12:55 Cheltenham

Diva Luna is clearly a useful mare given the form she displayed in bumpers and having shaped well on her hurdles debut. However, PIERROT JAGUEN (best price 4/1) has a big reputation, and Olly Murphy’s charge may well turn out to be above average. 

I think this expensive purchase will enjoy this trip more than the favourite, plus he was impressive when winning his only PTP. With his stable going well and him being chucked into the deep end on his rules debut, a big run is expected.

Pierrot Jaguen, 1pt WIN, 4/1

14:05 Cheltenham

With the arrival of rain and a return to a left-handed track in his favour, I’m really liking the chances of the classy COLONEL HARRY (best price 7/2), who can make the most of the drop back in trip by landing the Betfair Exchange Handicap Chase.

This Grade 2-winning chaser placed in a pair of Grade 1s at Sandown last season and was far from disgraced in a further two top-level races at both the Cheltenham Festival when sixth in the Turners’ and when fourth in the Manifesto at Aintree.

He was behind Marble Sands on his return at Carlisle, but the winner was in receipt of 6lb along with the benefit of a spin on the Flat. He gave away many lengths by jumping to his left, so it was to his credit that he was only beaten by around three lengths.

I thought he ran well for a long way in the Coral Gold Cup when last seen, although it was quite clear to see that he failed to see out the extra yardage. Today’s drop in trip will suit him better, and he will find this easier than the Turners’ he contested in March.

Let’s not forget that when he won the Grade 2 Towton Novices' Chase, he beat Trelawne with quite a bit in hand, and the latter is now rated in the 150s. Even on that evidence, he must be well handicapped off his current figure.

He’s a smart horse on his day, and the combination of the ease in grade off a handy mark of 146 on soft ground should be right up his street. His trainer is in blistering form, too, so with all of the ingredients put into one pan, he’s a serious player.

Colonel Harry, 1pt WIN, 7/2

14:40 Cheltenham

TWIG (best price 18/1) was well held in the valuable Betfair Stayers' Handicap at Haydock last time out, but most of the runners failed to finish that contest, so I’m happy to draw a line through that performance and judge him on his previous efforts, which are good enough to win this.

The 10-year-old is very well handicapped in this sphere, given he’s on the exact same mark as when he was runner-up in the Ultima at the Festival, and his course record now reads 2222 from four starts. His previous second in a Grade 2 race at Wetherby also reads excellent form.

He had Kateira back in third, who ran very well to finish fifth in the Long Walk Hurdle on her next start, so the form has substance. With the cheekpieces discarded and dropping down in class, there’s every reason to believe that he will outrun his ludicrous double-figure odds. 

Twig, 0.5 pts E/W, 18/1

15:15 Cheltenham

GOLDEN ACE (best price 3/1) shaped a lot better than the result suggested when fourth on her seasonal reappearance at Ascot and is fancied to get back on track returning to the scene of her career highlight at the Cheltenham Festival.

Jeremy Scott’s mare remains the only horse under rules to have beaten Brighterdaysahead, and the latter has won multiple Grade 1s since, so it was an unbelievable performance from this six-year-old to beat Gordon Elliott’s mare.

She then followed that win up with a comfortable win over C&D, and although she needed the run on her return, she travelled the best and will be fitter here. I’m confident she can turn the tables on the winner and land the Relkeel Hurdle.

Golden Ace, 1pt WIN, 3/1

15:50 Cheltenham

Plenty of these bring significant potential to the table, including Gnomon, who was very impressive on debut at Exeter. However, I was really taken with the way MERELY A DETAIL (best price 18/1) went about her business on debut at Doncaster and could offer some each-way value at the odds. 

I loved the way she cruised into contention just behind the leaders two furlongs out before picking up strongly once the gap opened up and was then allowed to be eased down at the finish. This is tougher, but she’s open to considerable improvement and would be shorter in the betting for this if she were trained by one of the bigger yards.

Merely A Detail, 0.5 pts E/W, 18/1