Here are Wednesday's race-by-race selections for the Cheltenham Festival.
Selections on scale of 1-5 points
Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle - 13:30
Impressive winner of three starts under rules, which included a facile nine-length victory in a Grade Two event at Haydock Park, Harry Fry's Neon Wolf rates as the one to beat, particularly given the news that Finian's Oscar will now miss the race. Neon Wolf has looked every-inch the top class performer this season and with good ground, he should prove effective over this two and a half-miles trip.
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Neon Wolf 4pts Win NAP - 15/8 at BetVictor
RSA Chase - 14:10
Got the run of the race last time at Navan where he dotted up by 32 lengths under Roger Loughran. He might not get things his own way out in front in the RSA but at 7/1, he looks decent each-way value. Three-miles on good ground should suit him nicely and if he is able to get a lead out in front in this contest, he could prove hard to peg back.
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Acapella Bourgeois 1pt E/W - 8/1 at BetVictor
Coral Cup - 14:50
Tombstone was initially a possible for the Champion Hurdle, but after being allocated a handicap rating of 149, a 1lb lower than his Irish mark, connections have decided to target one of the Festival's onerously ultra-competitive handicaps. An impressive winner of the Grade Three Red Mills Trial Hurdle at Gowran Park last time, beating Jezki in the process, the seven-year-old was fourth to Altior in last year's Supreme Novices' Hurdle and he could well take advantage of his first foray into handicap company.
I'm a big fan of Modus and whilst he has to carry top-weight in this event, Stan Sheppard takes a handy 5lbs off and I am confident of a big run from the seven-year-old son of Motivator. Winner of the Lanzarote Hurdle at Kempton Park last time, he will appreciate racing over two and a half-miles again in the Coral Cup and he looks sure to run a big race.
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Tombstone 3pts Win - 6/1 at BetVictor
Modus 2pts E/W - 12/1 at BetVictor
Queen Mother Champion Chase - 15:30
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Arguably Douvan is the biggest name in the Festival this season, Willie Mullins' seven-year-old has continued his outstanding season and goes back to Cheltenham in perfect shape. A winner of the Supreme in 2015, and the Arkle a year later, Douvan is as good as ever coming back off an encouraging Grade Two victory in Punchestown.
What's most impressive about him is his margins of victories, which have been nothing short of untouchable at recent times. This is his biggest test of the year, but he is the best in the race by a long way and with smooth run it's hard to envisage him being defeated.
Douvan is very hard to look past, he's been winning in tremendous style time and time again and it's very easy to see him adding another. We fancy the likeable God's Own to be the beast's closest 'challenger', so it could be worth chancing Tom George's charge for a place.
(Read More in our Champion Chase Preview here)
God's Own 1pt E/W - 12/1 at BetVictor
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Douvan (1/4) 1st, God's Own (12/1) 2nd - Straight Forecast at BetVictor
Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase - 16:10
I spoke to Nina Carberry on Monday and she was very confident about the chances of Enda Bolger's charge. A winner at the track in December, the 12-year-old had to carry top weight in a trial for this event in January and was also taken wide by a loose horse that day. He looks a worthy favourite and could prove far too good for this field here.
Cantlow 2pts Win - 11/4 at BetVictor
Fred Winter Juvenile Novices' Hurdle - 16:50
A good horse in France, Divin Bere made a tremendous start to life in Britain when getting the better of subsequent Adonis Hurdle winner Master Blueyes at Huntingdon in January. Henderson has quietly prepared the gelding for this event. He is very unexposed and looks to have a tremendous chance of running a big race in this event.
Divin Bere 2pts Win - 7/1 at BetVictor
Weatherbys Champion Bumper - 17:30
Always a competitive event but Someday made a nice start to life when a half-length second to Cilaos Emery at Punchestown in April, before going one better earlier this season, when scoring at Leopardstown by half-a-length. The son of Black Sam Bellamy won well that day and has been well touted at preview evenings. He looks sure to run a big race.
Dan Skelton's Cause Toujours was a decisive seven length winner of a bumper at Warwick in December. He is also interesting at a price for the two-mile Grade One.
Someday 1pt E/W - 8/1 at BetVictor
Cause Toujours 1pt E/W - 9/1 at BetVictor
Words By: Danny Archer