BOB OLINGER 13:20 Cheltenham 15/8 – Extremely impressive when winning a Naas Grade 1 in January and can follow up in this. GALLARD DU MESNIL and BRAVEMANSGAME are respected too.

MONKFISH 13:55 Cheltenham 4/11 – A lot of peoples festival nap and the odds reflect it. Expected to win on the bridle.

BIRCHDALE 14:30 Cheltenham 14/1 each way – Finished eighth in this race last year off 2lb higher and is expected to be a lot closer today.

NUBE NEGRA 15:05 Cheltenham 11/1 each way – Hard to get away from CHACUN POUR SOI and he was my pick in the Cheltenham mag when 6/1, I hope some of you got on at those odds, however 4/5 is absolutely no value. NUBE NEGRA was very classy when winning the Desert Orchid at Kempton just after Christmas and is cracking each way value.

EASYSLAND 15:40 Cheltenham 5/6 – Easy winner of this race last year (and tipped by me too). Beaten favourite over course and distance back in November but that was a handicap and he was conceding 22lb to the winner. Impossible to oppose off level weights today.

US AND THEM 16:15 Cheltenham 14/1 each way – Third in this last year off 1lb higher, also finished a close second in the 2019 Arkle. That festival form is worth its weight in gold.

ELLE EST BELLE 16:50 Cheltenham 22/1 each way – Willie Mullins KILCRUIT is a worthy favourite but favourites have a habit of being turned over in this race. Not many mares run in the Champion Bumper but they do have a good record in the race, that is one of the reasons I am siding with the unbeaten ELLE EST BELLE who can take full advantage of her 7lb sex allowance.

1.20pm – BOB OLINGER – got us underway with our first win of the day!  Bob Olinger raced keenly, held up in close 5th, headway into 2nd before 4th until 4 out, chased leaders, switched out and 2nd again before 2 out, challenged going well 2 out, led before last, 5 lengths ahead last, quickened further clear run-in, impressive win!

1.55pm – MONKFISH – another race, another winner for our tips! Monkfish led, slow 2nd, not fluent and headed 8th, led 4 out, soon headed, led again 3 out, 3 1/2 lengths ahead of 2nd but had loose horse just in front when mistake last, stayed on well, comfortably winning by 6.5 lengths.

2.30pm – BIRCHDALE – was held up towards rear, headway on inside when not clear run and switched right before the last, slightly hampered after the last, kept on towards finish but only managed 6th place.

3.05pm – NUBE NEGRA – pipped at the post by half a length, was held up towards rear, closed 4 out, stumbled slightly last, switched right flat, stayed on, went 2nd towards finish, couldn't quite reach the winner however Each Way money was taken at 11/1

3.40pm – EASYSLAND – waited with towards rear, hit 9th, headway approaching 14th, went 2nd 8 out, hit 5 out, stayed on same pace no chance with easy winner who was 18 lengths in front.  Big shout out to Tiger Roll though for a fantastic performance!

4.15pm  – US AND THEM – was prominent, every chance after 3 out, mistake and weakened last to finish 11th,

4.50pm – ELLE EST BELLE – advised at 22/1 each way, we'll take the place money for a third place – was held up in rear, pushed along in 7th entering home straight, kept on final 2f, went 3rd towards finish, no chance with leading duo

Ladies Day began in some style when ENVOI ALLEN recorded an easy win in the Ballymore Novices Hurdle.

MINELLA INDO was leading going over the last in the RAS Chase but an awkward jump left the door open for CHAMP and he had to settle for the runners up spot.

The Coral Cup saw PROTEKTORAT with every chance approaching the last but he weakened away tamely before the last.

DEFI DU SEUIL turned out to be a disappointing odds-on favourite in the Queen Mother Champion Chase finishing a well beaten fourth of five.

The Cross Country Chase gave us another winner when EASYSLAND drew clear of the well backed fands favourite TIGER ROLL.

In the Juvenile Novices Hurdle THYME WHITE appeared not to stay on the soft ground going quickly from having every chance 2 flights out to having no chance at the last.

In the Champion Bumper PANIC ATTACK was held up and never even looked like getting involved.

Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle

Brown Advisory Novice Chase

Coral Cup

The Champion Chase

The Cross-Country Chase

Grand Annual Chase

The Champion Bumper