Which horses will be suited by soft ground on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival?

The going at Cheltenham ahead of Tuesday's opening-day card is officially soft after 4mm of rain overnight. Clerk of the course Jon Pullin is expecting the festival to start on soft ground and we've identified four likely types who might appreciate the give underfoot on day one . . .

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Inthepocket

1.30 Cheltenham: Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle

Forecast odds: 16-1

It is curious that connections of this horse have opted for this race having seemed to seriously consider the Ballymore on Wednesday.

Two of his three wins have come on soft ground – the other was on heavy – and his defeat of Three Card Brag over 2m4f at Naas in December reads well, so a strong-staying effort looks likely.

Inthepocket13:30 Cheltenham

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Jky: Rachael Blackmore Tnr: Henry De Bromhead

Dysart Dynamo (right): can he reverse Leopardstown form with El Fabiolo?Credit: Alan Crowhurst

Dysart Dynamo

2.10 Cheltenham: Sporting Life Arkle

Forecast odds: 4-1

Soft ground seems to suit his bold front-running style as he's unbeaten in three starts with give underfoot, including a 19-length success in last year's Grade 2 Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle.

It is clear it helps this tearaway to get into a dangerous rhythm and the Arkle's shorter trip on Tuesday should also be to his advantage after racing over a furlong further in the Irish equivalent at Leopardstown last time.

Dysart Dynamo14:10 Cheltenham

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Jky: Danny Mullins Tnr: W P Mullins

Remastered

2.50 Cheltenham: Ultima Handicap Chase

Forecast odds: 16-1

This strapping chaser ran away with a decent soft-ground handicap chase at Kempton on his penultimate start and has been victorious on four of the six times he has encountered heavy ground.

For form fans, it's also worth remembering he beat Corach Rambler by eight and a half lengths when second in November's Coral Gold Cup. The pair compete off the same terms here but are poles apart in the market.

Remastered14:50 Cheltenham

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Jky: David Noonan Tnr: David Pipe

Love Envoi: should relish conditions in the Mares' HurdleCredit: Mike Hewitt

Love Envoi

4.10: Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle

Forecast odds: 9-1

This daughter of Westerner has been beaten only once and that came at the end of last season on yielding ground at Punchestown. She is 3-3 on both soft and heavy ground. 

Her bloodless success at Sandown last time came on soft and she registered a career-best Racing Post Rating of 150. Her main rivals can also operate in testing conditions, but it is more to her benefit than it is to theirs.

Love Envoi16:10 Cheltenham

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Jky: Jonathan Burke Tnr: Harry Fry

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