Placing in the top three in all three of her starts, HIGHLAND CRYSTAL has been very impressive for Gordon Elliott and given her performance last month, she needs to enter calculations at a big price today.

Proven to stay over 2m2f on her opening performance at Punchestown in November, Highland Crystal won easily by 14 lengths when hardly asked for an effort before staying on powerfully in the latter stages at Newbury to add another wide margin win to her collection. Thriving as the race progressed, this extended trip will be right up her street and considering her latest win has been boosted, she is one to watch for.

Beating Saratoga last month at Naas, this form has been boosted dramatically, with Saratoga going on to win the Fred Winter on Tuesday in fine style. All positive signs for Highland Crystal, which is looking to remain unbeaten.

Finishing inside the top three in 85% of his career starts, SINNATRA has been in great form since taking to hurdles in November and hasn’t failed to finish inside the top three from five appearances.

Coming good this year, Sinnatra landed his first win at Sandown in January, albeit at extremely short odds (1/8f), but this race was the confidence booster that he needed before going into tougher listed territory in February.

Faring well in a tougher contest at Huntingdon, the six-year-old finished third behind Act Of Innocence, who has just finished second in the Turners on Wednesday, and it’s solid form for Sinnatra to build on.

Looking a promising sort in a handicap today racing off a mark of 133, he is a much better horse than this mark suggests, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him go close given his recent performances.

Placing in the top three in 77% of her starts, she’s a highly consistent mare who has been very impressive since making the switch to fences late last year.

Nine runs to her name throughout her career, DIVA LUNA has secured some quality races along the way. Winning a Grade 2 bumper at Aintree in April before going on to win at Cheltenham last January, she beat Newton Tornado over hurdles, who was well fancied for the Challenge Cup on Tuesday. Strong early form and considering she looks an even better chaser, there is still a lot more to come.

Dominating a listed event at Bangor on chase debut in November before following up with another listed win over 2m4f at Warwick, she looks her best over this trip, and given she won here last year over 2m4f, she has course experience on her side.

Placing in the top three in 100% of his races, ROAD EXILE is a big price today, but given that the Albert Bartlett is renowned for big-priced winners, he holds bold claims.

A tough race for favourites to win, considering eight of the last 10 runnings of this race have gone to horses priced 11/1 or higher. Three of those races have gone to horses priced 30/1 +, and with Road Exile’s consistency of late, he looks set for further improvement over this further trip.

Winning a 26-runner maiden hurdle at Navan in December, he won’t be intimidated by the large field and considering he made mistakes at numerous hurdles and still got the job done, there is plenty of scope for a bold follow-up performance. Put under pressure by Copacabana heading to the last flight, he showed real determination to find more in the latter, which could prove crucial up the Cheltenham hill.

A solid performer at Cheltenham, making the placings in all three of his appearances with results of 2,1,3, GREY DAWNING could potentially fly under the radar with all the hype surrounding the top three in the betting.

A five-time winner from 12 starts over fences, Grey Dawning landed the Turners back in 2024 and more recently has landed the Betfair Chase Grade 1 at Haydock. An impressive performance at Haydock, where he won comfortably under a hands and heels ride from Harry Skelton, and it will be interesting to see how he responds when the taps are turned on fully.

Another half effort was given here at Cheltenham last time out, travelling menacingly in the latter stages of the race, her was closing on the leaders Spillane’s Tower and L’Homee Presse before hitting the second last and essentially giving up. A proven stayer, and it will be interesting seeing him at 100% capacity for the first time in a while.

Finishing inside the top three in 75% of his races, STATTLER, who has joined Faye Bramley’s yard, hasn’t put a foot wrong for his new connections and looks poised to continue to go well in hunter chases.

Winning the Challenge Cup back in 2022, Stattler has always been a solid stayer, and given his latest performance over 3m at Fakenham, there is still plenty of life left in him as he enters his veteran years.

A big price considering the start he has had under Faye Bramley; he won by 7 ½ lengths at Fakenham last time out, providing a great stepping stone in preparation for today’s affair. Racing with cheekpieces on for the first time in his career, it will be interesting to see how he progresses in headgear, but given Patrick Mullins is back in the saddle again today, it’s a real bonus.

Rounding up the festival with ROC DINO, who has placed in the top three in 100% of his races, he has shown plenty of promise since joining Willie Mullins’ yard and is still unexposed over hurdles.

Returning from a lengthy 10-month absence and racing on his stable debut at Fairyhouse in January, Roc Dino put on an impressive performance given the length of time he has been off the track. Finishing second to Mighty Park, who ran in the Supreme on Tuesday before finishing second again at Thurles to El Cairo, who also ran in the Supreme, he has had two tough races before being kept for today’s Martin Pipe.

Although he has been running on softer ground and the going is currently good at Cheltenham, he would prefer the ground to soften up a bit, but given there is rain forecast, he might just get his wish.