UK Horse Racing Tips: Cheltenham

Medyaf is unbeaten this season and arrives on a hat-trick bid following a comfortable win in Listed company at Wetherby last month, but Milton Harris saddled Knight Salute to win this race comfortably last year so SCRIPTWRITER has to enter calculations. A useful performer on the Flat, the son of Churchill made a pleasing stable debut when scoring on his hurdling bow last month and it is likely there will be more to come from him. Blueking D'oroux is another to consider for powerful connections.
Prediction : 1st Scriptwriter 2nd Medyaf 3rd Blueking Doroux

Preference is for the Nicky Henderson-trained VALSHEDA. The unexposed son of Milan was last seen securing a comfortable victory over 3m at Ffos Las in March and his dam had an excellent record fresh, so he is expected to be thereabouts on his return to action. Anightinlambourn was rated 6lb higher than Jimmy The Digger when finishing half a length behind him over this C&D last month and she can get closer to her rival now 1lb better off, while Brave Way can also have a say in proceedings.
Prediction : 1st Valsheda 2nd Anightinlambourn 3rd Brave Way

Something looked amiss with MONMIRAL last season and his latest showing in the Betway Hurdle at Aintree in April saw him finish a very modest second behind Epatante. He now switches to fences and can bounce back off a break, but Banbridge bolted up on his reappearance at Gowran Park last month and seems a big threat to the selection. Pentland Hills can also give a good account and he completes the shortlist.
Prediction : 1st Monmiral 2nd Banbridge 3rd Pentland Hills

The Sam Thomas yard has enjoyed a good start to the jumps season proper, and STOLEN SILVER could be the one having won so impressively here in April. The seven-year-old has gone well fresh in the past and, as a former Grade 2 hurdle winner, he remains feasibly handicapped. French Dynamite limbered up for this with a comfortable hurdles win at Thurles last month and must enter calculations along with Ga Law, who returned from a 603-day absence to run a cracker in the Old Roan. Easy Stratford winner Midnight River, veteran Coole Cody and Editeur Du Gite are others to note.
Prediction : 1st Stolen Silver 2nd French Dynamite 3rd Midnight River

The safest option looks to be SHEARER, with the form of his latest win over C&D being well franked by the runner-up. The six-year-old has always been highly rated by connections and it may be only now that he is beginning to realise his full potential as a stayer. Fourth in a strong renewal of the 2021 Betfair Hurdle when last seen over the smaller obstacles, Annual Invictus is of interest as well as Sidi Ismael, who did it nicely at Worcester last month. Irish raider Zoffanien and C&D winner On The Blind Side cannot be ruled out either.
Prediction : 1st Shearer 2nd Annual Invictus 3rd On The Blind Side

The Tony Martin-trained UNANSWERED creeps in at the bottom of the handicap and there could be more to come from the Irish raider after he was last seen romping home by eight and a half lengths in this sphere at Punchestown in May. Wiseguy is an intriguing rival on his first start in a handicap and the six-year-old may give the selection most to think about. Mahons Glory, who proved a different proposition when winning on his stable debut at Aintree, is another to note.
Prediction : 1st Unanswered 2nd Wiseguy 3rd Mahons Glory

Queens Gamble created a deep impression when scooting home to win a bumper here in April and there could be more to come from the Oliver Sherwood inmate on this her second start. However, LUCCIA was just as impressive when winning by 17 lengths in a Listed bumper at Sandown in March and the four-year-old may be capable of landing a third successive victory in this sphere. Williamstowndancer is an interesting sole runner for the Willie Mullins yard and merits respect along with Bonttay.
Prediction : 1st Luccia 2nd Queens Gamble 3rd Williamstowndancer