Ross Millar's top horse racing tips for Monday

Festival Trials Day at Cheltenham on Saturday delivered plenty of excitement.

Pied Piper looked a bit special as he cantered to victory in the JCB Triumph Hurdle trial with Gordon Elliott, his trainer, afterwards suggesting that he could be re-routed to the Supreme to avoid clashing with stable mate Fil Dor. Well that makes that as clear as mud!

Even the toughest of hearts could not fail to warm at the sight of Paisley Park charging up his favourite hill, all the while pricking his over-sized ears. It was a victory that seemed unlikely when he forfeited lengths at the start.

The stayers’ division lacks a standout start but it certainly will be a competitive contest. Don’t rule him out for the big one in March and don’t dismiss Champ, as a big field in the Stayers’ will allow him to be delivered late, especially if ridden with greater restraint.

The racing in Britain on Monday comes from Plumpton and Hereford. I have three selections across those meetings.

Kerry Lee came very close to scooping the SkyBet Chase at Doncaster on Saturday with Storm Control, who jumped the last five-lengths clear only to be headed close home by Windsor Avenue.

I fancy she may well gain a small amount of compensation in the opening race at her local track. Black Poppy makes his handicap debut off a mark of just 108 and I think there is strong evidence that he’s favourably treated.

He won a bumper at Warwick on racecourse debut, beating, the now 132-rated Party Business. His hurdling debut was also full of promise, as he looked booked for second place behind the 128-rated, Go Dante before capsizing at the second last.

His next three hurdle starts have seen him finish in the frame every time, showing strong form in each. At Huntingdon, he finished a credible ten-lengths behind Balco Coastal, a subsequent Grade Two runner-up.

His latest effort saw him finish runner-up to the highly touted Broomfield Burg. He was ultimately well beaten but he impressed with the stylish way he travelled into the race.

I’m a fan of Brendan Powell, who partners him, and in this much lower grade I will be disappointed if he does not take advantage of his opening mark.

I was at Garnons when he was a wide margin winner of a maiden point-point and have followed, him since, even though he showed a bit of temperament on that occasion and was difficult in the preliminaries.

That streak has clearly not left him as at Market Rasen on Boxing Day he failed to settle at all for Bridget Andrews, giving himself no chance at all of staying the 3m3f trip on soft ground. Before that, he was an impressive winner over course and distance on good going under Lorcan Williams. The pair are reunited.

The form of that win has been boosted; runner-up, Revels Hill was running a good race when unseating his rider three out on his next start, while both the third and fourth-placed horses, Dhowin and Poniente, have finished second on their next starts.

Relaxing in the early stages of this race will be essential, so I hope Lorcan Williams can provide the magic touch again. If so, the combination can land a very winnable contest.

Plumpton is a unique little course so it often pays to follow horses who have good course form there.

Innisfree Lad certainly showed a liking for the Sussex track when winning on his last start. However, that came over fences and I fancy he’s much better in that sphere, for all that he is rated lower over hurdles.

Strong preference is for Minella Buster as he bolted up in a maiden hurdle here in December and now returns for his handicap debut.

He galloped strongly to the line for that win over 2m4f, which suggests this trip of 3m shouldn’t be a problem for the Irish point-point winner.

Jack Wildman has just one winner to his name but he rides well and gets to claim an advantageous 10lb. With ground conditions set to be similar to those of his last win I’d be surprised if Minella Buster wasn’t more than capable of winning this.