I’m the UK’s best tipster – these are the Cheltenham horses to back | Racing | Sport

Melissa, aka The Scout, is the current Racing Post National Press Challenge champion after she led the field of 11 tipsters to the finish in 2025. The stamina-sapping competition was based on more than 9,600 selections throughout the year. A good final furlong helped her cause, but Melissa has maintained her form – and set a new record by finishing top of the standings for a fourth month on the trot in February.

Melissa had 18-1, 10-1 and 7-5 winners on day one. Here are her thoughts for all of the action on Wednesday….

MAJBOROUGH (4.00, nb) can be magic for Willie Mullins in the £400,000 Betmgm Queen Mother Champion Chase.

The six-year-old was deadly from the front in first-time cheekpieces when he hammered last year’s winner of this, Marine Nationale, by 19 lengths in the Grade One Dublin Chase at Leopardstown.

It was a huge improvement on his two previous runs over 2m 1f this season, when jockey Mark Walsh had to sit tight after his mount threw in some inaccurate leaps.

But the new-look Majborough, beaten less than a length by Jango Baie in last year’s Arkle Chase on the Old Course, will take some stopping.

BALLYFAD (1.20) is fancied to follow in the footsteps of Envoi Allen (2020) and Samcro (2018) by taking the Turners Novices’ Hurdle title for Gordon Elliott’s team.

Jockey Jack Kennedy has plumped for the Gigginstown House Stud-owned runner over Grade One winner Skylight Hustle from the same stable.

Ballyfad came within a whisker of success at that level when collared by closer Talk The Talk in the Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival.

But my selection showed great battling qualities and Elliott expects the €175,000 purchase by Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary and his brother Eddie to relish faster turf.

One of the big handicap talking horses in the build-up to the four days, KOKTAIL DIVIN (2.00), gives the Grade One Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase a go.

And the six-year-old has every right to take his chance, as he has improved significantly for the bigger obstacles, with a three-length second to the reopposing Oscars Brother bettered by his festive season display.

A strong traveller, Koktail Divin ran on with purpose on yielding going for a 21-length supremacy at Leopardstown and he is poised to take advantage as a fair few of these would have preferred rain.

BUNTING (2.40) has had the BetMGM Cup Handicap Hurdle as his term-time target, after racing too freely in last year’s event.

The six-year-old, owned by Brighton FC chairman Tony Bloom, led after a couple of jumps and was a spent force when he clipped the third last flight.

A Listed fourth at one of trainer Willie Mullins’ local courses in December was a truer reflection of his ability and he has excellent horseman Harry Cobden in the saddle.

Reigning Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase champion Stumptown has an extra 5lb to carry for his title defence on the course used only once this week.

However the pick is his stablemate VANILLIER (3.20) receiving a stone and 3lb – 7lb more than when crossing the line in third back then.

The gallant grey did well in the circumstances, as he nearly went the wrong way early and was in rear after, when he likes to bowl along.

Gavin Cromwell’s veteran showed his wellbeing with a confidence-boosting success – his first for a year – at Punchestown on the way here.

Grade One hurdling hero INTHEPOCKET (4.40) should be seen to good effect off a sound gallop in the Debenhams Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup Handicap Chase.

Blue Bresil’s son will have to dig in for victory, as he has had issues in his 12-race career, but he has previously bloomed in spring time and this looks to have been a long-term plan.

Highly-regarded by Chris Gordon, BASS HUNTER (5.20) has a likeable profile for the closing Weatherbys Champion Bumper, in which Willie Mullins runs five.

• 1.20 Ballyfad
• 2.00 Koktail Divin
• 2.40 Bunting
• 3.20 Vanillier
• 4.00 Majborough
• 4.40 Inthepocket
• 5.20 Bass Hunter