KALIF DU BERLAIS should have the measure of his two rivals, unless this turns into a tactical race. Harry Cobden is the perfect jockey to not allow that to happen and has a willing partner, who appears ahead of his handicap mark of 141.

Kalif Du Berlais beat the re-opposing Tedley at Newbury and is better off at the weights here, to confirm that form. Vicenzo delivered a promising chase debut success at Windsor but needs to raise his game to compete against the selection.

BROADWAY BOY holds a great chance of returning the winner’s enclosure, after a pair of strong placings this season. A three-time course winner, he relishes soft ground and should prove hard to pass, as a younger horse on the up, against more exposed rivals.

A 7-year-old gelding who won 4 races over hurdles from 9 appearances and has continued this form when sent over fences recently. Unseating the rider at Aintree in April before taking a 6-month break, he returned at Chepstow in October for his chase debut, where he stayed on well to win comfortably.

Landing wins on a variety of ground conditions and looking to go one better than his appearance last month when second, he can’t be overlooked in today’s affair.

Racing keenly at Cheltenham in November when finishing third and finishing second to an improving Jango Bay last time out, the gelding looks a solid performer over fences and should produce another bold bid in today’s event on his third consecutive start at the track.

A 5-year-old gelding who started his career last year but failed to get off the mark in his opening 4 appearances but has returned from a 7-month absence in great form and looks a real threat in today’s affair. Making his return in October, Strackan finished a respectable second to Double Powerful, who has since just been denied a 7-timer at Ascot.

A solid return to racing in which he backed up at Uttoxeter in November when making all to win by 4 ¾ lengths, he is improving rapidly of late and producing a career-best performance last time out at Bangor, he will be heading into today full of confidence.

Producing another wide-margin victory of 4 ½ lengths, he is racing 9lb higher in today’s affair, but given his improvement of late, he needs to be respected.

When he is firing on all cylinders, he’s a top competitor who will take some beating on his day. Langer Dan’s last two appearances here at Cheltenham have seen him land the Coral Cup in 2023 and 2024, and given the ground conditions, he can’t be overlooked at a track where he has produced solid form.

Landing the Coral Cup in March this year before recording finishes of 3, 2, 3, when racing off career high marks, he is in top form of late, and although his Newbury performance wasn’t his best, he’s the sort that can bounce back with great effect.

Enjoying softer ground, Langer Dan’s last two wins here came on soft, and with rain forecast, he holds bold claims here today and can’t be overlooked.

An each-way chance is taken on MOUNT GAY RUN, who starting his career over hurdles with a keeping-on third at Sandown last month. That good effort came in a Listed event and he could perform better than his odds suggest, in a moderate race for Cheltenham’s standards.

The rise in trip could suit this son of Mount Nelson; his dam is a half-sister to a pair of smart three mile winners.

LOUNGE LIZARD looks overpriced from an each-way perspective in this competitive handicap chase, run over an extended 2m4f distance. An in-and-out character, the seven-year-old Kayf Tara gelding produced a career best when second over track and trip last year.

Although 5lb higher today, there is the chance of a return to top form following a satisfactory seasonal debut third at Carlisle.

STRACKAN chases a hat-trick of wins, following back-to-back handicap hurdles victories on soft ground. He was particularly impressive at Bangor last time, relishing the rise to 2m7f.

Upped 9lb in the weights, Strackan needs to improve again to score in this stronger event, but he appears on a steep upward curve and is a thoroughly unexposed individual. The strong form of the Henry Daly yard is also a positive (four wins from their last 10 runners).

GOLDEN ACE is expected to take a big step forward from his reappearance effort at Ascot. Last of the four finishes that day, he was beaten by only a narrow margin and looked in need of that outing. The winner, Lucky Place, is an admirable type but is worth off at the weights with the selection here.

It’s also hard to get away from Golden Ace’s Cheltenham festival success last season – winning the G2 Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle – beaten subsequent dual Grade One winner Brighterdaysahead.