​A fascinating renewal of the St James's Place Foxhunter Chase at the Festival contains added interest for Yorkshire spectators, when Fiona Needham saddles Sine Nomine to run in the race for the first time, and Hertfordshire-trained Premier Magic tilts at a repeat. 

12 have been declared for the biggest trophy of the week, and the chance to take home the winner's prize of £24,445, something rather more than the £400 available for weekend Point-to-Points on the circuit. But winning the Foxhunter is about far more than cash; it's a chance to make a mark on racing history in one of the most treasured races of the Festival, even among all those Grade Is.

Friday's race is no easy task however. The Irish have been carrying all before them all week, and field 5 candidates, among them first and second favourites, It's On The Line from Emmet Mullins' yard, and Ferns Lock from David Christie's Ulster powerhouse. Ferns Lock has impeccable credentials, with three runs this season providing wins at Dromahane and Thurles, and a half length second at Down Royal. Christie also fields Ramillies, winner of Open races at Cragmore and Turtulla.

Master of Cheltenham, Willie Mullins, also fields a candidate in Billaway, winner of this race in 2022, beaten just a head by It's On The Line at Naas in mid February. He seems to have lost none of his appetite for the game, despite now being 12.

The other Irish challenger is Samcro, trained by Gordon Elliott, yet to get a look-in on the coveted winner's slot this week. A former winner of the 2 1/2m Grade I novice hurdle at the Festival, Samcro is a high quality entrant to the hunters' ranks with a sequence of 4 Open wins during the autumn to his record. Gigginstown horses have an excellent record at Cheltenham.

But don't rule out the home team. Last year's winner Premier Magic has been prepared with this race in mind, and is unbeaten since pulling up in this race in 2022. He comes here on the back of a schedule that has been re-worked time and again following the wet winter's impact on the fixture list, but there's nothing in his wins at Brocklesby Park and Sheriff Hutton to suggest he is not on top of the task again. Bradley Gibbs has been riding out of his skin these past few months, so there is every reason to believe the pairing can strike lightening a second time.

Sine Nomine comes into this race unbeaten, having come to prominence last Spring in a thrilling finish to the Point-to-Point.co.uk Novices Championship, aka the John Corbett Cup, at Stratford. A 3l second to Wagner at Alnwick prefaced a bloodless 15l win in a Wetherby  hunter chase last month. He is the new English challenger for the Foxhunter mantle. Fiona herself is no stranger to this race, having won it as a rider in 2002 on Last Option for father-in-law Robin Tate.

Hannah Roach saddles Time Leader, whose 28/1 price belies an excellent record. A winner four times for John O'Shea in the 2022-23 season during which he was also fifth in the Aintree Foxhunter, he has warmed up for this with a win at Hereford. He'll be ridden by Toby McCain-Mitchell.

Our champion trainer also has a penchant for this race, having won it with Pacha du Polder in 2017 and the following year. Shantou Flyer was third behind Premier Magic last year, yet another placing in a race where he has made the frame on each of three occasions, but at 14, his best may be behind him. The same cannot be said for his young rider, Olive Nicholls, whose star is in the ascendant in the riding ranks.

A case can be made for Quentin's Man, third in the Walrus Hunters Chase at Haydock in February, and D'Jango, behind Quentin's Man at Haydock but a winner at Warwick last month. Less so for From The Heart, whose runs at Dunsmore and Cocklebarrow reflect his likelihood of being in the finish.

​What a difference seven days can make! Just  over a week ago Didmarton was abandoned with the course cloaked in snow but on Saturday there were no similar problems and the rescheduled Duke Of Beaufort's meeting went ahead without a hitch, writes Andrew King.
 
And the Bradley Gibbs team limbered up for a big week at Cheltenham with his stable star Premier Magic attempting a repeat success in the St James's Place Festival Challenge Cup on Friday following a short-priced double courtesy of victories for Crocodile Lounge and Fier Jaguen.
 
After opening at 4-7, Crocodile Lounge was well backed into 1-3 favourite for the Restricted contest and had no problems in justifying that support when making much of the running and seeing off Daisy Yeats by 15 lengths.
 
Co-owner Adrian Simpson commented: "He is only five years old and that was just his fourth race in total. We hope he is a nice horse for the future and, with that in mind, we will play it softly, softly with him this term and take it step by step."
 
 
Gibbs employed similar tactics aboard Fier Jaguen in the Mixed Open and the pair eventually pulled clear of their only serious rival, Tara Storm, from the home bend for a relatively comfortable verdict.
 
However, Gibbs expressed himself a shade disappointed by the result, saying: "I am not sure Fier Jaguen was at his very best there for whatever reason but he has won well and there are not really any solid plans for him in the short term."
 
Of Premier Magic, the rider/trainer was much more upbeat and said: "We are very happy with the horse ahead of Friday's race but he has obviously got no easy task in as it's always so competitive. However he has done everything we have asked of him in his build up and he had an away-day at Newmarket last week where he pleased us. He goes to Cheltenham in good form and hopefully can repeat last year's victory."

Ready Steady Freddie 
Whereas Gibbs maybe approaching the twilight of his career in the saddle, the future can only beckon for teenager Freddie  Keighley after he partnered his first ever winner when Sametegal took the honours in the Riders Conditions race.
 
Keighley,16, the son of licenced trainer Martin, was understandably over the moon with the success and said: " My father told me to bounce the horse and make the running and the plan worked to perfection. I spent a week's work experience at Paul Nicholls' yard recently which was an eye-opener and when I left he kindly gave me Sametegal as a leaving gift - so here we are and I have to thank Mr Nicholls for this win."
                                                  
Perfect intro 
Ihandaya made the best possible start for new trainer Nicky Sheppard in the Conditions contest with a spring-heeled round of jumping that resulted in a authoritative call over What A Glance.
 
The six-year-old's owner Clive Hitchings said: "He looked fantastic in the paddock beforehand and transferred those looks to the course where Natalie (Parker, jockey) has given him a great ride and I couldn't be more pleased. I understand the winning time was very good so that bodes well but, as far as any future plans maybe concerned, I will leave all that to Nicky and her team."
                                             
​Patience is a virtue 
The Hannah Lewis-trained Queenhill finally managed to get her head in front  after coming out on top following a prolonged duel with favourite Money From America in the closing stages of the concluding Maiden.
 
It proved a poignant moment for owner Mervyn Jones as he also bred the mare and he confided: "I have to admit it's an emotional moment for small owner/breeders like myself as I bred her, raced her and have to be very patient with her. She has always shown us there was a race in her and it was a matter of finding the right one. The door finally opened there but from where I was watching it was difficult to tell whether she had got up, so the judge's announcement proved a welcome relief."
                                                                                                   
Glory for Gloria 
Fama Et Gloria proved the answer to the Members' race despite trying to throw it away when idling badly in front at the final fence. He rallied on the run-in to see off the challenge of Miltown Bridge by three lengths.
 
Star performance
Crocodile Lounge gave the distinct impression he is a smart horse in the making and seems certain to build on his victory.