Cheltenham Tips: Toad Hall can bag key prize for Mullins

Day one of Cheltenham's April Meeting takes place on Wednesday afternoon, with seven races at the Cotswolds venue from 13:30-17:00.

The ongoing battle between Willie Mullins and Dan Skelton for the UK trainers' championship could see some more twists and turns, with both men holding strong chances on the card. My three horses to follow at Cheltenham on Wednesday are below, including one apiece for the trainers' championship protagonists.

Horse Racing Odds

Today's Horse Races

13:30 Cheltenham – Toad Hall @ 7/4

Cheltenham in April isn't traditionally a place we expect to find Willie Mullins having a good chunk of runners. It was never thus, but a sea-change occurred last year when he became the first Irish-based trainer to be crowned Britain's champion in 80 years.

After an astonishing Grand National performance at Aintree, which he repeated at Ayr over the weekend, Mullins is closing in on repeating that title-winning feat now, with long-time championship pacesetter Dan Skelton in big trouble.

Mullins fires two contenders at the Citipost Novices' Hurdle over an extended two-and-a-half-miles, with TOAD HALL preferred over Dr Eggman.

This Fame And Glory gelding won a Downpatrick maiden over 2m6f last month more or less as he pleased, and his earlier second behind Familiar Dreams at Punchestown over this sort of trip when the pair were miles clear now looks good as Gordon Elliott's mare won a Grade 3 and ran well in a Grade 1 since.

15:15 Cheltenham – Jumping Jet @ 7/1

Gordon Elliott sends one runner over from Ireland for this card and his mare JUMPING JET can land the Brooklands Watches Golden Miller Racing Holman Handicap Chase over a marathon three-and-a-half-miles.

She was only third in the defence of her Ulster National crown at Downpatrick last month over this sort of trip, but that race wasn't really run to suit and her chance was compromised by a mistake early on.

In the circumstances, she probably did well to finish third. All four of her career wins have arrived in the months of March and April and she's a real spring performer. She stays the trip well and looks to be on a very likeable mark with Danny Gilligan on board.

15:50 Cheltenham – Mr Hope Street @ 7/4

It does have the appearance that Mullins is closing in on the trainer's title but perhaps the Skelton wagons can still be circled, and the aptly-named MR HOPE STREET may give them a winner in the Safran Landing Systems Handicap Hurdle over three miles.

The seven-year-old races in the silks of the Noel Fehily Racing Syndicate and has made good progress this season.

He hasn't finished outside the first two in four starts, winning at Southwell (3m½f, good to soft) and Warwick (2m5f, good to soft) in December.

Mr Hope Street went up 15lb for those wins and was having his third run in a little over three weeks when second behind Jipcot at Newbury (2m4½f, good to soft) over Christmas.

He's 3lb higher again now but has been given a nice break and could have more to offer on just his second attempt at this trip.

Horse Racing Tips from Betfred Insights.