BEN HUTTON

1. Column Of Fire 2. Ballybegg 3. Burbank

Column Of Fire may well have won last season’s Martin Pipe but for falling at the final flight and looks like he has been laid out for Cheltenham, having run just once since. The seven-yearold was tailed off at Navan in January but should be a different proposition at the festival. The Ballymore has been mentioned for Ballybegg but this exciting novice has been handed an opening mark that may tempt connections down the handicap route.

‘He’s a likely improver over further and on better ground’