Peter Scudamore

8-TIME CHAMPION JOCKEY

The Festival ground is softer than many of us thought it would be a few weeks ago and that will be a positive for Dan Skelton-trained GALIA DES LITEAUX in the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase.

She was impressive on heavy ground when winning her last run at Warwick in January and although there is a pulled up in her form this season, that came after she made a bad jumping mistake at Kempton on Boxing Day which was out of character.

Generally, Galia Des Liteaux’s jumping has been very good with harry Skelton on board and, being a mare, she also receives a very useful 7lb allowance from her male opponents.

Willie Mullins has a mind-boggling 10 runners in the last race of the day, the Festival Bumper, which is an amazingly strong hand for the Irish champion trainer.

But don’t dismiss John McConnell-trained ENCANTO BRUNO. he’s been saved for this race since being an impressive winner over course and distance at Cheltenham’s October meeting.