15.25 Down Royal – Eclat Des Mottes (Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdles) – 50/1, 5/2 today

Willie Mullins and Rich Ricci usually have an embarrassment of riches for Cheltenham’s three Novices’ Hurdles, but this year lack the power that we are used to. That could change should Eclat Des Mottes put a poor run last month behind him with a dominant display here. Having made an eye-catching debut, the five year-old will need to win well here to enter the reckoning.

16.05 Newcastle – Rouge Vif (Supreme Novices’ Hurdle) – 20/1, 4/11

After an eye-catching run behind Mister Fisher last time, Rouge Vif has an opportunity today to cement his place as a serious contender for the Supreme. The skinny odds today shows that he is fully expected to get home in front today and under the sharp tutelage of trainer Harry Whittington, he could be a horse to follow for the foreseeable future.

16.25 Down Royal – Andy Dufresne (Champion Bumper) – 33/1, 4/5 today

The story behind Andy Dufresne is is already a fairytale, so if he can stake his claim for a Cheltenham win then it will be another chapter in an already incredible short career. Trainer Gordon Elliot’s head girl Camilla Sharples bought him from the point-to-point sphere, investing €30,000, before selling him for €330,000 to JP McManus for a huge pay day. He has been popular in the market today and will shorten markedly for the Champion Bumper should he win in style.