Although yet to be seen since switching to the Willie Mullins yard, ANZADAM holds an entry at the Dublin Racing festival to begin February.

The top handler has won this contest for the previous two seasons, including with the talented dual-purpose runner, Vauban. Unbeaten in two starts in France, Anzadam made a strong impression when effortlessly winning a conditions event at Compiegne. A half-brother to a French Grade 3-winning chaser called Astadame, it is interesting that the powerful Donnelly owners, who are prolific Cheltenham festival winners, snapped him up for a considerable fee.

With a few bookmakers offering non-runner no bet on the Cheltenham festival ante-post markets, it would be folly to not use them for this selection, just in case we don’t see it this season.

The Arkle Novices’ Chase already looks at the mercy of Marine Nationale, unbeaten in six career outings, including an ultra-impressive success in the Grade 1 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at last season’s Cheltenham festival. Barry Connell’s representative delivered a winning chase debut at Leopardstown, which oozed class and rightly justified his lofty position as the one to beat in this division of novice chasers.

At odds-on, it may pay to find an each-way selection as a more attractive betting proposition. Step forward, MY MATE MOZZIE, who has already shown winning form at Cheltenham, sauntering to success in October.

Clearly benefitting from the application of a tongue-tie on that occasion, his subsequent effort, when second in Grade 1 company at Leopardstown, was positive after sitting too far off the pace to be seen to best effect. Trainer, Gavin Cromwell, is no stranger to Cheltenham festival triumphs – having landed three Grade 1 wins at Prestbury Park – so it wouldn’t be a huge shock if he facilitiated My Mate Mozzie peaking for this big target to run into the placings.

The pinnacle of the Cheltenham festival offers the potential of a thrilling renewal, with last year’s superb winner, Galopin Des Champs, a warm order to go back-to-back.

A scintillating 23-length winner of the Grade 1 Savills Chase over the Christmas period showed him to be in rude health and he rates as the clear one to beat in March.

He is likely to take in the Grade 1 Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup at the Dublin Racing festival beforehand. If there is one horse who could topple Galopin Des Champs, it is FASTORSLOW, who has defeated him in two races against him.

His first success came at the end of last term, landing a surprise victory in the Grade 1 Punchestown Gold Cup. He proved that to be no fluke by getting the better of Galopin Des Champs on seasonal return over a shorter distance and he could have further improvement to come. His trainer has kept him fresh for Cheltenham Festival and is a master at targeting a race.

He is the obvious runner against the short-priced favourite and may finish ahead of him for a third straight time.

2023 Grade 1 JCB Triumph Hurdle winner Lossiemouth heads the market for this top prize for mares. The Willie Mullins-trained Great Pretender mare is four from five since joining her top yard from France, including a brace of Grade 1 victories.

She has a smart turn of foot and is thoroughly unexposed, yet hasn’t been seen this term and steps up over four furlongs in distance.  Undoubtedly, she has the best form in this race but could have a serious challenge from a stablemate.

GALA MARCEAU beat the aforementioned, when turning her over at prohibitive odds as was given too much of a lead in a Grade 1 Leopardstown hurdle. She couldn’t confirm the form with a running-on second behind Lossiemouth a month later but promised to be advantaged by a rise in trip – which came to fruition with an impressive winner over an extended 2m3f journey in Grade 1 company at Auteuil.

With little stamina concerns, Gala Marceau could be the one who continues improving, now racing over an optimal distance and offering a spot of value at around the 6-1 mark currently.