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.

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.

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 was impressed with ICEBURG 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.