Cheltenham Tips: Our Championship races Cheat Sheet as Paddy goes non runner no bet

I have long wanted to take Honeysuckle on in this because I don’t think she’s half as good as her record suggests. APPRECIATE IT has always looked a potential star and looks a bet to nothing to beat her. 

I’d be shocked if APPRECIATE IT  is out of the first three in the Champion Hurdle and he’s the only horse that could possibly beat Honeysuckle. 

APPRECIATE IT bolted up in the Supreme Novices Hurdle last year and is surely the value against the hot fav Honeysuckle. We mightn’t see him until the day of the race though but non runner money back at least covers us if he doesn’t get there.

He might represent the value and I’d probably back ADAGIO each- way in the without  Honeysuckle market.

SHISHKIN is an absolute beast for Nicky Henderson and Nico de Boinville. I fully expect him to win. 

I think SHISHKIN will beat Willie’s two runners in Energumene and Chacun Pour Soi – and it’s going to hurt whichever way it is.

I’m a huge fan of SHISHKIN as he tries to do what Altior did by winning the Supreme Novices, Arkle Chase and Champion Chase treble.

My 1-2-3 against the field is SHISHKIN,  Energumene and Nube Negra. 

FLOORING PORTER can do it again and defend his crown. This is a good race for returning winners and the Irish raider  might just have too much pace for Paisley Park and Champ, who was a real flop last time  after landing the Long Walk Hurdle in style.

What Paisley Park did in the Cleeve was remarkable. As I said it wouldn’t have happened if I was riding him. I definitely would have pulled up.  Champ was disappointing. I’d be with SPORTING JOHN each-way.

THYME HILL will come into the race a fresh horse as he hasn’t been seen since the Long Walk Hurdle in December when he was runner-up to Champ.  The former Ballymore Novices Hurdle winner has the class to win this.

SPORTING JOHN is a great price and with Paddy now Non Runner Money Back on All Races, that would appeal to me.

I’ll be playing AL BOUM PHOTO each-way here for Willie Mullins. Indeed I put him up at 20-1 on Attheraces early in the season and have no reason to change as a muddled picture has just become more and more muddled in recent times. Hard to keep out the frame.

He’s won two Gold Cups and third in another and while he’s 10 years old, AL BOUM PHOTO is fresh and well and I can’t see him out of the money. 

I like the profile of GALVIN. He won the National Hunt Chase over 3m 6f last season and stepped up to win the Grade 1 Savills Chase at Christmas beating A Plus Tard. He stays strongly and is proven at the Festival.

GALVIN is rock solid for Friday’s feature but at the prices I would debate taking a chance on the King George winner Tornado Flyer each-way also.