1.30 Good renewal of the Supreme with a lot of big reputations and unbeaten records on the line and there's a lot of solid form in their too, I'm going for MIGHTY POTTER (7's e/w) his one blip was in November when he still didn't run too badly but at the time the Elliott horses were under a bit of a cloud, he's won a Grade 1 and if the expected cut throat pace finds one or two out he'll be the one keeping on at the end.
2.10 Very open looking Arkle and nothing stands out as being a potential superstar, as always previous festival form is something that's always my starting point and COEUR SUBLIME (14's 4 places e/w) has a Triumph Hurdle second on similar going to his name which shows that he'll handle conditions, the De Bromhead have been a little quiet of late but I suspect he's been protecting them with the spring festivals in mind, on form Coeur Sublime has a bit to find but his chasing debut second to Ferny Hollow is top notch form and the very soft ground at Leopardstown when he was behind Riviere D'etel and Ferny Hollow wouldn't have suited, nice confidence booster last time will have helped too.
2.50 Typically open Ultima with unexposed novices taken on seasoned veterans, I've backed two in this, one of each, BEN DUNDEE (20'S e/w 6 Places) has two good festival chase runs behind him 3rd in the Close Brothers in 2019 and the 5th in the Plate in 2020 staying on well on both occasions, ran a blinder in the Paddy Power when his amateur jockey was just outridden in a driving finish, better ground will help today and he has every chance, the other one I've backed is TEA CLIPPER (12's 7 Places) ran a blinder when 3rd in last years Coral Cup and I don't think the small field Novice Chases he's contested this season play to his strengths, unexposed, stable in great form and a race run to suit give him a live chance.
3.30 Honeysuckle is going to be a difficult nut to crack but the Champion Hurdle has been a race where plenty of supposed good things have been turned over in the past and my play is ADAGIO (22's 3 places) his Greatwood run here on good ground is an outstanding piece of form with Graded and big handicap winners coming out of it all over the place, was top weight that day and it was an amazing performance for an inexperienced 5 year old, last run was a pipe opener for today where he travelled superbly until lack of fitness told, will have put cherry ripe and his course and distance form is 2122
4.10 This is quite easy really, INDEFATIGABLE (NAP) (25's 4 places) is simply the wrong price, she was 4th in a much better renewal of this last year and none in front are in opposition this time, she loves Cheltenham, course form 51214, on ratings she's up there among the best of them, there are doubts about a couple of those at the head of the market, she'll be staying on up the hill and the fast pace that Stormy Ireland and Heaven Help Us will set should set it up for a closer like her.
4.50 Typically open Fred Winter, with Gaelic Warrior supposedly the second coming but Gordon Elliott has won this 3 times in the last 9 years and he could have a live one with BRITZKA (22's 6 places), has had a wind wind op and first time tongue tie and blinkers could liven up this horse
who was touted as a Triumph hurdle horse after his debut success.
5.10 Quality over quantity in the last and the favourite looks solid but is no price, not convinced Stattler will improve for the step up in trip and long term I thought this race would suit Braeside staying on through a big field to pick up the pieces but the way the race has fallen apart means that VANILLIER (7/2 2 places) is the pick, improved massively for his win in the Albert Bartlett and he could just be one of those horses that comes alive at Prestbury Park in Spring.
