Thursday kicks off at 13.30 with the fifth running of the Jewson Novices Handicap Chase. This 2 mile 5 furlong chase attracts those not suited to the Arkle or the RSA Chase and Chapoturgeon looks a likely favourite, currently 7/1 with totesport in the non runner no bet market. The Paul Nicholls trained 5yo won last time out at Doncaster and could give Nicholls his first win in this race.

The trends suggest a 5yo cannot win this with all four previous winners seven year olds. Looking further down the trends all four previous winners have been all officially rated 123-133 and have had a top two finish last time out. That whittles the field down and we’ve picked out three decent priced horses making the trip over from Ireland. Knock on the Head, Horner Woods and Auroras Encore are all around the 20, 25/1 mark and could run a big race in what looks like an open contest.

The Ryanair Chase also looks a wide open race, despite Voy Por Ustedes commanding evens favourtism with totesport in the non runner no bet market. The former Arkle and Champion Chase winner has stepped up in trip to swerve Master Minded in this years Queen Mother and obviously has claims here. However, after running a stinker at Aintree over this trip earlier in the season and regular jockey Robert Thornton admitting he can be quirky there’s enough reason to oppose here.

There’s enough trends to suit runners here, but you can probably put a line through Monet’s Garden who doesn’t like Cheltenham. Our Vic, winner here last here has only one run to his name this season when he pulled up in the King George on Boxing Day and is difficult to back here at 6/1 to repeat last years success. There are question marks over whether Tidal Bay will run and his form has been erratic this season after blowing the field away in last years Arkle. That leaves Imperial Commander as the main contest for the favourite and although there are obvious questions over whether he’s good enough, he does have an impressive Paddy Power Gold Cup win to his name back here in November.

The feature race sees one of the weeks hottest favourites look to go one better than last year in the World Hurdle at 15.20. French trained Kasbah Bliss (11/10) looks a good thing here after pushing dual winner Inglis Drever all the way twelve months ago. That form followed up with an impressive reappearance at Haydock in February and has the trends of a World Hurdle winner.

Looking at the trends you could put a line through all but four of the runners. Big Bucks, Punchestowns and Fair Along finished first, second and third respectively in the Cleeve Hurdle back in January and although the ground will be better come Thursday they still have to go some to beat the favourite in my book. In fact, the outsider of the trio Fair Along looks a decent each-way bet at 11/1 with totesport.

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