In what promises to be the most open and competitive Cheltenham Festival, in many years, I’m extremely excited for the best week in the racing calendar!

Old Park Star sets the standard, as a Grade Two hurdle winner. He is a big, imposing type, who certainly has scope for further improvement, and I expect he will be an even better chaser in time. Nicky Henderson has won this race with superstars in the past, such as Altior, Shishkin and Constitution Hill, but I don’t have Old Park Star in that bracket. I’m opposing him, mainly due to the fact that pretty much the whole field is completely unexposed – with the majority heading here after maiden/novice successes. 

MIGHTY PARK may have been the ‘talk horse’ in the last week or so, I admit, but there is no denying the increased confidence coming out of the Mullins camp lately. The J P McManus-owned runner absolutely trounced his rivals in maiden company at Fairyhouse in January. It may have been a blessing to miss his intended next target at the Dublin Racing Festival – with the ground bottomless that weekend. He arrives here – yes lacking experience – but with most of the field in a similar position, he has considerable scope for improvement. He may just outclass the opposition here.

In a fierce battle for the placings, a whole host of challengers are likely to be thereabouts at the finish. I flirted with Sober Glory but wasn’t convinced it would be soft enough, and then was close to selecting El Cairos, who has speed to burn and course form.

Despite being a massive price and having a mountain to climb on the ratings, EACHTOTHEIROWN isn’t to be underestimated. I feel he is worth a small each-way play, after an easy handicap hurdle win last time. The Irish-trained runner has taken a while to warm to the jumping game, but is held in high regard by trainer Barry Connell.

If able to claim the lead, I would suggest the opposition jockeys don’t let him loose up front, as he certainly has a good engine.

There is set to be an almighty showdown at Prestbury Park at 2pm – the best two-mile chaser from Great Britain – taking on the best from Ireland. Lulamba is unbeaten in three chase starts and is already a Grade One scorer. The five-old-gelding is clearly a talented performer, but does hit a flat spot in his races. His future will definitely lie over longer journeys. If he is within striking distance, coming to the last two fences, I don’t think any other rival will be finishing as strongly.

However, given his run style, I’m tipping KOPEK DES BORDES to reign supreme, for trainer Willie Mullins. The son of No Risk At All is inexperienced over fences, after just one outing, but he won that Navan race effortlessly. He has the all-important track form, having been a superb winner of last season’s G1 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, and I have maximum faith that his trainer will have him 100% for this assignment.

KARGESE did us proud by winning at last season’s Cheltenham festival at tasty odds.

The Willie Mullins-trained mare is certainly not making up the numbers here. She is 1-3 since being sent chasing, and her latest second at Leopardstown was strong form, behind Romeo Coolio.

She has excellent tactical speed and attacks her fences. I imagine she is likely to set this race up perfectly for her stablemate, but if allowed to lead, it would be folly to dismiss her claims.

I find this juvenile handicap hurdle, as most years, tricky to decipher – with numerous runners potentially well-handicapped horses – after light campaigns. The unexposed nature of those types can often be overplayed, though. Eight out of the last nine winners of this race had won a hurdle, prior to running in this event. Two of the more fancied runners in the market are yet to win, and I prefer to have a horse with some substance to its form.

GLEN TO GLEN fits that brief, as a last-time-out scorer at Cork. That win came as a surprise to his trainer, Joseph O’Brien, but the selection has plenty of room for improvement, from an opening handicap mark of 129. The O’Brien stable have also won the previous two renewals.

AMMES brings plenty of experience to the table, having won two of his three hurdle starts and placing on the other occasion.

His second to Minella Study at Wetherby in October is particularly interesting, considering the latter has been well supported in the market for the Triumph Hurdle on Friday.

Ammes is a prominent racer who is likely to get into a nice jumping rhythm, and I’m happy to have him on my side for a solid each-way chance, with the hope that there may be traffic congestion behind.

It is no surprise that JAGWAR leads the betting for this stamina test. Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero train the top two in the market for J P McManus. I’m strongly in the mindset of Iroko running well here, prior to his main target of Grand National glory next month.

Jagwar was another winner for us here last season, over 2m4f. He has been such a model of consistency over fences – especially at this venue – with course form figures of 1132. His excellent runner-up position over the extended 2m4f trip here in January, suggested that the rise to 3m1f could eke out a notch of further improvement. I’m confident of a bold showing.

There are numerous place candidates in this race, with the likes of course winners Hyland and Blaze The Way.

They are on my shortlist, but I’ve gone big with FILANDERER, who doesn’t deserve to be a 66/1 shot, based on recent evidence. Despite being 3lb out of the weights and now a veteran, the Hughie Morrison-trained 10-year-old has been a rapid improver of fences.

He began life in handicap chases from a mark of 92 this term, and has rocketed up to today’s rating of 131, following five victories.

His latest romp at Market Rasen was strong form – two behind him have easily won since. He may not have reached the ceiling of his ability, and at a whopping each-way price, is worth a small wager to find out.

The 2026 Champion Hurdle looks a weak renewal, despite the presence of multiple Cheltenham Festival winners. I don’t have a big opinion in the race and offer a pair of each-way options. PONIROS could show improved form, returning to this track, as last year’s Triumph Hurdle winner.

He hinted at being back to his best, when 3rd at Leopardstown last month, despite running behind Brighterdaysahead and Lossiemouth. If the two mares take each other up front, along with likely pacesetter Tutti Quanti, it could easily set up for a wild finish. Admittedly, The New Lion is the most likely to benefit from a strong pace, but he is fairly short in the betting.

I’m convinced that we have yet to see the best of ANZADAM. The Authorized gelding is a four-time hurdle winner, who has been inconsistent, despite racing in strong company this season. Racing in a hood has yet to fully help restrain this keen-goer, but there is a chance that he may benefit from a strong pace to aim at. At a double-figure price, I’m more than happy to have a small each-way play on Anzadam to show his true ability.

McLaurey may prove to be a well-handicapped individual for notable connections, but I’m not prepared to support the likely favourite, given he was disappointing on sole visit to Cheltenham. I prefer to back DOWNMEXICOWAY each-way, following a good start to his chase career.

The Henry De Bromhead-trained runner was an easy chase debut winner, prior to a sound 2nd at Grade Two level. He returned to winning ways, stepping back into handicap company, before showing up well behind a strong pair of rivals in Grade One company. A mark of 145 may underestimate his ability, for a horse who has scope for improvement now raised in trip (point winner over three miles).

I’m sticking with ZURICH, as my next best selection, as he was successful for this column back in October.

He is 9lb higher from that win but scored impressively at this track, with the form of his latest third fairly strong.

The two who finished in front of Zurich have subsequently boosted the form, and he has been given a break to have him fresh for this huge target.

With De Bromhead training both selections in this race, I’m confident he’ll have them ready to deliver their best when it’s needed.

BACKMERSACKME is an obvious strong contender, as the current market leader.

The Emmet Mullins-trained Getaway gelding has a mixed profile, whose best form entitles him to be hard to beat here. He finished his race off strongly, when second over 3m1f here in October.

He put in a disappointing effort, firmly behind, when registering an impressive success over an extended 2m5f at Leopardstown last month.

A 10lb rise may appear harsh, but the step up to this stamina-sapping journey is expected to suit perfectly.

I was impressed with ICEBERG THEORY last-time-out, when an easy winner at Cork in November. That was a second chase win from just three attempts, showing considerable potential for staying distances. The rise in trip may eke further progress, and he is definitely an unexposed horse on the rise. Irish horses have dominated this race in the last 10 years, with seven winners trained from the Emerald Isle.