Disclaimer: Compulsive gambling can harm your health and relationships, and leave you in serious debt. If you have a problem with gambling and you’d like to stop, support and treatment is available. To find information, support and counselling on gambling addiction, please visit the NHS website: www.bit.ly/NHSGambling

THIS to me is by far the best day of the Cheltenham Festival, with two feature events for the price of one and some cracking handicaps to boot. So let’s start with the latter and the Handicap Hurdle Final at 2.10 which is arguably the most open race of its kind of the week, hurdle or chase.

Earlier on in the season, Icare Allen was made quite a tight favourite on the back of his third at Aintree, but he hasn’t run since then, and to my eyes he has fallen down the pecking order. I prefer the two Henry De Bromhead runners, Gabby’s Cross and POPOVA, and will be having an each-way wager on both of them. The latter gets the nod based on her really eyecatching qualifying run at Punchestown behind Jody Ted and is too big in the marketplace.

I really wanted to see Monkfish run in the Stayers Hurdle, but Mr Mullins has deemed the Gold Cup much more suitable so I will probably side with NOBLE YEATS at 3.30. He stays better than all but Paisley Park and remains unexposed over timber as he will be having just his fourth hurdles start.

The Festival Trophy (2.50) looks a lot more interesting and unless the ground dries out substantially, then ante-post favourite Banbridge looks easy to bypass. GA Law comes here in better form than last year, but this is a much better renewal with more strength in depth.

Protektorat looks a natural for this trip with his free-running style but Harry Skelton will need to get his fractions spot on and I prefer Stage Star and CAPODANNO. The selection readily picked up The Real Whacker and company in the Cotswold Chase and this trip with an end to end gallop on the new course should prove perfect for his hold-up style.

Crebilly (4.10) has been the talking horse for the Plate and has solid claims, but as always in a big field handicap I will search for the each-way play and top weight JAMES DU BERLAIS fits the bill. Ever since his Cheltenham debut in the 2021 Champion Hurdle he has been very highly tried by his astute trainer, and his only two runs in handicap company have offered plenty of promise, especially his staying on third of 25 to Heart Wood at the Dublin Festival. He is only 3lbs higher here and this looks a renewal with little depth to it.

ZANAHIYR is my each-way play in the Golden Miller at 1.30, while WHERE IT ALL BEGAN can outstay his rivals in the Kim Muir at 5.30.