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Architect Tips Selection: CHAMP KIELY (8/1)

With Sky Bet once again generously offering cash back if your horses loses in the first race, there really is no point in backing the favourite is there? Instead, take a chance on one at a bigger price and worse case scenario, you’ll get your money back. This is a good race but perhaps Willie Mullins’ CHAMP KIELY is a point or two too big, who has won four of his five starts under rules.

He relished a positive ride when winning the Grade 1 Lawlor's Of Naas Novice Hurdle. He beat last season’s Boodles winner Brazil back in October when giving the winner a pound, yet the runner-up beat Gaelic Warrior on unfavourable terms at Cheltenham. Off level weights, the former makes plenty of sense from a value perspective with Danny Mullins in the saddle.

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Architect Tips Selection: Thyme Hill (9/1)

The more I look at the Brown Advisory, the more I am drawn to the claims of THYME HILL for a free bet with Paddy Power. He has won two of his chase starts and impressed in easily beating the useful McFabulous in the Grade 1 Kauto Star Novices' Chase. His second in last season’s Stayers’ Hurdle is strong form plus he has made the frame in all three previous visits to the Festival. This doesn’t look like the deepest of renewals of this race either. 

He deserves a change of fortune at the Cheltenham Festival and while regular rider Tom O’Brien is unfortunately sidelined with injury, Michael Nolan will have been given the instructions, who’s a good rider. The nine-year-old has plenty going for him, his overall form is stronger than Gerri Colombe and I am quite confident about his chances here. He makes plenty of each-way appeal at the odds. 

Sky Paying Eight Places for the Coral Cup

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Architect Tips Selection: GRAND ROI 

Gordon Elliott has a good record in highly-competitive handicaps at the Cheltenham Festival and is no stranger to success with some at big odds. GRAND ROI has failed twice in his last two attempts at this race but the fact he is now lower in the handicap this year with conditions looking suitable, could see the seven-year-old could go well at double-figure digits. 

He was sent off 6/1 when midfield in his first attempt off 149 and was sent off just 12/1 12 months ago off a mark of 144. He shaped better then the beaten margin suggested in the Boyne Hurdle last time and is closely matched with dual Festival winner Sire Du Berlais. He has the beating of Beacon Edge off level weights but meets that rival on a lot better terms here with his riders claim taken into account. He is of interest, particularly with eight places.

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Architect Tips Selection: ENERGUMENE

The feature race on day three is the Grade 1 Champion Chase and the more rain that arrives, the stronger the claims of last year’s winner ENERGUMENE who is likely to revert back to positive tactics. I know he was below-par when only third in the Clarence House Chase but is better than that and did well to hang in for as long as he did before his costly mistake two out. 

The nine-year-old is likely to be right on the girth of Editeur Du Gite if he is unable to get the lead here. He is the best horse in the race and the ratings reflect that too being rated five pounds higher than his market rival. The rain will suit him more than Alan King’s charge and he has already beaten Captain Guinness previously, so he should take plenty of beating at the prices. A smart use of the qualifying bet with Betfred, giving you £40 in free bets to follow.

Unibet Paying Four Places for the Cross Country Chase

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Architect Tips Selection: FRANCO DE PORT

The Cross Country race is one of my favourites races over the jumps and it is a race I have thankfully had quite a lot of success in over the years as a tipster. This year’s line-up, however, looks extremely difficult to solve with a lot of class subject of participating tomorrow. 

I generally like to shy away from a horse with no experience of this course at Cheltenham but Willie Mullins’ classy FRANCO DE PORT to all intent and purposes has been targeted at this race for quite sometime and the odds about him here are too appealing should he produce his best, with stamina and assured jumping his forte. 

All of his efforts this season have been in Grade 1 and Grade 2 events and he undoubtedly has his sights lowered. His third in last year’s Grade 1 Grand Steeple-chase De Paris on his first go over 3m5f on heavy ground is high-quality form. He gets the services of Patrick Mullins and, if he takes to this course, he could be a serious player. 

Sky Paying Six Places for the Grand Annual

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Architect Tips Selection: BATTLEOVERDOYEN

The Grand Annual is one of the toughest handicaps of the week to solve but at a wild price, I am going to take an each-way chance (six places) on the 10-year-old BATTLEOVERDOYEN, who is lurking on a dangerous mark and wasn’t far behind one of the leading fancies for this race, Coeur Sublime, at Naas last time in a Grade 3 event. 

He is four pounds better off with that rival and is on the same mark as when fourth Fairyhouse on similar ground back in February. I can see Jordon Gainford is booked to ride, which is a positive sign, and the last time he ran at the Festival, he was fourth in the formerly-known, RSA Chase. His losing run is mounting up but he is a former Grade 1 winner and might outrun his odds. 

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Architect Tips Selection: FAVOUR AND FORTUNE

This is one of the most intriguing yet wide-open Champion Bumper renewals I can recall as 16 of the 24 runners won last time plus Willie Mullins has 10 intended participants. To be frank, any of his could win this and every single runner has a chance.

That said, there is no way the Alan King-trained FAVOUR AND FORTUNE should be available at such large odds. I suppose the reason is because of Willie Mullins; however, he has looked a serious prospect in winning both his starts to date, quickening right away each time to score by a combined 13 lengths. 

This is much deeper waters but he coped with the soft ground on debut really well and, in the late Trevor Hemmings colours, he would be a fitting winner. I think he has a great each-way chance with the potential reach the very top based on his evidence after two starts.