13:10 Cheltenham

Leg 1 Selections: Son Of The Somme, Off To A Flyer

SON OF THE SOMME has consistent form figures of 221223 in handicap hurdle races, and Lewis Dobb can claim an additional 3Ib. He made an eye-catching return to hurdles when third at Ayr last month and is an outsider to consider in what is an open race. 

I also like OFF TO A FLYER, whose narrow second to The Carpenter, off level weights at Exeter, reads well, given the winner made a successful handicap at Uttoxeter off a mark of 129. He beat the 138-rated Aramax last time and has every chance for his in-form handler. 

13:45 Cheltenham

Leg 2 Selections: Coastguard Station, Madara, Triple Trade

The seven-year-old COASTGUARD STATION made a winning chase debut at Doncaster in this month last year and made the frame in his next three starts, before a creditable fifth in the Clarke Chase at Uttoxeter when stepped up to 2m4f, where he held every chance before the final fence, until his stamina petered out in the closing stages. 

His third at Ayr back in April, when he was a place behind subsequent Haldon Gold Cup winner Elixir De Nutz, is quality. He is a definite addition to the shortlist. MADARA was running well here last time on stable debut before unseating rider three out and is of interest, while TRIPLE TRADE is consistent and ran well when second here last time. 

14:20 Cheltenham

Leg 3 Selections: Petit Tonnerre, JPR One

PETIT TONNERRE shaped promisingly in various good-quality handicaps, including in his final two starts last year, where he made the frame while carrying big weights. 

He ran well in the County Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival when 7th of 24 and is the highest-rated runner in the field. I think he wins. 

JPR ONE impressed on his chase debut when beating a couple of smart horses and has knowledge of Cheltenham, so he is played as a cover. 

14:55 Cheltenham

Leg 4 Selections: Galvin, Musical Slave

GALVIN is a tough and consistent nine-year-old with a great record at Cheltenham and pushed Delta Work close in his cross-country debut at the Festival when second. He is massively favoured by the weights, with amateur Rob James taking off an additional 7Ib. 

MUSICAL SLAVE won’t lack stamina, given he stayed 3m6f well when 7th of 17 in last year’s Welsh National and only found Hewick too good in last year’s Bet365 Gold Cup. 

He is only 2Ib higher in this race, and he warmed up for this with an encouraging second at Wincanton last month. Philip Hobbs and JP McManus do well in this scenario, and this horse is a very interesting candidate. 

15:30 Cheltenham

Leg 5 Selections: Captain Teague, Wild Side Of Life

CAPTAIN TEAGUE made the perfect transition to hurdles when landing the Persian War on his hurdles debut, and Paul Nicholls clearly holds him in high esteem. He will be hard to beat, so he must go on the ticket.  

WILD SIDE OF LIFE made a promising start to his career for this stable when only finding one too good, and his connections clearly feel he is worth his place in the line-up. He is one of the outsiders but would knock out lots of units if he came out on top.

16:05 Cheltenham

Leg 6 Selections: Impose Toi, Belgoprince 

IMPOSE TOI has two wins and two seconds in this sphere, and both wins have seen him win by a wide margin. His second to Brentford Hope could hardly have worked out any better, as the winner has since won off 122 in very easy fashion. He is Nico’s only ride on the card and Nicky’s only runner on the card. 

BELGOPRINCE has been in great form on the flat this year, winning twice, and the last time he ran over hurdles, he was beaten a nose by the 135+-rated The Greek in a large-field handicap at Leopardstown's Christmas meeting. This has been the plan for a while and should go well.