After producing a clear level stakes profit last year, our man at the track Alan Alger will once again provide tips on the Betway Insider for every day of The Festival. Here are his five early shouts to get you started.

Tuesday 1.30 – SUPREME NOVICES’ HURDLE

Labaik’s win in the Supreme last year means that we can throw the 'trends' formbook out of the window. Gordon Elliott’s quirky individual was not without his backers, as he won comfortably at 25/1.

This is a race that usually goes to a lightly raced and mostly unbeaten type, not a horse who had a prep by being beaten 100 lengths at Naas. And yes, as you can tell, I’m still bitter that a reply to a WhatsApp message tipping the horse where I responded 'no chance' still causes much amusement among colleagues.

Kim Bailey’s First Flow   is three from three over hurdles and seems to have been slightly overlooked in the market. English trainers have won four of the last eight Supremes, but only one of the last five. Bailey’s six-year-old stays on well at the end of his races, something that is vital at Cheltenham. He can run on to grab at least a place. 

Wednesday 2.10 – RSA NOVICES’ CHASE

Paul Nicholls doesn’t dominate at Cheltenham like he used to in the last decade. He can grab Wednesday’s novices’ chase prize with the excellent Black Corton  , though.

Seven-year-olds have won eight of the last 10 runnings of the race, with English trained horses having the better of the last few years. Already a winner over course and distance, I make him one of my best bets of the week. He’s won eight of his 11 chase outings, and came second in the other three.

His last defeat came at Newbury in early December, but then he beat that conqueror (Elegant Escape) towards the end of that month, showing the outing in Berkshire was just a blip. Black Corton is a very confident tip for race two on day two. 

Thursday 1.30 - JLT NOVICES’ CHASE

A lot has been made of Harry Whittington’s chance of grabbing the Arkle novices’ chase at The Festival with the imposing Saint Calvados, but I think he also has a good chance two days later in the JLT with Bigmartre  .

The step up in trip should suit, as he handled an extended 2miles over hurdles. He carried just over 11 stone to second at Doncaster in a competitive handicap in January and was staying on reasonably well at the post, when denied by a short head.

It will take something to break Willie Mullins’s stranglehold on the race, but Bigmartre can outrun his price and get into the money. 

Thursday 3.30 – STAYERS’ HURDLE

L’ami Serge   is still entered in the two main races on the Thursday. Although I’d be much more interested to see him line up in the Stayers’ Hurdle, with our ‘non-runner no bet’ offer you can back him with the confidence that your money will come back to you if he doesn’t take part in the race.

He’s been in the first two in 13 of his 20 races over the smaller obstacles, including in the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot before Christmas. He’s proven at Cheltenham and if he comes to the last couple of hurdles going as well as he did at Ascot, then I’d expect him to relish getting up the hill over this longer distance.

Some say he has been outbattled before, but at his age I think he can now show the determination to get his head in front here with another 12 months of experience behind him. 

Friday 2.50 – ALBERT BARTLETT NOVICES’ HURDLE

Course and distance winner Kilbricken Storm  has excuses for his heavy ground defeat last time out, and his other form makes him a decent bet for Friday’s third race (as long as the ground doesn’t turn heavy).

His 26-length victory at Wincanton in November seems to have been overlooked. He then won the trial for this race back in December at Cheltenham, comfortably staying on to go clear after 3 miles in soft ground. His defeat at Newbury when back to 2m4f also took place on much heavier ground.

It now means we are getting an inflated price for him to be involved in the finish here.