UK Horse Racing Tips: Cheltenham

SPICED RUM looked a hurdler to keep on side when scoring with the minimum of fuss over 2m at Sandown on her penultimate start, prior to finishing a staying-on fourth over an extended 1m7f at Ascot. Nudged up just 1lb for that latest effort, she edges preference. Max Of Stars finished a creditable second over an extended 2m in a Doncaster Listed race on her latest start over hurdles and, fit from a spin on the Flat last month, she may emerge as the main danger. Though Karia Des Blaises' recent form leaves something to be desired, she merits consideration for the all-conquering Willie Mullins team.
Prediction : 1st Spiced Rum 2nd Max Of Stars 3rd Karia Des Blaises

FLINTARA readily pulled clear with the eventual winner when finishing second on her first start after wind surgery over 3m at Market Rasen last month and, upped just 1lb, she can go one place better for her in-form stable. Harry Cobden maintains the partnership with the hat-trick seeking Juniper and she can give the selection most to think about, though a 7lb rise for a recent Wincanton success demands more from her. La Renommee merits a second look on the strength of her second over 2m4f at Huntingdon in January, but she will need to bounce back from a lacklustre effort at Kelso.
Prediction : 1st Flintara 2nd Juniper 3rd La Renommee

NOTNOWLINDA slightly lost her way over fences this winter and connections' decision to return to timber was rewarded when she ran out a game winner of a Hereford handicap over 2m last month. Stepping back up in trip having been nudged up just 1lb for that performance, she gets the vote to come home in front for title-seeking Dan Skelton. Pretending looks to be the main danger after an excellent second over 2m3f at Newbury last month, but she finds herself on a career-high mark and that poses a question to her. Gilbertina completes the shortlist, though she is stepping up in class.
Prediction : 1st Notnowlinda 2nd Pretending 3rd Gilbertina

Everything points to a big run from MALAITA, who won over hurdles at this meeting 12 months ago and looked better than ever when a nine-length chase scorer at Ludlow last time. Game On For Glory (first) and Lime Drop (second) are closely matched on their Ludlow clash in February and both are players here. Lady Adare has been freshened up since disappointing at Exeter and despite conceding plenty of weight all round, she cannot be ruled out either.
Prediction : 1st Malaita 2nd Lime Drop 3rd Game On For Glory

Smart bumper performer GOLDEN ACE has gone to another level over timber this season, backing up a couple of impressive Taunton triumphs with victory in the Grade 2 Ryanair Mares' Novices' Hurdle at the Festival here. Given five weeks to recover from those exertions, and with the runner-up and fourth both franking the form with Grade 1 wins subsequently, she is extremely hard to oppose. Lightening Mahler won readily on her first start post-wind surgery at Huntingdon and could put up most resistance, while Wyenot also deserves a mention after bouncing back to form at Kempton.
Prediction : 1st Golden Ace 2nd Lightening Mahler 3rd Wyenot

FOUND ON may have pulled up on her return from a break at Kempton last month, but she had been in excellent form before that and a 2lb drop in the ratings is bound to make life easier. Martin Keighley's mare won comfortably here over 2m4f in October 2022 and, with the ground in her favour, she can see off Somespring Special, who is unpenalised for an easy success in a conditional jockeys' race at Plumpton last Sunday. Lost Connections and Sacre Coeur are capable of being in the shake-up as well.
Prediction : 1st Found On 2nd Somespring Special 3rd Sacre Coeur

A half-sister to Listed hurdles winner Saylavee, GETURGUCCION is bred to be useful and she almost got her NH career off to the perfect start when narrowly denied at Newbury last month. With normal improvement expected, the five-year-old can get off the mark, with the class-dropping I've Madeupmymind looking best placed to chase her home after a creditable effort at Sandown. Khutulun Khan (third) is now 4lb better off with the reopposing Anno Power (first) from their clash at Ascot in February and Lucy Wadham's charge may come on for that promising debut effort.
Prediction : 1st Geturguccion 2nd Ive Madeupmymind 3rd Khutulun Khan