With the final declarations now made for Day 1 at Cheltenham we take a closer look at the races.

Paddy Power Handicap Chase

The first race of the meeting is a 1m 7f 199y Handicap Chase where La Vaticane is favourite on chase debut for David Pipe. Martin Pipe had a great record at this meeting and his son David Pipe has a good record too and this one could well start the meeting with a win.

Having had just 1 run for David over hurdles the day after the Cheltenham Festival at Kempton he finished a good 2nd behind the Nicky Henderson trained Thienval who went on to win again at Aintree in a Grade 3 handicap hurdle off a 10lb higher mark. La Vaticane was running off a mark of 126 over hurdles and has been allocated a mark of 134 over fences. He has run over fences before in France and won by 15 lengths so has proven himself over fences and statistically he should be better over fences (9.9% over hurdles compared to 17.5% over fences) and the course should also suit. David Pipe has had 1 winner and 2 places from his 9 runners in this in the last 10 years (unplaced were at 16/1, 50/1, 22/1, 20/1, whilst he had 1 finish 3rd @ 7/2 when only 7 ran and 5/1 that finished 4th). With improvement likely then he should run a big race and it could come down to whether he is fit.

Lough Kent has had 2 runs this season albeit back in May when winning at Warwick before finishing 3rd at Worcester. He was last seen at Cheltenham when finishing 3rd to Hurricane Hollow in a conditional riders race over hurdles. He has been raised 15lb for his win and 3rd place back in May however he could still run well with Nico De Boinville despite never having troubled the judge on his attempts around Cheltenham. He would be suited to trying to make all however does have some others that may take him on in this race.

Le Bacardy won 2 runs ago before stepping up in class to run in the Old Roan Chase on his return from a 161 lay off and that run should have stripped him much fitter for this race. This is a significant drop in class and has already improved for Dan Skelton and could well continue to improve here. If he does then he should run a decent race. With plenty of pace in the race he is likely to sit just behind this and hope those at the front go too hard.

Pearls Legend has his 2nd run of the season having run really well on seasonal reappearance at Ascot when finishing 2nd to Cold March for trainer in form Venetia Williams. Having run so well at Ascot, Sandown and Kempton it’s not clear if he acts this way round nor whether this course will suit and this may be a test for a race later on in the season in particular the Grand Annual where runners from this race generally end up in March.

One horse who is very likely to end up in the Grand Annual later this season is Sew On Target who has a good record here at Cheltenham, particularly over 2miles and when ridden prominent/leading with form figures of 221. Having raced over further he was dropped back to 2 miles last time out at Cheltenham but was ridden conservatively and that clearly didn’t work. He finished 2nd in this race last year off a 7lb lower mark and that too came after a disappointing return. He could well bounce back here and if he jumps prominently you would be hopeful of a good run.

Steel Plate And Sections Novice Chase

Former World Hurdle Champion More of That makes his return from a 349 day lay off and is sent chasing for the first time. This race in the past has been won by some smart horses including Dynaste, Grands Crus and Imperial Commander.

More of That comes off here off a lay off and is having his first run over fences and obviously could be very special however he may come into his own when running over further. Barry Geraghty rides and it wouldn’t be a surprise if he taught him plenty tomorrow and isn’t likely to be hard ridden late on. Although sent chasing this isn’t guaranteed unlike others in this race to bring out improvement and it wouldn’t be a total surprise if he was beaten.

Might Bite was a very impressive looking hurdler last year having won both including at Cheltenham despite hanging late on. Chasing should suit this big strong looking type and they have a better strike rate over fences (11.8%) compared to hurdles (8.00%) and he could well be one to watch out for over fences. He is likely to have been well schooled and Nicky Henderson will be looking at going one better than his only other runner in this race in the last 5 years in Oscar Whiskey who was beaten a neck by Taquin Du Seuil.

As De Mee was a good hurdler when winning the Grade 3 handicap hurdle at Sandown before finishing 6th at Aintree behind Nichols Canyon. He started off over fences with a good 2nd to Cocktails At Dawn who runs in the Paddy Power Gold Cup in a race that has worked out well as 3rd that day was Native River who has since won easily on his next start. As De Mee may well have lost out due to experience over fences as Cocktails At Dawn really tested the fields jumping. If he improves for that run then he may go well here.

Neptune Investment Management Novices Hurdle

This race has been won in the past by Coneygree who has gone on to be a superstar over fences whilst last years winner of this race Parlous Games finished 2nd at both the Cheltenham and Aintree festivals.

Penglai Pavilion was a former flat horse who finished 6th in an Arc behind Treve so has the speed but has proved himself over hurdles as well with 3 good wins. After winning the first 2 effortlessly he was stepped up in distance in October to run over CD and once again made the opposition look very moderate and this was even more impressive as reports were that he wasn’t fit hence his drift in the betting. This race looks stronger however with the experience under his belt he should be very hard to beat.

Shantou Village looks to be one of Neil Mulhollands potential stars having won a point to point, a bumper and then a novice hurdle in impressive fashion at Carlisle. The step up to this grade looks warranted and he should run a big race. The extra distance should suit and it would be no surprise to see this one be a big challenger to Penglai Pavilion.

Champers On Ice was a good winner in a bumper at Punchestown in a race won by Fletchers Flyer the previous year. Hurdles should really suit (21.8% strike rate compared to 19.8% in NHF races) and he could be very smart. It could be that his lack of a hurdle run could be a decisive factor in winning this race but he is sure to come on for it regardless of the result.

Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase

The title of this race is very important as unlike previous years this running of the Cross Country race will be a handicap. Uncle Junior has thrived in the non-handicap version of this race with 2 wins and 2 2nd’s (behind Balthazar King on both occasions) but has a lot of weight and is now 14 years old.

There are plenty of experienced Cross Country horses in this race including Uncle Junior, Any Currency and Sire Collognes as well as last years Cheltenham Festival winner Rivage D’or.

Grand National runner up Saint Are is having his first attempt at this course and certainly has the class to go close here including when 3rd in the Murphy Group Handicap Chase last year behind Sam Winner and The Druids Nephew. Having made it around the Grand National course he has proven he can jump and this discipline could suit him really. He will also stay this distance and this could be a nice start on route back to the Grand National.

Loose Chips is another who will be having his first spin around these fences and runs off a mark of 130 despite being rated as high as 139 this time last year. He has been in good form recently including when 2nd last time out and this run under his belt should see him go close here if he can stay the distance and get round this unique course.

Rivage D’Or won the Cheltenham Festival version of this race last year and this was impressive on his first attempt at the course. He is however 7lb higher for that victory and that may be enough as he didn’t really follow this win up with disappointing races afterwards.

Josies Orders has 2 runs in Cross Country races in Ireland and after falling on his first attempt at Punchestown he made amends just a few days later when beating Federici and could well be Enda Bolgers new Cross Country horse that goes and dominates. He has had a pipe opener over hurdles and should be spot on for this race.