13:30 Tuesday

Mistergif - Supreme

It’s a wide open Supreme Novices' Hurdle and I’m hoping MISTERGIF can give Willie Mullins a winner in the opening race of the meeting. 

He’s currently a double figure price but he really does fall into the ‘could be anything’ bracket and reports suggest that he has been catching the eye at home.

The form of his Limerick success is poor but he won with his head in his chest and I’d be hopeful that there is significant improvement to come. 

I was certainly happy to see Patrick Mullins tip him up as his dark horse of the meeting on Monday morning – I’m expecting a big run and I’d be shocked if 12/1 is still available come the off.

14:50 Tuesday

The Goffer - Ultima

You have to go back to 2006 for the last Irish-trained winner of the Ultima Handicap Chase but I fancy THE GOFFER to buck the trend for the Gordon Elliott team.

He ran a huge race under Davy Russell last year, finishing fourth off a BHA mark of 148, and he returns for the race off a revised rating of 147.

He ran in some of Ireland’s biggest handicap chases in the summer and early autumn but has been held back since – presumably with this race in mind. 

He was given a great ride in his prep run in a unique race for stable staff at Punchestown in February and his trainer was quick to nominate the Ultima as his spring target. He’ll surely go close.

16:50 Tuesday

Milan Tino - Boodles

I’m not a massive follower of French racing but a shrewd enough judge contacted me in October with MILAN TINO and I’ve kept a close eye on him since. 

He was initially given a BHA rating of 136 ahead of the Triumph Hurdle trial in January but the handicapper has now dropped him to a mark of 126. On his French form, that’s very lenient indeed.

Connections were considering skipping the Festival but changed their minds after the handicap weights were released. 

There’s often one or two lurking in the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle but it is a condensed enough race this year with just 14lbs separating the field. He’d benefit from any additional rain – and there is some in the forecast throughout Tuesday morning.