We cross over the halfway line at the Cheltenham Festival on day three, with the Stayers' Hurdle the main dish, just shading a cracking Ryanair Chase for top billing.
There are four tough handicaps to be tackled, including the new Jack Richards Novices' Limited Handicap Chase, a Grade 2 event.
They race at Cheltenham from 1:20-5:20 on day three with conditions underfoot remaining 'Good to soft-soft in places'.
1.20 - Ryanair Mares' Novices' Hurdle (Grade 2, 2m1f)
Willie Mullins saddles an incredible seven contenders in a field of 24 young mares. It almost goes without saying but ruling any of his brigade out would be folly. Paul Townend is on Aurora Vega, who has looked good since her blot at Wexford in the autumn, while Patrick Mullins is now the man on long-time antepost favourite Maughreen.
They look the likeliest pair, but Karoline Banbou (Mark Walsh) and Magic McColgan (Danny Mullins) aren't overlooked in any great haste. Galileo Dome was second in the Grade 1 Juvenile at last month's DRF and is an ex-Flat performer with scope for better.
SIXANDAHALF was above average on the Flat and she made an impressive start over hurdles at Fairyhouse in January, pulling clear of a sound yardstick in easy fashion. She rises in grade now but Gavin Cromwell has plenty of faith in her and she may take this in her stride.
Jubilee Alpha for Paul Nicholls and Harry Cobden is progressing quite quickly over hurdles and looks the best of the British-based runners.
SELECTION: SIXANDAHALF
NEXT BEST: MAGIC MCCOLGAN
2.00 - Jack Richards Novices' Limited Handicap Chase (Grade 2, 2m4½f)
After some poor turnouts in recent times when this was a Grade 1, a field of 20 will line-up in this first reincarnation as a handicap.
New Year's Day course and distance scorer Springwell Bay remains a big player despite a ratings-hike to the tune of 9lb. He should go well.
Firefox is classy and interesting turning to handicaps for Gordon Elliott, while Nurburgring is a possible improver alongside Asian Master for their top Irish stables.
The expensively acquired Caldwell Potter goes handicapping off a mark of 146 and is one to pay close attention to for Paul Nicholls, while Ben Pauling's Pic Roc is progressing with each start over fences and could be a danger to all.
ES PERFECTO may be a 10-year-old but Alan King's charge hasn't got many miles on the clock. He comes here off the back of a career-best in his win at Sandown and it's worth recalling that he twice ran well over C&D last season as a novice.
SELECTION: ES PERFECTO
NEXT BEST: PIC ROC
2.40 - Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle (3m)
A really fiendish puzzle. Jeriko Du Reponet is proving popular for Nicky Henderson but he hasn't always lived up to his reputation and needs better in first-time cheekpieces. At the prices, his stablemate Shanagh Bob would make more appeal.
Last-time-out winner Will The Wise is shortlisted and brings the likes of Maxi Mac Gold, Lucky Lyreen and Patter Merchant into things on that form.
Paul Nicholls won this a year ago with Monmiral and Henri The Second is a very solid contender for him now. He stormed home over this sort of trip for the first time at Sandown in December and found only a progressive rival too strong back there last month. He'll handle this quicker surface and the handicapper hasn't nailed him.
The same can be said of ZAIN NIGHTS for Lucy Wadham. His third over C&D in October behind The Wallpark has received a host of form boosts since. He had a couple of missteps after but last month's Huntingdon fourth behind Super Survivor and Shanagh Bob was encouraging. He's rated 2lb lower than for that autumn run here and looks overpriced.
SELECTION: ZAIN NIGHTS
NEXT BEST: HENRI THE SECOND
3.20 - Ryanair Chase (2m4½f)
This course has to be a concern for Il Est Francais, given the French ace has looked so at ease on the flat confines of Kempton in his UK raids. That said, he's respected.
Fact To File won here over 3m as a novice last season but dreams of the Gold Cup have been shattered. He won the John Durkan at Punchestown (2m3f) on his comeback but hasn't landed a blow on Galopin Des Champs in two runs since. Willie Mullins opts for the easier option, seemingly, and we've seen this week with Lossiemouth how that can play out.
PROTEKTORAT held off previous winner Envoi Allen to land this a year ago, and they could have a big say again. Dan Skelton's grey held up that form at Aintree afterwards and looked good in dismissing Djelo by a wide margin at Windsor in January. He has an excellent course record, especially at this trip, and it's not hard to forgive his December Gold Cup sixth when he was lumping weight to the field.
Old rival Envoi Allen wasn't suited by the King George (again) at Christmas but could be a different prospect back here.
SELECTION: PROTEKTORAT
NEXT BEST: ENVOI ALLEN
4.00 - Stayers' Hurdle (Grade 1, 3m)
He's been a bit friendless in the betting over recent days but TEAHUPOO holds the ace-hand here for Gordon Elliott and Jack Kennedy.
He was unlucky in this race two years ago and won in good style last time around. He's at his peak when fresh and the fact he was second to Lossiemouth over 2m4f in the Hatton's Grace in December now doesn't look so bad. That is her trip, not his, and he was giving 7lb. Previous to that his record when returning from a break of 90 days or more read 11111 and he looks the one to beat.
He holds the likes of Home By The Lee, Buddy One and Crambo on previous form, while Grade 2 scorers Nemean Lion and Gowel Road need more in this company. Langer Dan usually resurrects himself from a winter slumber at this meeting but, even for him, this would be Lazarus-esque.
The Wallpark is a progressive stayer and stablemate of Teahupoo, but will do well to perform a 'Sire Du Berlais' on his Cullentra peer now. Bob Olinger, in the same ownership as the favourite, is a perfect 3-3 at Cheltenham with two Festival wins. He's unexposed at this 3m trip and can make it a one-two for owners Robcour.
SELECTION: TEAHUPOO
NEXT BEST: BOB OLINGER
4.40 - TrustATrader Plate Handicap Chase (2m4½f)
Last year's winner Shakem Up'arry likely has been focusing on returning here for a while. Ben Pauling's charge is set to run well again but his stablemate PERSONAL AMBITION could be the one now. He's 0-4 since going chasing this season but has mixed it in some fairly decent company along the way.
He might well have won at Ascot in December bar a mistake late in the race. Most of his racing over fences has come in small fields and he may relish this new scenario. A mark of 137 looks entirely fair and the first-time cheekpieces may spark improvement.
Jagwar merits his spot atop the market given the hugely encouraging start he has made over fences but at the prices he's got something to prove.
Masaccio and Fugitif could run well but Gavin Cromwell plays a strong hand and Path d'Oroux could be the best of his quartet. He was third in the Grand Annual here last season and his form this season is solid, while he may now flourish upped in trip.
SELECTION: PERSONAL AMBITION
NEXT BEST: PATH D'OROUX
5.20 – Kim Muir Challenge Cup Amateur Jockeys' Handicap Chase (3m2f)
Patrick Mullins has a stellar CV at this great place, but the Kim Muir remains missing from it. That can change now with SA MAJESTE in the JP McManus hoops for his father, Willie. He went off well-fancied in the Coral Cup last year but the helter-skelter of that contest didn't appeal and he faded.
He's making good progress over fences, winning 2-4 so far in Ireland and also mixing it with some horses. He had to tough it out over a furlong less at Fairyhouse last time, and should see this trip out on his handicap debut over fences. He has scope for much better.
Gavin Cromwell's Mint Boy is a possible improver going up in trip and makes the shortlist, while UK hopes are headlined by Westerninthepark for Olly Murphy alongside Nicky Henderson's Wiseguy.
SELECTION: SA MAJESTE
NEXT BEST: WESTERNINTHEPARK
