Cheltenham Bankers: Timeform’s 3 best bets for Tuesday

Nap

Asterion Forlonge – 13:30 Cheltenham (Supreme Novices Hurdle)

This looks another brilliant renewal of the Supreme, and the one that stands out is the Willie Mullins-trained Asterion Forlonge. He only made his debut over hurdles in January, but he has quickly made up into one of the top novices around, landing a Grade 1 at Leopardstown last month on just his second start in this sphere.

His tendency to jump right at his hurdles is a slight concern, but there in no denying his ability, and he looks a strong contender for a yard that know what it takes to win this race.

RECOMMENDED READS:

• Ruby Walsh’s Cheltenham Festival Cheat Sheet
• Frank Hickey’s 3 horses he fancies who are well handicapped
• Paul Jacobs 4 value plays to save the day
• 5 Irish runners to back at the Festival

Next best

Vinndication – 14:50 Cheltenham (Ultima Handicap Chase)

A typically competitive handicap, but Vinndication looks attractively weighted, and is very much unexposed over staying distances.

He was a very smart novice last season, winning his first two starts over fences, and finished fifth behind Defi du Seuil in the JLT Novices’ Chase at this meeting.

Vinndication made his opening handicap mark look very lenient on his return from eight months off at Ascot in November, and that race has worked out well, so a subsequent 8 lb rise could prove lenient. Admittedly, there is room for improvement in his jumping, but he has likely been saved for this and he holds leading claims.

Each way

Galvin – 16:50 Cheltenham (Northern Trust Novice Handicap)

One that stands out as being potentially well handicapped is Galvin, who has shaped well behind some smart types the last twice.

There is a feeling that he has been ridden with an eye to the future, and he wasn’t disgraced in the Ballymore last season, so has Cheltenham Festival experience.

It would be no surprise were he to go close for a yard that know how to ready one for this meeting.