Expert jury: which horse could emerge from Saturday as a potential Cheltenham Festival winner?

The two-day December meeting at Cheltenham provided plenty of festival clues and our team give their picks for who could enjoy more big-race success in March . . .

'The Boodles could be his to win'

By Liam Headd, Lambourn correspondent

I was very much impressed with the performance of Quantock Hills in the Triumph Hurdle Trial and believe Warren Greatrex has a smart prospect for the future.

Although his victory was shared in a dead-heat with Teriferma, the three-year-old travelled superbly and produced a consistent round of jumping. He was introduced at 33-1 for the Triumph in March, but the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle was mentioned as a possible target by connections.

Quantock Hills (right): shared the spoils with Teriferma in the juvenile hurdleCredit: John Grossick Racing

It was an eyecatching run by Quantock Hills, who followed up his runaway Fontwell victory from last month, and he demonstrated a powerful turn of foot to suggest the Boodles could be his to win.

It was also not hard to be taken by Jango Baie's chase debut at Cheltenham on Friday and he looks a massive price at 20-1 for the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase.

'An extra half furlong in the Kim Muir will be right up his street'

By Maddy Playle, reporter

I can't imagine many of Saturday's Cheltenham runners will be featuring at the festival, but if there is an exception it could be Transmission.

The novice was backed as if defeat was impossible at the October meeting, when given a wonderfully patient ride by Patrick Mullins, and he produced a similar performance when a running-on second to Haiti Couleurs in the novice handicap chase at this meeting.

Transmission: could be perfect for the Kim MuirCredit: Edward Whitaker

Staying is the name of the game with him and softer ground and an extra half furlong in the Kim Muir will be right up his street in March, when he could be reunited with Mullins.

Hold-up horses often prosper in that race and Transmission will surely be competitive in it as he is clearly still on a very competitive mark.

'The Albert Bartlett looks made for him'

By Harry Wilson, tipster

It was hard not to be impressed by the way French raider Jet Blue quickened up in the straight in the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle, giving weight and a six-and-a-half-length beating to the well-regarded Western Knight.

Placed in a Grade 1 French bumper, the five-year-old's jumping took time to warm up, but he tanked his way through the race and clearly thrived over the longest trip he's encountered. The Albert Bartlett at the festival looks made for him.

I would also stick Springwell Bay in the tracker. He ran a fine race in second when trying to give Jango Baie 8lb in the novice chase on Friday and looks tailor-made for the 2m4f novice handicap in March.

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