IF YOU weren’t already far too excited about the ever nearing Cheltenham Festival this weekend’s card at the Gloucestershire track should whet the appetite even more.  The so called “Trials day” features some big clues to the National Hunt centrepiece including the Cleeve Hurdle, a major trial for the Ladbrokes’ World Hurdle.  This race sees a match up between two of the staying hurdle division’s best performers with Blazing Bailey and Inglis Drever going head-to-head.  Both horses are fond of the Cotswolds track and were impressive winners of their most recent starts.  However, one has to be chosen and therefore I’m going to side with Howard Johnson’s star Inglis Drever.  Graham Wylie’s two time stayers’ champion should have the class to see off his nearest rival and set up a repeat bid for the Ladbrokes’ World Hurdle in March.   Up at Doncaster they hold the best jumps card at the Yorkshire track since their £34million redevelopment.  Nicky Henderson seems to be holding all the aces in the feature races and Chomba Womba must go close in the JCT600 Mercedes-Benz Doncaster Mares Only Hurdle.  A hugely impressive winner of her British debut at Kempton she followed that triumph with a docile 1-5 win in mares’ only race at Sandown soon after.  She should be able to complete the hat-trick and looks a decent anti-post shot for the David Nicholson Mares’ Only hurdle at the Festival.

 Selections – 1.55 Doncaster, 2 Chomba Womba