What a race to kick-off the Cheltenham Festival with Facile Vega on a redemption mission after blowing out last time round. Will he win this, he could well do but is too short with questions to answer. His stablemate IL ETAIT TEMPS looks great value each-way after taking the Tattersalls Ireland Novice hurdle ahead of Facile Vega. That race is a key form line for this race with 4 of the last 10 winners coming from it. It was run at a really fast pace as this race usually is and I think he is underrated due to everyone concentrating on his popular stablemate. He will go very well again and looks solid each-way bet.

Facile Vega is the main danger if back to his best after he was found to be lame after his last run. It's a fairly quick turnaround so I just can’t have him at the prices despite his obvious class. He could also get taken on up-front again which would leave Paul Townend a few decisions to make. Marine Nationale is held in the highest regard by Barry Connell but he would be bucking plenty of trends coming here off a break since early December. He is a classy sort but won’t want too much rain beforehand. Tahmuras looks best of the British but has a fair bit to find on figures. High Definition was class on the flat but would only feature if sorting his jumping out.

This year’s Arkle is being billed as one of the races of the Festival and you can certainly see why. I was lucky enough to be in Ireland to witness El Fabiolo destroy them in the Irish equivalent and he will certainly put up a big fight in this. I can’t get away from JONBON though. I feel like too much has been read into that Warwick display and Nicky Henderson will have him perfectly primed for this. He is 3-3 over fences and remains a hugely exciting horse. He chased home Constitution Hill in the Supreme last year before beating El Fabiolo at Aintree. That horse has matured well since and would usually have this race at his mercy but I remain convinced Jonbon is one of the best horses in training and I think he has the edge again.

Dysart Dynamo will give them a perfect lead into the race and I can just see the pair of them swinging in on the bridle before battling it out up the hill. It will come down to who jumps better and I remain convinced the selection is the better of the pair. El Fabiolo clearly has an engine but he hammered 4 out at Leopardstown and I don’t think he will get away with a similar mistake here. He is a big horse and struggles to get himself organised sometimes. It is interesting Saint Roi comes here but he is up against it on the stats having unseated behind El Fabiolo last time out.

This is a race that is usually run at a frantic gallop and you really need to see out the extended 3 mile trip here. I was on CORACH RAMBLER last year and he is only 6lb higher here with a season tailored towards this race. He game from so far back last year but when he hit the hill he just took off and won easily in the end. This doesn’t look as good as last years race and he is the right favourite and the one to beat.

There aren’t as many novices in the race this season but MONBEG GENIUS is and seems to be improving with every run at this trip. You don’t usually get horses with a string on 1s next to their name winning this but Jonjo O’Neil did it with the Holywell winning this race in 2014. He has won his last 3 fairly comfortably with the form of his last run being franked. He has a nice weight and looks a cracking each-way price.

Into Overdrive has been a favourite of mine this season with two wins and a narrow defeat to L’Homme Presse looking solid form. If it isn’t too soft for him he will be a danger to all. The Irish have an awful record in the race but Fastorslow and The Goffer look like improvers and could go well. Happygolucky is a horse I backed in this 2 years ago finishing 2nd, with first time cheekpieces he could outrun his odds.

On paper this looks like a fascinating clash between State Man and CONSTITUTION HILL but in reality I think this will be a one-horse race. The latter has been mightily impressive and it is no exaggeration to say he could be one of the best horses we have ever seen. He is a perfect 5-5 under Rules and looks to have it all. A perfect mix of speed and stamina and a fast and economical jumper to boot it is hard to find any weaknesses in this horse. I get the feeling the best may yet be to come over fences but for now he should be way too good for these which is a big enough statement in itself with the second favourite also virtually flawless over hurdles so far. He can go forward or be dropped in and it is hard to see anything getting him off the bridle here.

State Man hammered Honeysuckle at the Dublin Racing Festival but it is hard to know how much that form is worth now with the latter regressing this season for me. He has answered every call so far though so it will be intriguing to see how many questions he asks of the favourite but I can only see one result and the market has it spot on. Of the rest Vauban is probably capable of running better than he did at Leopardstown given he made an early mistake so don’t entirely rule him out finishing second. I Like To Move It impressed winning the Kingwell but this is much deeper territory now and his weaknesses will likely be exposed.