‘He has shaped as if this trip would suit and has more to offer’

JOSH DOWN 1. Time To Get Up

2. Run Wild Fred

3. Deise Aba

No amateur riders means the usual jockey advantage has somewhat diminished. Time To Get Up is lightly raced and ultra-progressive. Switched to Jonjo O’neill this season, he’s joined a master trainer at targeting horses at big handicaps and the eight-year-old’s mark of 138 looks very workable. Run Wild Fred has obvious claims based on his recent second in the Thyestes. Deise Aba was fifth last year and can improve now another year older; he stays well.

SAM HARDY 1. Time To Get Up

2. Young Wolf

3. Vintage Clouds

Seven of the last ten winners were sent off at single-figure prices so it’s worth concentrating on those at the head of the market. The first one who jumps out is Time To Get

Up, who has only six starts to his name but has plenty of scope for improvement. A winner last time out at Wincanton, the gelding also boasts some impressive form with his former trainer Joseph O’brien when he finished second to Monkfish at Fairyhouse in a maiden hurdle 15 months ago.

JACK HAYNES 1. Run Wild Fred

2. Deise Aba

3. Milanford

Run Wild Fred posted a career-best effort when second in the Thyestes Chase at Gowran Park and can go one better in the final race on day three. Blinkers appear to have revived the seven-year-old, who was well beaten at Punchestown in November and December but bounced back with a second to Longhouse Poet before the Thyestes. He won a bumper on good ground and may well improve again for a sounder surface. Last year’s fifth Deise Aba could go closer this time.

BEN HUTTON 1. Braeside 2. Kilfilum Cross 3. Truckin Away

Braeside was disappointing at Fairyhouse last month but otherwise the seven-yearold has an attractive profile for the Kim Muir. He posted solid second places over 2m4f and 2m5f towards the end of last year and should improve for the longer trip at the festival. Kilfilum Cross has finished second in the last two runnings and is handicapped to have a big say, while the form of

Truckin Away’s Doncaster win reads well.

TOM PARK 1. Shantou Flyer

2. Time To Get Up

3. Kilfilum Cross

Shantou Flyer maybe a 12-year-old but his festival and Cheltenham form means he has a big chance here. He has been beaten twice in the Foxhunter Chase in the last two seasons (second and third), but has shown plenty of spark in handicap company this term. He is unlikely to be able to produce a performance to earn him a mark of 157, which he did in the Ultima in 2018, but I expect Cheltenham will see him prove much better than his mark of 140.

MADDY PLAYLE 1. Hold That Taught

2. Big River

3. Kilfilum Cross

Hold That Taught is still well handicapped and would be interesting if getting in here off a low weight. He has shaped as if this trip would suit and has more to offer. Big River and Kilfilum Cross are both regulars in festival handicaps, which is important, and can fight it out for the places.