RACE-BY-RACE GUIDETODAY4

1.30

APPLE’S JADE let down her backers in the Mares’ Hurdle on Tuesday, but her sister APPLE’S SHAKIRA can make amends in today’s opener. A French import for Nicky Henderson, she’s won her three British races to date, all at this course, and she can handle tough underfoot conditions.

2.10

RATED 140, FLYING TIGER gets the nod around 12/1 for Nick Williams under Noel Fehily. He won the Fred Winter here off 134 last year and he wasn’t disgraced when finishing middivision in some Group races since.

2.50

NICKY Henderson has a strong hand here with Chef Des Obeaux and SANTINI. The former was favourite in the early betting yesterday, but the latter gets the nod around 5/1. A Grade One winner here in January, he looked a proper stayer in the heavy ground and is one for the notebook.

3.30

INJURED Ruby Walsh said recently that MIGHT BITE is potentially one of the greatest horses we’ve ever seen. That’s high praise indeed although he does have his quirks, and nearly threw the RSA Chase away last year. This year’s Gold Cup looks wide open and the likes of Native River and Our Duke are not easily discounted. But aged nine, Might Bite is one of the best chasers in the business and should have more to come.

4.10

LAST year’s winner PACHA DU POLDER has each-way claims around 16/1 for Paul Nicholls. He looked like he needed the run when third in a hunter chase at Doncaster last time, but he’ll act on the ground and should be thereabouts.

4.50

ANOTHER Nicholls’ runner, AMOUR DE NUIT, gets the vote each-way once again at an outside price of 40/1. He won a Listed handicap hurdle at Kempton in October and he seems to have a bit of stamina. Flawless Escape and Diese Des Bieffes are others for the shortlist.

5.30

NOT a race for heavy punting, BOUVREUIL goes well here at Cheltenham and offers a little bit of value around 16/1. The handicapper has dropped him a couple of pounds to 142 following his latest race when sixth, but he was hampered so that run is forgiven.