History beckons for Galopin Des Champs, who looks absolutely bombproof in his quest to become a three-time winner of the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup on Friday.
Willie Mullins' nine-year-old would be unbeaten in four outings at the Festival but for inexplicably stumbling after the last when in the process of easily beating Bob Olinger as a novice chaser.
Since then, he has won the previous two renewals of the Gold Cup in excellent style, powering away from Bravemansgame, who has never been the same horse since, in 2023 while last year he held Gerri Colombe at bay, who has only had the one outing this season and was bitterly disappointing.
That suggests those trying to beat him over the extended 5200m trip need to be made of stern stuff and in truth, this year the credible opposition looks thin on the ground.
He has beaten most of his rivals at one stage or another and the one horse who has managed to beat him a couple of times, Fastorslow, is absent through injury, so it all points to a third win and a place alongside Arkle and Best Mate as a three-time Gold Cup winner.
The JCB Triumph Hurdle surprisingly looks set to be fought out between two UK-trained runners, given the Irish have dominated since 2020.
Nicky Henderson, the last UK winner with Pentland Hills in 2019, runs Lulamba, who certainly looks in the Sir Gino mould, but it has been hard not to be impressed by James Owen's East India Dock.
A decent performer from the Flat, he has been likened to Katchit, who won the Triumph on his seventh outing over hurdles and won the Champion the following year as a five-year-old.
East India Dock may not have as much experience, but he was a much better Flat horse and his jumping has been exemplary.
There is every chance Lulamba may be a freak but off the back of just one run in the UK in a race which has not really worked out, he can be taken on with a more professional model who jumps like a cat.
Jet Blue is a sporting suggestion in the 4800m Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle.
Trained in France by David Cottin, he gained valuable experience at the track when winning in fine style at the December meeting.
The general consensus is that you need plenty of experience to win this race, given its gruelling nature, and Jet Blue ran in 10 bumpers and has had five runs over hurdles.
Having the excellent James Reveley on board is a huge plus and he is an each-way price.
The Mrs Paddy Power Mares' Chase can go the way of last year's second Dinoblue.
As she was ridden to get the trip 12 months ago, she was not best positioned when a mistake at the last left her with too much ground to make up on Limerick Lace.
She faces the same rival again but Gavin Cromwell's mare is not in anything like the same form this year and Dinoblue can get the better of stablemate Allegorie De Vassy.
Valgrand looks to have been campaigned with the William Hill County Handicap Hurdle in mind since winning a Grade Two at the track in October.
Having had his limitations exposed by Potters Charm afterwards, he has finished down the field in two handicaps, but it means he sneaks in towards the bottom of the weights.
Trainer Dan Skelton has won this race four times in recent years, so he certainly knows what is required.
Wodhooh is unbeaten in six runs over timber and could still be well treated in the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle, while Angels Dawn will take plenty of beating in the St. James's Place Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters' Chase. - Press Association
TAB is betting on 5 UK meetings on Friday. Here are the tips.
CHELTENHAM: Race 1: 15.20 East India Dock, Race 2: 16.00 Valgrand, Race 3: 16.40 Dinoblue, Race 4: 17.20 Jet Blue, Race 5: 18.00 Galopin Des Champs, Race 6: 18.40 Angels Dawn, Race 7: 19.20 WODHOOH (NAP).
FAKENHAM: Race 1: 15.35 Mount Olympus, Race 2: 16.14 It's Easy, Race 3: 16.54 Getoverthathill, Race 4: 17.34 Remarkable Flight, Race 5: 18.15 For Pleasure, Race 6: 18.55 Go Go Geronimo.
DONCASTER: Race 1: 15.42 Our Lil, Race 2: 16.22 Last Rodeo, Race 3: 17.02 Burrows Hall, Race 4: 17.40 Camarrate, Race 5: 18.25 Intersky Sunset, Race 6: 19.00 Dartmouth Castle.
SOUTHWELL: Race 1: 18.20 Captain Parma, Race 2: 18.50 I'll Give It A Go, Race 3: 19.30 Romantic Opera, Race 4: 20.00 Blufferonthebus, Race 5: 20.30 Legal Reform, Race 6: 21.00 Diamondonthehill, Race 7: 21.30 Shartash, Race 8: 22.00 Not Me, Race 9: 22.30 Yeoman.
WOLVERHAMPTON: Race 1: 19.10 Dream Out Loud, Race 3: 19.45 Padre Bay, Race 3: 20.20 Bravo Zulu, Race 4: 20.50 War Zone, Race 5: 21.20 Tradesman, Race 6: 21.50 Mr Trick, Race 7: 22.20 Enrolled.
ALL TO COME: East India Dock and Wodhooh (Cheltenham, Races 1 and 7).