Cheltenham Festival: Gary O’Brien & Ruby Walsh’s Lucky 15s

2.00 Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase on Wednesday 

This race has opened up a little bit of late after events at the DRF in particular. 

Wendigo is a rock solid horse. I know it was a nothing race he won at Ayr the other day, but I think they'll be more of an accent on stamina in the Brown Advisory than there was in the Kauto Star at Kempton, over Christmas, where he was only really getting going late on.

And he did run well at the Festival over hurdles last year, when he was a bit better than the bare form, so I expect him to be thereabouts. 

3.20 Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase on Wednesday 

Stumptown is a horse I love, but sooner or later maybe there is going to be one to come along in that discipline and beat him, and Favori De Champdou looked so good last time and should be getting a nice bit of weight from the top horse. And, who knows, there might be a few other key players that don’t make the gig. 

1.20 Ryanair Mares Novices’ Hurdle on Thursday 

I have maximum respect for Oldschool Outlaw, who is a very good mare and hacked up at Fairyhouse the other day, but I thought Bambino Fever just jumped a little bit high when she took her on at Naas [in December] and hopefully she will be a bit slicker and faster. She's had her confidence boosting win in the meantime, and I think she might get her revenge. 

3.20 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle on Friday 

My final pick is the one from left field, which might look as though it takes a bit of explaining, but I don't think it does.

They Call Me Hugo won very well in a weak race on his first start for Olly Murphy and then he went to Cheltenham at the December Meeting for a graded noivice hurdle and I thought he was unlucky not to win as he was patiently ridden in a race that wasn't run at a breakneck gallop, and put in some good late work after being hampered at a crucial stage.

I think that was the difference between winning and losing and that there's plenty more to come from him.

I'd give him a pass for his defeat at Windsor after that as well. He  made a mistake at the last and perhaps connections, in hindsight, would have made a bit more use of him. I think he'll be in the mix as he could easily be unbeaten in his last three runs and yet he's priced up like he's a no hoper. 

3.20 Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase on Wednesday 

4.00 BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase on Wednesday 

To me, it’s pretty obvious. I thought what he did at the DRF was spectacular. The cheekpieces were the making of him as he was concentrating, there was no running around, he was straight, he was accurate.  

2.40 Mrs Paddy Power Mares' Chase on Friday 

She's had a great prep through the season in the right races and she's going there on a high. I have huge regard for Spindleberry,  who is a very good mare, but she had a tough outing  in the Irish Gold Cup and you just wonder what that would have done to her esteem as much as anything else. 

4.40 St. James’s Place Festival Hunters' Chase on Friday 

I’m taking a bit of shot here because I wouldn't be strong on hunter chase form, but I liked what I saw from Panda Boy at Thurles and at Naas, and John Gleeson will him. He's the right type of horse for the race as he’s only a ten-year-old and not that long ago he was running to a very high standard in good handicap chases.