I’m hopeful that a three-time hurdle winner, GIVE IT TO ME OJ, can confirm his apparent superiority over his rivals. With over a stone in hand on the next in the betting market, the son of Time Test should be able to land this on his return to jumping, following a pair of fine flat wins at Epsom recently.

I adore novice chases and was pretty taken with INTENSE APPROACH, who scored on chase debut, in a decent Galway beginners event in August.

He battled bravely to get up close home that day, indicating he ought to have more to come in this sphere, and he won a three-mile hurdle at this meeting in 2024. I’m confident of a bold bid from this unexposed type.

With top-class jumping firmly back, I’m looking forward to finding plenty of winners over hurdles and fences at Cheltenham this season. ZURICH is my contender in the opener, despite this being a tough handicap chase to decipher.

I was firstly drawn to Inox Allen, who jumped and travelled sweetly to score easily at Perth in April, but chanced the in-form Henry De Bromhead runner instead. He was awarded a race at Killarney on reappearance (the front two well clear) and should be able to find further progress now stepping up in journey.

POUR LES FILLES could easily prove too classy for this modest-looking bunch of novice hurdlers. The Pour Moi gelding was a fine flat performer, who ran fifth in Grade Two company at Aintree.

He belatedly got off the mark over hurdles last time at Downpatrick, on seasonal bow, which was a nine-length breeze. With confidence up, I am looking for him to play a big part in the finish and prove hard to catch.

I’m interested in DUNBOYNE from an each-way perspective, despite his advancing years. Given a break since an excellent fourth in the Irish Grand National, he had finished first in both runs previously for this new stable.

Talking of this yard – Ian Donoghue arrives in good form, having registered three winners in the past fortnight. Dunboyne ought to appreciate the 3m1f distance on a stiff track – the only question mark is how fit he will be on reappearance – but is worth chancing at double-figure odds.

I cannot let the Willie Mullins-trained CHART TOPPER go without support in the three mile handicap hurdle. The Walk In The Park gelding is not yet fully exposed and arrives at Prestbury Park in rude health – he was a fine third in Listed company at Galway – finishing third behind the reopposing Winning Smut.

A 4lb pull in the weights could help him reverse that form and he is likely to appreciate the stiff finish at this track.