RACE-BY-RACE GUIDE TO DAY 3

1.30

Yorkhill has huge potential but he’s very short at 7/4 and preference is for Paul Nicholls’ POLITOLOGUE at 11/2 or thereabouts. A Grade Two winner at Ascot, he’s jumping is particularly impressive. He can sometimes sweat up a bit pre-race but it’s nothing to worry about.

2.10

With a forecast price of 40/1,

ALZAMMAAR is friendless in the betting here but this is a tough race to crack and there’s been lots of big-priced winners. Sam England’s gelding stayed on to claim fifth in a handicap hurdle off this mark at Musselburgh recently and seems to be improving

2.50

Uxizandre won this in 2015, but was beaten by UN DE SCEAUX in the Clarence House Chase here last time and there’s no reason to believe the form will be reversed. Mullins has had a tough Festival to date with Douvan beaten yesterday, but a price of 11/4 for this seems fair.

3.30

UN O WHAT I MEAN HARRY has successfully taken on most of these already and is a worthy favourite around 5/4. He continues to improve for Harry Fry and should prove hard to beat although Cole Harden and Jezki won’t go down without a fight.

4.10

THOMAS CRAPPER gets into this at the bottom of the weights and makes appeal, priced in the region of 11/1. He’s up 3lbs to 133 for winning a Handicap Chase at Newbury earlier this month but he’s won off higher in the past and seems to be coming back to form.

4.50

Willie Mullins has a very strong hand here with LET’S DANCE, Airlie Beach and Asthuria and the former gets the nod to follow up the stable’s win last year with Limini. She’s a versatile sort which has the best form in the book, although the step back in trip may not be ideal.

5.30

A very tricky handicap so it’s not a race for heavy punting. Southfield Royale is in with a chance at these weights while Mall Dini and Squouateur both look open to improvement. But a tentative vote goes to Fergal O’Brien’s ALVARADO at a big each-way price around 25/1. He was second in the Scottish National last year but has been eased slightly in the weights after a couple of mediocre performances since.