UK Horse Racing Tips: Cheltenham

KALIF DU BERLAIS had Tedley just under a length behind when scoring on only his second chase start at Newbury last time and he is only 1lb worse off with his reopposing rival this time around. Paul Nicholls' four-year-old has plenty of scope for improvement and is expected to confirm that form to complete a double. Vincenzo beat Tedley (second) at Windsor on his latest outing and may have plenty more to offer, so he can prove to be the main threat to the selection.
Prediction : 1st Kalif Du Berlais 2nd Vincenzo 3rd Tedley

Ken Roy took a step forward from his first start over hurdles when second at Plumpton last time and could show further improvement for the application of first-time cheekpieces. However, he might come out second best to DIVA LUNA, who failed to justify short odds when second at Lingfield but she still showed enough to suggest a race of this nature will be within her compass. Point-to-point winner Pierrot Jaguen warrants a market check on his debut under Rules for the Olly Murphy team.
Prediction : 1st Diva Luna 2nd Ken Roy 3rd Pierrot Jaguen

Our Power returned from over a year off the track to produce a highly-promising effort when second over 3m2f here last time and he commands respect off only a 1lb higher rating. However, BROADWAY BOY looks the way to go. The six-year-old is a consistent performer who arguably ran a career best when filling the runner-up spot in the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury in November, and it would be no surprise to see him go one better. Cloudy Glen is the pick of the remainder.
Prediction : 1st Broadway Boy 2nd Our Power 3rd Cloudy Glen

Runner-up to a talented sort of Nicky Henderson's last time out over C&D, SPRINGWELL BAY remains unexposed in this sphere and a mark of 145 could underestimate him on his handicap chase debut. The seven-year-old has scored on soft ground before and is narrowly preferred to the hat-trick-seeking Gemirande, who was a taking winner of the December Gold Cup over C&D last month. A promising second on his return behind the reopposing Marble Sands at Carlisle in November before disappointing in the Coral Gold Cup, Colonel Harry is a key player dropping back in trip, while Lisnamult Lad is an intriguing contender from Ireland.
Prediction : 1st Springwell Bay 2nd Gemirande 3rd Colonel Harry

ONE BIG BANG produced a career-best effort when second at Haydock last time out and a 3lb rise could prove lenient. The six-year-old has been a revelation since joining the James Owen yard, and it may be that Strackan gives him the most to think about following a pair of comfortable victories at Uttoxeter and Bangor-on-Dee. Pulled-up in the aforementioned contest at Haydock having won his previous two starts, Catch Him Derry looks capable of bouncing back, while Idefix De Ciergues is another progressive sort in search of the hat-trick.
Prediction : 1st One Big Bang 2nd Strackan 3rd Idefix De Ciergues

Lucky Place was a useful novice last season who produced some creditable efforts in defeat when runner-up over C&D on Trials Day before following up with a placed effort in the Coral Cup at a time when the stable were completely out of sorts. The six-year-old landed the Ascot Hurdle on his return to action and is expected to confirm the placings with Golden Ace (fourth), but the likely conditions make SALVER difficult to ignore. A progressive juvenile who finished third in the Triumph, he shaped well in the Gerry Feilden at Newbury with that performance suggesting a step up in trip would see him in a better light.
Prediction : 1st Salver 2nd Lucky Place 3rd Golden Ace

GNOMON defied greenness to make a winning start to his career at Exeter in comfortable fashion and connections waste no time in acquiring the services of Harry Cobden. Anthony Honeyball saddles a trio of interesting runners with Marhaba Prince, a winner on debut at Wincanton, and the well-bred pairing of Crest Of Stars and Walk In The West, while Our Boy Stan bids to continue a fine run of form for Ben Pauling.
Prediction : 1st Gnomon 2nd Marhaba Prince 3rd Crest Of Stars