1:30 JLT NOVICES' CHASE

All set for round three between Defi Du Seuil and Lostintranslation. 'Defi' won the latest battle at Sandown but, back on a left-handed track here will suit Lostintranslation and he is put up as one of the best bets of the week. Vinndication, a surprise runner here, was third in that Sandown race and will be doing his best work at the finish but this is his first time racing on a left-handed track. Real Steel and Kildisart will handle the soft ground but, so far, both look just below Grade 1 class.

The mare Castafiore is worth a small wager at big odds.

SELECTION: LOSTINTRANSLATION

ALTERNATIVE: DEFI DU SEUIL

2:10 PERTEMPS NETWORK FINAL HANDICAP HURDLE

Samburu Shujaa looks a rapidly improving sort and the soft ground will suit him ideally. He put up a good time figure when he won a novice hurdle at Chepstow in January and he was almost as impressive when he won his qualifier at the same track last month. Richard Johnson's mount is just 7lb higher here.

Sire Du Berlais is the talking horse, having been given a quiet preparation for this race at a track where he has run well in the past.

Course winner Aaron Lad cannot be faulted on what he has done this season and could well have more to offer.

Of the outsiders, First Assignment and Champers On Ice are worth a look. First Assignment won a handicap here earlier in the season and then finished close behind Paisley Park at Haydock. He was possibly turned out a bit too quickly when beaten on his next start but comes here off a nice break. Champers On Ice once finished third in an Albert Bartlett and, back over hurdles now after a disappointing chasing career, is potentially well handicapped.

SELECTION: SAMBURU SHUJAA

ALTERNATIVE: FIRST ASSIGNMENT

2:50 RYANAIR CHASE

Connections of Frodon have seen sense and opted to run the bold-jumping front-runner here instead of the Gold Cup. Bryony Frost's mount loves the new course and is sure to go very close. Monalee is also a solid each-way proposition, another who comes here instead of running in Friday's Blue Riband. What a story it would be if Rachael Blackmore and Bryony Frost were battling it out at the finish.

Footpad is the joker in the back, stepping up in distance, but it's tempting to conclude that he has been overrated as his novice chase form from last season has not worked out. Ruby Walsh stays loyal to Footpad, however, overlooking stable companion Un De Sceaux who won this race in 2017, was second last year and has been crying out for soft ground this season.

Road To Respect looks interesting. A previous Festival winner, he seemed not to enjoy the quick ground when just touched off by Bellshill at Leopardstown. Aso rarely runs a bad race around here and could reach the frame. Last year's winner Balko Des Flos has been out of form this season and it's hard to see taking a hand.

SELECTION: FRODON

ALTERNATIVE: ROAD TO RESPECT

3:30 SUN RACING STAYERS' HURDLE

Paisley Park's career is on a steep upward curve and there is no reason why he should not confirm himself as the supreme staying hurdler of the season here. Emma Lavelle's charge handles all types of ground and is reminiscent of some top staying hurdlers of the past in that he often hits a flat spot when first ridden but then hits top gear and powers home. Expect Aidan Coleman's mount to arrive late on the scene.

It will be some feat if Willie Mullins can get Faugheen back to his best. The former Champion Hurdle winner may have won the three-mile Grade 1 at Punchestown last spring but his efforts so far this season have been worrying.

Top Notch is the dark horse. He was among the very best juvenile hurdlers of his generation and developed into a highly consistent chaser in recent seasons. Back over flights and on his favoured soft ground, he could well be capable of getting involved here.

Trainer Tom George had a few horses run well here earlier in the week and his Black Op is not without a squeak on soft ground.

SELECTION: PAISLEY PARK

ALTERNATIVE: TOP NOTCH

4:10 BROWN ADVISORY & MERRIEBELLE PLATE HANDICAP CHASE

Janika could be capable of giving weight away all around here. This French import made a huge impression on his British debut when second to Siruh Du Lac over this course and distance in January. That rival is again in opposition today and, looking through the field, there are not many other unexposed types worth considering.

Bouvreuil catches the eye. He was placed at two Festivals for Paul Nicholls and, having lost his way, was transferred to Ben Haslam this season. The horse bolted up on his debut for Haslam in December and, while he failed to build on that next time out, Cheltenham in spring has brought out the best in him in the past.

SELECTION: JANIKA

ALTERNATIVE: SIRUH DU LAC

4:50 NATIONAL HUNT BREEDERS SUPPORTED BY TATTERSALLS MARES' NOVICE HURDLE

Epatante has achieved little in two British starts to-date but Nicky Henderson's charge has a big reputation and one is loathe to oppose her. Interestingly she wears a hood for the first time today.

Willie Mullins has a remarkable seven runners. Ruby Walsh has opted to ride My Sister Sarah who didn't look anything special when scoring at Fairyhouse in January. The best of the Mullins contingent may well be Sancta Simona - owned by J.P. McManus and therefore not available to Ruby. She looked sure to win a Grade 1 against males at Leopardstown over Christmas but then found little in the closing stages - her stable was a bit out of form at the time. This could be a McManus 1-2.

SELECTION: EPATANTE

ALTERNATIVE: SANCTA SIMONA

5:30 FULKE WALWYN KIM MUIR CHALLENGE CUP AMATEUR RIDERS' HANDICAP CHASE

Gordon Elliott has been tipping up Measureofmydreams for this race in recent weeks. Three years ago this horse finished third behind Minella Rocco and Native River in the four-miler but he has been largely out of form since then. Having gone from Willie Mullins to Noel Meade and now with Elliott, the horse did show some sparkle on his debut for his new yard last month but, at 11 years of age, it's hard to see him getting back to his best.

No doubt there will be floods of cash for Any Second Now, representing the potent combination of J.P. McManus, Ted Walsh and Derek O'Connor. The horse has yet to win a chase of any description, however, and he doesn't look particularly well handicapped.

McManus has two other runners - No Comment and Squouateur. Both have promised a lot more than they have delivered over the years. I think the ground has gone against No Comment but Squouateur is worth a little nibble on his debut for Ben Haslam. In 2016 he was sent off 9/4 favourite for the Martin Pipe and finished seventh. In 2017 he topped the market for the Kim Muir and was first past the post but without a jockey. He was again fancied for this race last year and finished a fair third. Most sensible punters will have given up on the horse by now but not me!

Speaker Connolly won a nice little handicap at Leopardstown over Christmas on good ground but he should handle softer too and is not yet exposed. Captain Chaos is another who has shown good form on his most recent two starts and he will be ridden by Gina Andrews, who won this race two years ago.

SELECTION: SQUOUATEUR

ALTERNATIVE: CAPTAIN CHAOS

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