JP McManus bolstered his Cheltenham team with the purchase of THE NEW LION, after his facile success in the G1 Challow Hurdle. He didn’t come off the bridle, in registering a fourth straight victory, and to remain unbeaten over hurdles. Final Demand was an easy winner last time and holds obvious appeal for the Willie Mullins team, but he doesn’t have as much experience as the selection, who may just edge a thrilling battle at Prestbury Park.

Winning his first four starts over hurdles, which consisted of two wins here at Cheltenham, Potters Charm is dangerous at a big price in the Turners here today.

Missing out on a five-timer when finishing second here in January, he will be thankful for the break given his busy winter schedule, and given he dominated by 11 lengths in his latest victory here, he holds solid each way claims.

DANCING CITY could serve it up to likely hot-favourite and stablemate, Ballyburn. Last season’s Albert Bartlett third, is a three-time Grade One winner over hurdles, who has registered a record of two-from-two over fences – including an excellent jumping display at Naas in January. A strong pace would suit this stout stayer, which isn’t guaranteed, with a small field, but he is a progressive type.

A seven-year-old who looks more suited to further trips, and given he is taking on 3m for the first time today, further improvement looks likely. Losing one of his last seven appearances when beaten by Sir Gino over a shorter 2m in December, he stepped back up in trip at Leopardstown, where he finished full of running to win by five lengths.

Although this is his first race over 3m, he looks well suited to this trip, and given he won well at the festival last year over 2m5f, he holds leading claims here today.

BEAT THE BAT enters calculations, following a brace of fair efforts in unsuitable two-mile handicap hurdles. His reappearance second at Haydock confirmed his promise as a talented type, with the step up in journey expected to firmly suit. He ran three lengths behind a now-rated 144 horse that day, which suggests an official mark of 133 could be lenient. His jumping has been an issue lately, but that could improve at a likely slower pace over this 2m5f trip.

A consistent seven-year-old who has finished inside the top three in all eight appearances over hurdles and given he has picked up four wins along the way, he holds bold claims here today.

A previous winner at Cheltenham back in November 2023 and producing a career-best on his return in November last year after an 11-month absence, further improvement looks on the cards from a stable that has landed this race twice.

STUMPTOWN may defy an 8lb rise for a comfortable success over course-and-distance in December. That fine win improved his strike-rate in cross-country chases to 3-4. First-time blinkers sparked improvement when he scored at this venue, over conventional fences, last year, and he could easily repeat the trick in first-time cheekpieces.

Latest form that doesn’t look appealing to the eye. However, his performances over course and distance paint a different picture. Racing three times over course and distance, he has recorded results of 2,1,3 and given he had every chance of winning in December when finishing behind Mister Coffey and Stumptown, he is now 8lb better off than Stumptown and holds bold each way claims on his return.

MARINE NATIONALE appears to be peaking at the right time, for trainer Barry Connell. The 2023 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle winner, he could improve significantly returning to this venue, with the proposition of a quick surface another potential catalyst for progress. He came out of the chasing pack to go close to reeling in tearaway front-runner, Solness, at Leopardstown last time. With a strong pace likely here, Marine Nationale looks poised to go well.

Landing this race twice throughout his career, Energumene can’t be overlooked here today, especially given Jonbon has been the only horse to beat him in his last four starts.

Historically running well in the Champion Chase when winning by an impressive 10 lengths in 2023, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him step up to the occasion again, and with Jonbon’s only three losses coming here at Cheltenham, Energumene looks appealing at his price.

JAZZY MATTY appears a well-handicapped contender, from an official chase mark of 135. The 2023 Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle winner, he looks to have been primed for this target all year, having been given a prep run over hurdles last time. His previous chase run is working out well – he tried to give a now-rated 144 horse 8lb – and only went down by a neck.

Although Unexpected Party hasn’t won in his last five appearances, he produced a solid second at Windsor in January and is looking to land this race for the second year in a row.

Staying on gamely last year when winning this on testing ground, he is met with firmer ground this year, which will only help his cause, and after putting in convincing performances of late, back-to-back festival victories looks a real possibility.

In what is always a tricky conundrum to decipher, with a whole host of thoroughly unexposed types, Willie Mullins is likely to have his battalion ready to go close. GAME OF INCHES beat a pair of subsequent winners in a point-to-point, prior to an effortless Punchestown bumper triumph at short odds. He strikes as the big type who will appreciate a stronger pace, which is more than likely here.

Solid form when racing in two bumpers here last year, Fortune De Mer finished a close second on his rules debut in October before going one better and scoring over course and distance in November.

Showing promising signs before racing keenly at Huntingdon last month when fourth, the five-year-old holds solid each way claims and looks appealing at his price to bounce back at a track he has previously run well at.