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Melissa, aka The Scout, is the current Racing Post National Press Challenge champion after she led the field of 11 tipsters to the finish in 2025. The stamina-sapping competition was based on more than 9,600 selections throughout the year. A good final furlong helped her cause, but Melissa has maintained her form - and set a new record by finishing top of the standings for a fourth month on the trot in February.

Galloping grey LOSSIEMOUTH (4.00) is fancied to continue her love affair with Cheltenham in the Unibet Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy. The daughter of Great Pretender carries the famous silks of banker Rich Ricci, who bagged the jackpot with Faugheen (2015) and Annie Power (2016).

Like the latter, Lossiemouth is a mare and she has dotted up against her own sex at the 2024 and 2025 meetings, after starting off successfully in the 2023 Triumph Hurdle.

Given the go-ahead to line-up in recent days, Lossiemouth should love the drying ground and Mullins repeats his first-time cheekpieces trick which was working so well for State Man until he tipped up at the final flight a year ago. The Grade One Singer Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices' Chase can go to Nicky Henderson's young talent LULAMBA (2.00, nb).

Second favourite with the bookies here, the latest smart recruit for the Donnelly family powered away from more experienced opposition in Newbury's second tier Game Spirit Chase last month.

Lacking a little fluency early on, on ground that was not ideal, Lulamba showed how classy he is by seeing off 155-rated rival Saint Segal by six-and-a-half lengths.

The race should have taught him plenty and he follows the same tried and tested route as Henderson's former stars Sprinter Sacre (2012) and Altior (2017).

A half-brother to the 2022 McCoy Contractors Juvenile Handicap Hurdle winner, SARATOGA's (2.40) season looks to have been geared around the 22-runner event.

One of three runners sporting the of JP McManus, the ex-Ballydoyle trainee has built a nice profile with three runs over jumps.

Rated 92 when last seen on the level, on Champions Day at Ascot in October, Saratoga is yet to repeat the tactics which saw him lift a handicap at Listowel the previous month - and there is more to come.

Next up in the green and gold silks of the fixture's leading owner is JOHNNYWHO (3.20), pipped to the post in the 2025 Kim Muir after cantering into it.

An eyecatcher two outings ago at Ascot, when making late headway for third in the Silver Cup, the gelding showed there is a good race in him off his current mark.

A graded hurdler, Johnnywho obviously has his quirks, but he has had recent wind surgery and he is an interesting alternative to the owner's shorter-priced pair Jagwar and Iroko.

MCLAUREY (4.40, Nap) also holds solid claims in the Sun Racing Plate Handicap Chase, after four outings over fences in Ireland.

Handler Emmet Mullins also gave his charge the option of the Jack Richards Novices' Handicap Chase on Thursday - but he runs here with a nice weight of 10st 7lb.

In a contest in which many are exposed, Mclaurey is tipped to build on a never nearer fourth at Down Royal to come out on top.

A rather unlucky fifth in the 2023 Pertemps Network Final and the 2025 Great Yorkshire Handicap Chase on decent going, WALKING ON AIR (5.20, trb) has plenty of experience and is value to make the frame.

EACHTOTHEIROWN (1.20) is a lively longshot for the Grade One Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle, as trainer Barry Connell's two runners have been 2023 hero Marine Nationale and 2025 runner-up William Munny.

An excuse was given for his Grade Two Royal Bond Hurdle flop at Fairyhouse in November and he rose 13lb in the weights for a handicap strike.

The assessor can only rate him what he has done so far, but if making another jolt of improvement, with a more patient ride the nominated tactics, he could make the three in a well-run renewal.

• 1.20 Eachtotheirown
• 2.00 Lulamba (nb)
• 2.40 Saratoga
• 3.20 Johnnywho
• 4.00 Lossiemouth
• 4.40 Mclaurey (Nap)
• 5.20 Walking On Air