twice at this venue, while Fakir D'Oudairies bolted up in Grade 2 company at the January meeting here and is interesting as the only four-year-old in the line-up. Al Dancer, Angels Breath, Grand Sancy and Mister Fisher add further spice to a fiercely competitive renewal.
Prediction : 1st Klassical Dream 2nd Aramon 3rd Elixir De Nutz

Lalor is arguably the one to beat on the form of his Grade 2 C&D victory in November, but he then posted a laboured effort on soft ground at Sandown and now has a few questions to answer, particularly with the rain arriving. The Irish challenge is led by Hardline, a versatile performer who has been running consistently well all season, and runaway Gowran scorer Duc Des Genievres, but GLEN FORSA looks the most solid option. The seven-year-old has improved with each visit to the racecourse, he jumps and stays (won from an extended 1m5f to an extended 2m7f) and handles all types of ground. Jonathan Burke, who is three from three aboard the Mick Channon-trained gelding, should be able to grab a handy position and the pair are expected to be flying up the famous hill. Kalashnikov and Paloma Blue, second and fourth respectively in last season's Supreme Novices' Hurdle, have bags of ability but neither is yet to convince in the jumping department over fences.
Prediction : 1st Glen Forsa 2nd Lalor 3rd Hardline

With the ground easing, it may be worth siding with COO STAR SIVOLA to make it back-to-back victories in this contest off just a 3lb higher mark. Nick Williams' seven-year-old made the frame in two previous visits to the Festival before making it third-time lucky with a neck success last season, and this is likely to have been the target again. Vintage Clouds was back in third 12 months ago and is respected on his first outing since wind surgery, while Beware The Bear (fourth) and Singlefarmpayment (fifth) are others from the 2018 renewal seeking to better that result. It was hard not to be encouraged by Give Me A Copper's Sandown reappearance and he is held in high regard by Paul Nicholls, with former Gold Cup second Minella Rocco another towards the top of the market hailing from a yard that has won this three times in the last 10 years. Calipto looked to have a bit in hand at Ascot, while Crucial Role got back on track with a comfortable victory at Uttoxeter, with the Irish challenge led by Thyestes third Up For Review and Noble Endeavor, who is 4lb lower than when third in 2017.
Prediction : 1st Coo Star Sivola 2nd Calipto 3rd Up For Review

BUVEUR D'AIR arguably faces his toughest task to date as he tries to join the list of greats to have won three Champion Hurdles, attempting to give 7lb to a couple of top-class mares. Apple's Jade has been imperious throughout her four-race unbeaten season to date, winning by a combined 73 lengths, and proved the drop back to two miles was no issue when dominating the Irish Champion Hurdle field. Laurina hasn't put a foot wrong since joining Willie Mullins and looks to have a bit of star quality about her, while stablemate Sharjah is a dual Grade 1 winner this term and has to be respected. However, despite not being at his best when turned over by stablemate Verdana Blue in the Christmas Hurdle, the reigning champion was as good as ever when disposing of Samcro in the Fighting Fifth before that and the usual slick jumping of Nicky Henderson's eight-year-old could be the deciding factor.
Prediction : 1st Buveur DAir 2nd Apples Jade 3rd Laurina

This should be all about last year's winner BENIE DES DIEUX, who showed plenty of class when beating Apple's Jade twice last season and represents a trainer who has won nine of the last 10 renewals. It is a slight concern that we haven't seen the eight-year-old yet this season, but Willie Mullins can ready one for this on reappearance, and the star mare doesn't appear to face the stiffest of competition. Limini was third in this two years ago, while Stormy Ireland ran well for a long way behind Laurina at Punchestown. Lady Buttons comes here rather than the Champion Chase but might be better over 2m, with Roksana preferred at a price to challenge for podium honours.
Prediction : 1st Benie Des Dieux 2nd Limini 3rd Roksana

Riders Onthe Storm has been supported in the ante-post betting in the last few weeks, while A Plus Tard ran a big race when second in a Grade 3 at Punchestown and could still be underestimated off a mark of 144. Movewiththetimes has likely been trained with this race in mind this campaign, with Tower Bridge much better over fences last time and he won't mind the likely ground conditions. Preference, though, is for HIGHWAY ONE O ONE, who has a big weight but was second behind JLT fancy Kildisart here and looks very uncomplicated. The seven-year-old remains unexposed over this trip and is possibly overpriced compared to a few of these.
Prediction : 1st Highway One O One 2nd Tower Bridge 3rd Riders Onthe Storm

Ok Corral is the class act in the race and it is worth noting that Derek O'Connor has prior experience on board the nine-year-old having ridden him to victory at Warwick. He isn't a surefire stayer over this trip, though, and could be worth taking on. Ballyward represents last year's winning trainer/jockey combination and took Grade 3 honours at Naas, while Impulsive Star is consistent and should run his usual solid race. Le Breuil has an interesting jockey on board in the shape of Jamie Codd but this can go the way of DISCORAMA, who was giving Ballyward plenty to think about when falling at the last at Naas and should get this marathon trip. In contrast, Gun Digger has only tackled around 2m4f so far this season and has to be a stamina doubt.
Prediction : 1st Discorama 2nd Ballyward 3rd Ok Corral