Swan Knight, who shaped much more pleasingly on his second run after an eight month break last time, looks a very interesting runner in the Ian Williams Handicap Hurdle at Stratford this afternoon.

Richard Fahey's gelding was useful on the Flat and showed plenty of promise over hurdles two seasons ago when trained by Martin Pipe. He's not had much racing since but confirmed he retains plenty of ability at Catterick last time and he's certainly slipped back to a favourable mark.

His trainer excels with this type and, with two confirmed front-runners in the field, the race should be run to suit this keen going sort, who ideally needs a decent gallop to show his best form.

Fahey has Turn Of Phrase in the gg.com Series Hurdle Juvenile Novices Hurdle over the same trip of two miles but he'll need to improve considerably to win and the vote goes to Jonjo O'Neill's East Tycoon.

The stable look set for a very exciting week at Cheltenham and the four-year-old, also a useful Flat performer, turned in a fluent performance when successful at Doncaster on his hurdles debut in January.

He was anything but disgraced in a slowly run race at Kempton last time but the likely stronger gallop on this easier ground should suit and he's worth another chance in the first-time blinkers to confirm that hurdles debut promise.

Master Of Illusion, who has yet to run a bad race at Stratford, can win the Tote Credit Club Showcase Handicap Chase over three miles for the second time in the last three years.

Richard Lee's ten-year-old will appreciate the underfoot conditions and, although below his best at Southwell last time, is worth another chance from his current handicap mark back at this course.

Martin Pipe, who has a typically strong hand for the Cheltenham Festival, can get the week off to a good start by taking the Somerset Information Guidance Network Novices Handicap Hurdle with Ivorsagoodun at Taunton.

Although the daughter of Piccolo doesn't look anything out of the ordinary, she has shown enough in three outings to date over hurdles to suggest she can go well in a race of this nature on her handicap debut.

On her latest outing at Exeter my selection finished over 11 lengths in front of Lord Ville and should be able to confirm those placings on only 5lb worse terms this afternoon.

Pipe's Blue Momma has decent place claims in the opening mare's only maiden hurdle over two and a half miles but she may find Paul Webber's Maiden Voyage too strong.

The five-year-old turned in her best effort to date over hurdles when second on soft ground at Ludlow last time and both the winner and fifth have franked that form by winning since.

Plumpton, which passed a Sunday inspection, wouldn't want much more rain but, if the meeting does go ahead Webber can initiate an across-the-card first race double with Buckby Lane in the two miles and five furlong novices hurdle.

The seven-year-old likes testing ground and ran a fine race over this course and distance last time when a close third to progressive hurdler Dancing Bay.

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