THIS won’t be for everyone, tips for Cheltenham a whole 12 months out, but I’ve always been a bit of a dreamer when it comes to my betting and it’s around this time every year that I place five singles as well as a Canadian/Lucky 31. The bets will sit in the ‘My Bets’ tab for me to see every time I log in for a whole year - it’s the hope that kills you.

Sandor Clegane

Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase (20/1 general)

Paul Nolan’s gelding has been brought along gently this season and it was highly encouraging that he produced his best performance yet when a staying-on third in a well-run Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle. A good third to Good Land at the Dublin Racing Festival, he improved for a stronger staying test here and rates a fine prospect for chasing now. Lightly-raced, he has loads of scope to improve further.

Gerri Colombe

Gold Cup (16/1 BoyleSports, 14/1 general)

Connections of Gerri Colombe will have been disappointed to see him done a short-head in the Brown Advisory last week, but they surely took solace in the huge effort he put up to close down the smooth jumping and travelling The Real Whacker. Tapped for toe on the run-in, it just took Gordon Elliott’s chaser a while to organise himself, but once the revs got up, he was flying, and he very much appeals as a potential Gold Cup candidate now.

You Wear It Well

Mares’ Hurdle (12/1 general)

The Mares’ Hurdle is a good option this far out as you can have a greater degree of confidence the best mares will run in the race. You Wear It Well was a fine winner of the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle, producing a strong staying performance from the front and, given her fine effort to be second to Hermes Allen in the Challow and a Grade 2 win at Sandown on her penultimate start, it’s fair to assume she will be even better back over the two and a half miles. Connections will likely work back from the Mares’ Hurdle next season.

Inthepocket

Turners Novices’ Chase (25/1 William Hill, 20/1 general)

Henry de Bromhead made a late switch from Ballymore to Supreme for Inthepocket and the J.P. McManus-owned six-year-old ran a fine race, having raced keenly early, travelled well into the straight and then kept on well for fourth. His first win of the season came over two and a half miles and he appeals as a likely type to prosper back over that trip over fences.

Teahupoo

Stayers’ Hurdle (12/1 general)

This price is probably the most appealing of the lot through a process of elimination among the likely candidates for next season’s Stayers’ Hurdle. Teahupoo will surely be kept over hurdles for another go after his fine effort to finish second (upgraded from third due to interference suffered) last week.

He proved there that he stayed the trip, given how strongly run the race was, and there was no shame in losing out to his battle hardened stablemate, who will be 12 next year. Teahupoo will be seven and is likely to take in the exact same preparation - Hatton’s Grace Hurdle and Galmoy. It’s not hard to see him returning to the Festival significantly shorter than 12/1.