Five horses to follow at Cheltenham on Festival Trials Day

Tipster: Harry Allwood.

Best odds: 4-1.

This seven-year-old has been given plenty of time to mature by connections, and was described as a "big baby" on a couple of occasions last season. He's certainly built like a chaser, and fitted in the "anything he does over hurdles is a bonus" category.

He still produced some strong form over the smaller obstacles, though, and chased home The New Lion at Newbury before winning a Listed contest. He was also sent off favourite for a Grade One at Aintree where he sustained an injury.

It has to be noteworthy that Nicky Henderson decided to unleash Califet En Vol over fences at Cheltenham for his chasing debut in December, which isn't something the Seven Barrows maestro often does, and is a sign his charge had been impressing with his schooling at home. 

The RaceiQ data also backs that theory up as, despite a handful of mistakes, he recorded a Jump Index score of 8.3/10 when finding the potentially high-class Sixmilebridge, who had the benefit of race fitness, too good. 

That was an encouraging performance, and while his jumping was not as good over the same course and distance next time out (his RaceiQ Jump Index score was 7.7/10), the gelding probably found the ground too quick, and could not match speedier rivals - Miami Magic and Regent's Stroll - in the closing stages.

Henderson is on record saying Califet En Vol prefers softer ground, so conditions should be ideal on Saturday, and further progress is highly likely now. His course and distance experience will also be an advantage, and I expect connections will be disappointed if he does not end up better than a 137-rated chaser.

Tipster: Martin Dixon.

Best odds: 9-4.

A big-money purchase after his winning debut in November, Paul Nicholls wasted no time getting Minella Yoga back to the track, and it's testament to a good attitude, and a high level of professionalism, that he maintained his unbeaten record when defeating older rivals at Newbury last month. 

Admittedly, he was in receipt of lots of weight, but the runner-up, Act Of Innoncence, is a contender I'd taken a high view of previously, and it was such a tenacious effort from Minella Yoga that I can see the demands of Cheltenham really playing to his strengths. 

He's open to plenty of further improvement, too. 

Tipster: RaceiQ nap of the day (Andy Stephens).

Best odds: 2-1.

Tipster: Dave Nevison.

Best odds: 9-4.

I rarely look at, never mind bet in, Cross Country races, and my general feeling is that thy are populated by contenders who aren't as good as they once were. However, having watched the run of J’Arrive De L’Est over this course and distance last time out, I thought this seven-year-old was going to be a major force in these events. 

He was strongly supported, and sent off the 7-4 favourite, at Cheltenham last time, and would have gone a lot closer to scoring had he not made a serious mistake just as things were hotting up. 

He has been raised 3lb for that effort, but is still 6lb better off with the winner, Final Call, who he faces again here. 

That gives him every chance of getting his revenge, and even though he will be favourite, most of the contenders cannot be seriously fancied. I think an error-free round from J’Arrive De L’Est will be enough to score. 

Tipster: Andy Stephens.

Best odds: 4-1.

Heads Up was runner-up in the Champion Bumper last season and has made a highly encouraging start over hurdles; winning easily at Listowel, at the main expense of a subsequent Grade Three winner, before chasing home No Drama This End here in November. The winner followed up at Sandown before taking the Challow. 

Front-running Heads Up was no match for Drama This End in the closing stages but he was asked to set a perhaps overly strong pace on a wet afternoon when the ground ended up bordering on heavy.

His jockey also stuck to the inside, which is rarely the place you want to be when the going is testing. Danny Mullins takes over on Saturday and has no other rides on the card. 

Act Of Innocence and Taurus Bay are preferred to him in the betting but the former must prove his stamina - his connections also have Old Park Star and are perhaps trying to manufacture him into a stayer – while the latter has looked most promising but has yet to achieve the level of form that Heads Up has managed.