Five to follow at Cheltenham – The Brits

Paisley Park heads home defence.

British trainers are responsible for several leading hopes heading into this year’s Cheltenham Festival – and we look at five of the chief hopes:

Shishkin – Nicky Henderson – Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, Tuesday

Nicky Henderson has made no secret of the regard in which he holds this strapping six-year-old and he has lived up to his tall reputation with dominant displays at Newbury and Huntingdon. He is set to face a couple of major challengers from Ireland, but Henderson’s enthusiasm for Shishkin is infectious and there must be every chance he can get the home team off to the perfect start.

Altior – Nicky Henderson – Queen Mother Champion Chase, Wednesday

Wednesday’s feature is widely considered the race of the week, with Altior taken on by two genuine top-notchers in Defi Du Seuil and Chacun Pour Soi, as he bids to become only the second three-time winner of the race after Badsworth Boy. A first defeat over jumps at the hands of Cyrname in a gruelling race at Ascot in November was hardly an ideal start to his campaign, but he bounced back to winning ways at Newbury last month. This is probably Altior’s toughest test to date over two miles, but if he is within hailing distance at the final fence, it is difficult to see anyone finishing stronger than him up a hill he has devoured when winning at the last four Festivals.

Paisley Park – Emma Lavelle – Stayers’ Hurdle, Thursday

Emma Lavelle’s pride and joy and carried all before him in the staying division last season, crowing his campaign with an ultimately decisive success in Stayers’ Hurdle. He has continued in the same vein this term, landing both the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury and the Cleeve at Cheltenham, and is widely regarded as the British banker of the week. The fact Summerville Boy is second-favourite, despite having beaten beaten comprehensively by Paisley Park last time, says plenty about the strength in depth of the race.

Solo – Paul Nicholls – Triumph Hurdle, Friday

This French recruit propelled himself to Cheltenham Festival favouritism with a brilliant British debut in the Adonis Juvenile Hurdle at Kempton, putting a pretty useful filly in Fujimoto Flyer to the sword by 13 lengths. It is an interesting renewal of the juvenile championship, with both Allmankind and Goshen seriously talented but perhaps a little headstrong. Solo, on the other hand, appears a far from straightforward proposition, and it could be the other two give him a perfect tow into the race.

Thyme Hill – Philip Hobbs – Albert Bartlett, Friday

Third behind Envoi Allen in last season’s Champion Bumper, this six-year-old is three from three since being sent over hurdles. He won at Cheltenham in November before successfully graduating to Grade One class in the Challow Hurdle at Newbury, since when he has been kept fresh for the Festival. He would be quite entitled to run in the Ballymore, but connections appear to have decided against a rematch with Envoi Allen and instead elected to step up to three miles. It is a call which is expected to pay dividends.

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