WINNERS ENCL SURE BESTBETS BESTODDS

YESTERDAY was nothing short of a bloodbath for bookmakers as bankers Samcro, Presenting Percy and Altior all won. Punters are now well in front at the halfway mark. Today is the unofficial St Patrick’s Day at Cheltenham but we will be taking on some of the Irish good things none the less. With plenty of rain forecast, the third day is expected to be really testing. I really fancy TERREFORT to run a big race for his trainer Nicky Henderson in the JlT Novices’ Chase. He made a big impression on his British debut and then again at Sandown in February. The testing conditions will be right up his street so I have him on my shortlist at 4-1. The favourite, INVITATION ONLY, is one we will be taking our fair share of. He was impressive when winning a Grade Three at Punchestown but came third to Monalee last time out at the Dublin Racing Festival and there are others in the race we prefer. The Irish dominate the Pertemps Network Hurdle and Gordon Elliott trains favourite

GLENLOE, owned by JP McManus. He has been placed in all three of his starts this season in similar races to this. Cheltenham will suit him and he has plenty more to come. Many believe UN DE SCEAUX has the Ryanair Chase sewn up. However, he is 10 years old and was all out at the end of the race last year. The soft ground could make it even more of a stamina test than before. With Waiting Patiently out of the Ryanair Chase, I think CLOUDY DREAM at 12-1 is an able deputy and can make up for his absence. He came second to Altior in last year’s Racing Post Arkle and his form this season looks good, with seconds to the likes of Definitly Red and Native River. I think he is good enough to cause an upset. The feature race on the card is the Stayers Hurdle where SAM SPINNER has replaced Supasundae as favourite. He will try and complete a rags-to-riches story for trainer Jedd O’Keefe. The rain is in his favour and he is a worthy favourite.

. . . BUT KEEP AN EYE ON THESE OUTSIDERS TERREFORT AND CLOUDY DREAM

I have been to a lot of Cheltenham preview nights and the one horse nobody is arguing with is 8-13 banker LAURINA in the Mares Novices’ Hurdle. Reports from the stable have been nothing short of glowing. She is top class and there will be no ground issues.

SQUOUATEUR runs in the Kim Muir and although he is at the front of the betting, we will look to be competitive about him. last year he unseated Jamie Codd when three out. He is always backed at the Festival but I think is running out of excuses. Our traders look to be top price about

PENDRA, but I think he could be value each-way. He has great Cheltenham form and always seems to be placed.

PUNTERS WILL PILE MONEY ON THESE HOT PICKS INVITATION ONLY, UN DE SCEAUX, SAM SPINNER AND LAURINA