Golden Ace trusted to shine again at Cheltenham

Golden Ace stunned the Cheltenham crowd with her 25-1 success in the Unibet Champion Hurdle 12 months ago and a title defence remains a viable possibility on Tuesday, the opening day of the Festival.

Jeremy Scott's mare capitalised on the falls of Constitution Hill and State Man to claim the glory last year and with neither of those horses in contention this time around, the race does have an open feel to it with The New Lion not overly impressive in his trial, Brighterdaysahead yet to show her best at the track and Lossiemouth having been beaten by that rival last time.

Golden Ace meanwhile bounced back from a shock defeat on her seasonal bow at Wetherby to win a second Grade One at Newcastle, when her sure-footedness again came to the fore as both Constitution Hill and The New Lion crashed out leaving her to defeat the reopposing Anzadam by just over a length.

Admittedly Golden Ace was no match for Sir Gino when last seen in the Christmas Hurdle but she relishes the test Cheltenham provides, having won three of her four starts here, and can be relied upon to put up a good show at what appears a sensible price.

Lulamba and Kopek Des Bordes face off in the Singer Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices' Chase and in what promises to be a fascinating clash, preference is for Nicky Henderson's more experienced runner.

The five-year-old Lulamba was beaten just a neck in last year's Triumph Hurdle and having subsequently made amends by comprehensively reversing that form with Poniros at the Punchestown Festival, he has made a seamless switch to fences this term.

Starting at Exeter, when he had subsequent dual Grade Two winner Salver well beaten in third, Lulamba went on to score an effortless Grade One victory in the Henry VIII at Sandown before Henderson opted to take the same route he followed with Altior in pitching Lulamba into full company for the Game Spirit at Newbury.

Lulamba duly rose to the challenge in running out a 6.5-length winner and can follow up here, just as Altior did in 2017.

Talk the Talk can register a second Grade One triumph in the Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle.

He would already be a dual top-level scorer but for a stumble after jumping the last in Leopardstown's Future Champions Novice Hurdle at Christmas, when he looked to have the measure of eventual victor Skylight Hustle.

Joseph O'Brien's charge made no such mistake last time, though he had to work hard for a short-head success over Ballyfad on heavy ground that really did not seem to his liking at all.

Back on a better surface in the Cotswolds, Talk The Talk can defeat some shorter-priced rivals.

Saratoga can shed his maiden tag over obstacles on the biggest stage of all in the McCoy Contractors Juvenile Handicap Hurdle, with this well-related gelding having produced his best effort yet when second to Highland Crystal last time out.

Konfusion can be forgiven a defeat last time and is worth at least an each-way interest in the Trustmarque Ultima Handicap Chase, while Madara has an obvious chance in the Sun Racing Plate Handicap Chase off a mark of 140.

Iceberg Theory is the pick in the closing National Hunt Challenge Cup Novices' Handicap Chase, with his style of racing suggesting a leap to 6000m might not be beyond him. - Press Association

TAB is betting on 4 UK meetings on Tuesday. Here are the tips.

CHELTENHAM: Race 1: 15.20 Talk The Talk, Race 2: 16.00 LULAMBA (NAP), Race 3: 16.40 Saratoga, Race 4: 17.20 Konfusion, Race 5: 18.00 Golden Ace, Race 6: 18.40 Madara, Race 7: 19.20 Iceberg Theory.

SEDGEFIELD: Race 1: 15.38 Cosmic Soul, Race 2: 16.18 Shan't Wait, Race 3: 16.58 Rebel Tribesman, Race 4: 17.38 Alright Dai, Race 5: 18.18 Powerofjet, Race 6: 18.55 Connells Cross.

WOLVERHAMPTON: Race 1: 18.23 My Champion, Race 2: 19.00 King's Cruiser, Race 3: 19.30 Gemini Man, Race 4: 20.00 Late Claim, Race 5: 20.30 Egotistical, Race 6: 21.00 Flicka's Girl, Race 7: 21.30 Legendsoftheland, Race 8: 22.00 Dingwall, Race 9: 22.30 Mishy's Star.

SOUTHWELL: Race 1: 19.08 King Of York, Race 2: 19.40 City Queen, Race 3: 20.15 Clansman, Race 4: 20.45 Shalaa Asker, Race 5: 21.15 Charlie's Choice, Race 6: 21.45 Embarked, Race 7: 22.15 Farandaway.

DOUBLE: Talk The Talk and Lulamba (Cheltenham, Races 1 and 2).