BALLYBURN has been all the rage for the Cheltenham Festival, since delivering a devastating seven-length success in Grade 1 company at Leopardstown last month. His jumping was accurate throughout and he travelled in the manner of a high-class horse, routing his opposition with the minimum amount of trouble. He stepped down in trip that day but has won over 2m4f and three miles, so ought to relish the rise in journey for this test. It would be a big surprise if he wasn’t able to succeed in what appears to be a sub-standard renewal.

JINGKO BLUE could have enough progress in him to challenge for the placings for trainer Nicky Henderson. Winning on handicap debut from an official mark of 124 at Sandown, the son of Great Pretender sauntered clear in the manner of a classy individual. He certainly surprised his trainer, who said post-race: “That caught me unaware as he was top-weight in a competitive race.” It is a big rise in grade here but it wouldn’t be the biggest shock if Jingko Blue was involved at the business end at attractive odds.

PREDATORS GOLD is another who offers fair each-way value. Despite only being Willie Mullins’ third string, judged by the market, the Giggingstown House Stud-owned five-year-old has mixed a variety of distance this term and has shown excellent form over hurdles, registering back-to-back seconds in Grade 1 company. He has something to find on Ballyburn on official ratings but has enough form in the book to think a place is well within his grasp, especially if the ground is testing on Wednesday.

One of the bankers of the week for many punters is FACT TO FILE, who is taken to land the extended three-mile Novices’ Chase. A Grade 1 placer over hurdles, Fact To File has certainly improved for jumping fences, winning his previous two starts in scintillating style, including a devastating 17-length success ahead of the high-class Zanahiyr. He showed further progress to put Gaelic Warrior firmly in his place before the latter unseated his rider. A quick and accurate jumper, who has a high cruising speed, the only slight reservation is running over this trip for the first time but he scored in a three-mile point and his sheer class could get him home.

STAY AWAY FAY is the clear second choice and is likely to throw up a huge challenge to the main selection. On official ratings this race is purely between the front two in the market, with Stay Away Fay a Cheltenham Festival winner already and he has an abundance of stamina reserves, having already scored over three miles four times in his short career. First-time cheekpieces could spark further improvement and he rates highly.

SANDOR CLEGANE could surprise a few in this contest, especially for a minor placing at huge odds. He has taken a while to warm to his task over fences but has registered back-to-back seconds, including in a Grade 2. The positive for his supporters is the fact that he has solid Cheltenham Festival form, having kept on strongly to claim third behind Stay Away Fay in last year’s G1 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle.

SA MAJESTE has been one of the talk horses of the entire Cheltenham Festival. It’s easy to see why – he is thoroughly unexposed after just four runs, winning twice in excellent fashion. His latest success caught the eye, dispatching the 152-rated hurdler (and notable Grade 2 chase winner) Noble Yeats. If you take a literal reading of that form, Sa Majeste’s rating of 140 looks laughable and must be supported.

LANGER DAN has been well touted for this handicap prize, appearing to have been trained specifically for this race all season. The simple fact is plain to see – the Dan Skelton-trained eight-year-old won this event last term from the identical handicap mark of 141. After three quiet runs this campaign, he had a valid excuse last time (bled from the nose) and is expected to improve significantly for the switch to Cheltenham, coupled with the knowledge that he comes alive in the spring – his form figures in March and April read 612B11.

BLACK BAMBOO could reward each-way players at big odds, following consecutive sixth-placed finishes in big-field handicaps at Leopardstown. The latest effort was a solid one, closing from well off the pace, against a front-running bias. That experience will have done him the world of good and is definitely one to consider, with a truly run race almost guaranteed.

Undefeated in six chase starts, EL FABIOLO, is expected to prove extremely hard to beat in the G1 Champion Chase and rates a banker. A five-and-a-half-length winner ahead of the reopposing Jonbon in last season’s G1 Arkle Chase, he can confirm that form following two easy victories this term. His jumping wasn’t always fluent when scoring in the G1 Dublin Chase last month but he powered clear in an impressive manner. If jumping with enough accuracy at Cheltenham, it will take a mighty performance to overhaul him, especially considering he is officially rated at least 5lb clear of his rivals. Those who will attempt to challenge El Fabiolo have more question marks to answer coming into the race, including the aforementioned Jonbon, whose jumping let him down last time.

EDWARDSTONE is anticipated to offer a bold showing if able to replicate a hugely improved performance, when a ready winner of the G2 Game Spirit Chase at Newbury. He dominated from the front on that occasion, powering clear to win by 40 lengths. This will obviously demand another step up but he was excellent course form – he won the G1 Arkle Novices’ Chase in 2022 – and he has the potential to cause an upset if on top form.

CAPTAIN GUINNESS has often saved his best performances for Prestbury Park, which bodes well for an attempt to fill a minor placing. His form figures at Cheltenham read B32, with the latest effort a fine second in this race last term. Despite having plenty to find with the market principles on official ratings, Captain Guinness arrives in good form, with two solid efforts this campaign. His only blip was when pulling up as a short-priced favourite. He was found to be clinically abnormal post-race, which gives him a valid excuse.

The Grand Annual Handicap Chase is often run at a fast tempo, which is likely to set the race up for the closers. SOLNESS has shown enough in two handicap chase outings to suggest a bold display is anticipated. The Joseph O’Brien-trained six-year-old made a mockery of his handicap debut mark of 138, sauntering clear of his rivals to win by an easy six lengths in Listed company. He fared well, raised 9lb subsequently, finishing with a flourish behind Madara and Path D’Oroux. The latter pair reoppose here but our selection is weighted to reverse form and has more of an unexposed profile in handicaps.

MASKADA would have huge credentials if anything back to her best, considering she pulverised her rivals by six-and-a-half lengths in this race last season, beating a subsequent Grade 1 winner into second. This will be her first venture back into a handicap since that superb performance, so cannot be written off under ideal conditions.

SAINT ROI definitely catches the eye, returning to handicap company following a down-the-field effort in the G1 Dublin Chase last month. A previous Grade 1 winner over fences, a mark of 152 could seriously underestimate the J P McManus-owned nine-year-old. His Cheltenham record is excellent, too, having recorded form figures of 133, with the victory coming at the festival over hurdles in 2020.

As ever, this promises to be one of the trickiest races to call at this year’s festival. A tentative selection is given to ROMEO COOLIO, following an excellent start to his career – unbeaten in two runs under rules, including an easy success in a Fairyhouse bumper in January. The 420,000GBP purchase was keen throughout on that occasion but kept on nicely when asked for more effort at the two-furlong pole. His attitude was exemplary for such an inexperienced horse and this big, galloping type is one to seriously consider for his powerhouse stable.

ARGENTO BOY is a half-brother to a former winner of this race (Briar Hill) and created a strong impression when a seven-length debut winner at Fairyhouse in January. Travelling powerfully throughout, the grey gradually winded up the pace entering the home straight and stormed clear in impression style. There is plenty of stamina in his pedigree and he is an interesting type for this test.

KINGSTON PRIDE is by no means a social runner for Nicky Henderson and powerful owner Oli Harris. Backed strongly on debut, he ran second on the all-weather at Lingfield, but should be better suited to turf, especially if the ground is on the soft side of good. His sire, Kingston Hill, won the G1 Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster on soft ground and his sire, Milan, flourished on deep ground. If the going is slow come the end of racing on Wednesday, it would be advantageous to the selection’s each-way chances.