Looking at the racing at Cheltenham today, which will run on very soft ground. The big handicap hurdle at 3.30 is well contested with several of the field with leading claims, having shown form on soft/heavy ground before. The horse I backed yesterday at 9/1 was Alexei, who has been strongly supported into around 7/2 with some firms. He should be ok on the ground, and was impressive at Ascot when winning 15 days ago in a handicap hurdle. He needs to step forward from that success.

At Auteuil in France, on ground that will be sticky and ride classed as heavy, Leopard Du Berlais has looked like a class act in his two starts, winning at the track on each of them. He will be a strong favourite in the 1.15 race, which is a Grade 1 hurdle worth 162,000 euros to the winner.

I have backed Kaadam each way at 22/1 in the Prix La Haye Jousselin (Grade 1) Chase 3.07. He is a top-class performer on his day and has been below par on both starts this season, both at Auteuil. He will need to jump better than he did last time, when he unseated his rider. At big odds, he is a bit of value; if he returns to the form of old, he can be involved.