3:30 Cheltenham Tips

Dan Skelton (SR 23%) has had the most success at this current three-day Cheltenham festival, and Mirabad can add to the tally. Three wins from eight hurdles outings, and the form has a good look about it. Has often pulled a long way clear, as he did when winning a Class 3 handicap hurdle by 5.5 lengths here last year. Handicap mark of 129 looks workable, especially in this race where Harry Skelton (SR 32%) carries 10-13.

Serious Challenge was placed at Listed class on the flat when rated around 100, and that suggests the 5-year-old could well have the class to win this off 127 and towards the bottom of the handicap. Arguably, his crucial hurdles form was a win on heavy from Bowensonfire, which subsequently won off 123. Serious Challenge hammered him in that race despite him being heavy odds-on, and he clearly loved the heavy ground, so there's a lot to like about his chances here.

Alan King won this race with Elgin a few years back, and he’ll be hoping Castle Carrock can follow suit. His novice hurdle success at Sandown looks solid form, with Diva Luna ??' who finished behind him that day ??' winning impressively in a Listed chase only a few days ago. Kap Vert, who reappears on Friday, also ties into that strong line of form. He ended last season highly regarded, earning entries in a Grade 2 at Kelso and a Grade 1 at Ascot, which speaks volumes for his potential. I do think the current price is a cracking each way bet with trust on fitness first time up.

Gibbs Island ticks a lot of boxes for this very competitive handicap. The ex-flat campaigner looks much better over hurdles and will handle today's going, only a 4yo. Seven of the last ten winners have been 5yo or less.

Despite Nicky Henderson's plans to return to chasing with his 7-year-old, the 2023 winner of this race must be worth an each-way punt here, particularly taking into account his record first-time out and with the ground in his favor.

Can't believe the price here. Some of the best form in the race will absolutely love the ground conditions and looks on a handy weight.

Looks to have been laid out for this by new connections, having posted a good level of form on soft/heavy ground for the Haggas yard previously. Won a maiden hurdle last winter before finishing last of 3 in a conditional event behind Anzadam. Off since but reappears in a handicap from a mark of 138, and blinkers go on having won in them the first time for Haggas.

Dedicated Hero makes the long trip down to Cheltenham from the Scottish Borders and is fit from having a run at Carlisle where he finished ahead of Faivoir who also runs here. His best form is on soft so he should appreciate the testing conditions.

King William Rufus looks a big price for the Greatwood hurdle. He has crept in at the bottom of the handicap and with Harry Cobden booked to ride he could lead them a merry dance.

This is a wide open handicap, and it's quite likely one or two of the places will be filled by big price runners. No Ordinary Joe has some good runs in big fields here in the past, and handles soft ground well. The fact he's moved from Nicky Henderson to a smaller trainer should ensure the bookies don't squeeze his price as they generally concentrate on the runners from the bigger yards. He's a speculative suggestion, to be backed each way to small amounts.