No Refuge will relish the step up to three miles and can be on the mark for Howard Johnson and Graham Wylie in the Grade 2 Byrne Bros Cleeve Hurdle over three miles at Cheltenham.

The progressive six-year-old looks a ready-made replacement in the staying division for Inglis Drever, who is sidelined for the remainder of the season, and he has quickly made up into a smart performer around two-and-a-half miles.

His best effort came at this course at the Festival last March when beating subsequent dual chase winner Racing Demon in typically gritty fashion in the Royal & Sunalliance Novices Hurdle.

Johnson's gelding did well to win a muddling event at Windsor on his reappearance, where he again showed the right attitude, and the demands of this race over a half-mile longer trip are going to be in his favour.

Paul Nicholls' Denman, who is one of the best novices around, can bolster his Royal & Sunalliance claims by taking the Lily O'Briens Novices Hurdle over the extended two-and-a-half miles.

From a stable that can do little wrong at present, the six-year-old turned in a very smart effort over course and distance last time when beating a very strong field by upwards of 21 lengths and he'll be hard to beat if in the same mood.

Last year's Cheltenham Gold Cup runner-up Take The Stand has conditions to suit and is worth a wager in the Letherby And Christopher Chase over the extended three miles and one furlong.

Peter Bowen's ten-year-old should be better suited by these conditions than when a very respectable second on soft at Wetherby last time and, assuming his jumping holds up, should go well in a race that is likely to be run to suit.

Schuh Shine is a progressive sort with a good strike rate and appeals from his low weight in the competitive Ladbrokes Trophy Handicap Chase over two miles and five furlongs, while Court Leader looks good under Paul Carberry in the Timeform Novices Handicap Chase over the same trip.

With Doncaster undergoing a facelift, the Sky Bet Chase has been transferred to Southwell and Colourful Life is fancied to return to winning ways in a competitive event for the in-form Paul Nicholls.

The ten-year-old looks to have been laid out for a repeat win in this race and, although failing to get round on his last two starts, has conditions to suit and should find this slightly easier.

Sue Smith's Oso Magic should also appreciate these conditions and is taken to return to winning ways in the You're Either Vegas Or You're Not Mansion House Handicap Chase over two miles.

At Lingfield's all-weather fixture, Saviours Spirit, who shaped better than the bare form after a break in an over-strongly run race last time, looks worth an interest in the Text Betdirect To 88600 Handicap over six furlongs.

Tiger Tiger can supplement his recent course-and-distance win in the open-looking Littlewoods Bet Direct Handicap over a mile and a quarter, while the improving Red Birr is the fancy in the Play Now With littlewoodspoker.com Handicap.

At Wolverhampton, Jamie Osborne's Keel, who won his maiden over the same course and distance, can follow up in the betdirect.co.uk Handicap over seven furlongs.

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