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.

She picked three winners on day one of this year’s Cheltenham Festival, and here are her tips for day three…

BALLYBURN (3.20) can resdiscover his spark in the £325,000 Paddy Power Stayers Hurdle on day three of the Cheltenham Festival. The eight-year-old was touted as a Gold Cup horse of the future when he was in a league of his own in the 2m 5f Grade One for novice hurdlers in 2024.

Although the winner of his sole start in point-to-points was able to translate his form to his new discipline at the 2025 Dublin Racing Festival, he never really looked entirely comfortable jumping fences.

Willie Mullins rerouted Ballyburn back to the smaller obstacles in November of last year, when he shaped best in the 2m 4f Hatton’s Grace Hurdle by plugging away for Paul Townend to get within a nose of Teahupoo.

Gordon Elliott’s star is the leading horse in this division and bookended his 2024 victory with places, so if Ballyburn brings his best form into battle, he will have a fighting chance.

While punters know plenty about the established brigade of stayers, Long Walk Hurdle third Honesty Policy is somewhat of an unknown quantity, with Elliott keeping his gelding’s lightly-profile intact for this big target.

If he is on the shortlist, his Ascot conqueror and JP McManus ownermate Impose Toi should be too, as the ground was too soft for him in the Cleeve Hurdle, which was won by the highly progressive Ma Shantou.

Verdict: 1 Ballyburn 2 Honesty Policy 3 Teahupoo

Carries his head low in the early stages and Willie Mullins, who shrewdly applied cheekpieces to Champion Hurdle hero Lossiemouth on Tuesday, has declared a first-time hood to try and contain his charge’s exuberance. Top class at his best, including here on the sharper Old Course, his previous potential for this contest makes him a sporting bet at 10-1.

2 Bob Olinger
Big fan of Prestbury Park, with three Festival firsts on his record, beating Robcour first string Teahupoo a year ago. Respected for his title defence at the age of 11.

3 Doddiethegreat
Fundraising horse named after the late Scotland and British and Irish Lions rugby player Doddie Weir, with prize money going towards research into Motor Neurone Disease. Landed the 2025 Pertemps Final from a mark of 131 in a change of headgear and blinkers have been picked by trainer Nicky Henderson this time.

4 Gwennie May Boy
Lowest-rated runner on 144, looking out of sorts of late. Unlikely to get involved.

5 Hewick
Globetrotting pint-sized animal with a huge heart. Wrapped up races like the King George VI Chase, American Grand National and Galway Plate but looks a little vulnerable now to others with more scope.

6 Home By The Lee
Came home ahead of Bob Olinger twice towards the end of 2024 when Joseph O’Brien’s charge was at the peak of his powers. Form lapsed after and although he was able to regain the winning thread in a muddy Galmoy Hurdle at Gowran Park in January, a top six finish is his best hope.

7 Honesty Policy
Intriguing runner after just six racecourse appearances, a season on from his battling Grade One Mersey Novices’ Hurdle success at Aintree’s Grand National meeting. Fresh from a 234-day break, the son of Jukebox Jury hinted at better to come in the Long Walk at Ascot, when the front two were race-fit. Looks a real stayer and it will be a surprise if he is not in the shake-up.

8 Impose Toi
Rattled off a hat-trick between the start of November and end of December, rising through the grades. Did not really see out the distance on soft ground behind Ma Shantou over course and distance 47 days ago. Conditions will suit him better here and is a place contender.

9 Kabral Du Mathan
Responded to a stable switch and wind surgery by going home strongly in a competitive 2m 3f handicap hurdle at Haydock, before easing clear in the Grade Two Relkeel at this circuit. Has plenty of speed and might be ridden for a turn of foot. Price too short now with this race’s main requirement – stamina – unproven.

10 Ma Shantou
Set out with a mark of 129 at the October meeting, passing all three of his course assignments to hint that he could become Paisley Park’s successor at Emma Lavelle’s stable. Received 6lb from Impose Toi when last seen and the runner-up’s lack of firepower in the closing stages probably accentuated the winning distance. Still, hard to fault what this seven-year-old has done in a short space of time.

11 Teahupoo
Race regular with a first, second and third to his name. Has looked in rude health this term and record speaks for itself, with three Hatton’s Grace Hurdles among his big race haul. Will take career earnings past £1million if he can finish fourth or better once again. Merits a place on every shortlist.

REST OF THE DAY THREE CHELTENHAM CARD

There are much better short-priced bets at Cheltenham this week than taking just over evens about Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle favourite Bambino Fever.

First run a decade ago, expanding the meeting to 28 races, the Grade Two has regularly drawn a double-figure field, with 22 horses holding a chance this time.

Willie Mullins-saddled pair Limini (2016) and Laurina (2018) got the job done for followers of the market, but there has been 50-1, 16-1 (twice) and 10-1 winners since.

Classy Bambino Fever’s jumping will come under greater scrutiny with so many runners and she is unlikely to dictate on her own terms like she did at Fairyhouse in January.

Recently purchased by high-profile Flat operation Victorious Forever, with assistance from bloodstock agent Jerry McGrath, CARRIGMOORNASPRUCE (1.20) has form against the geldings.

She met Bambino Fever earlier in her career, continuing to improve for Declan Queally’s handling and is versatile tactically.

Expected to be suited by the prevailing surface, MEETMEBYTHESEA (2.00) remains on a workable mark for the Grade Two Jack Richards Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase.

Just 1lb higher than his Ayr strike in January, a test he passed despite the ground being wetter than he prefers, the sizeable sort squeezed in a qualifying run before the February 23 deadline.

A solid jumper, the unexposed bay did his best work late in a couple of novice events so the step back up to 2m4½f promises to suit.

In the Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle Wodhooh will feature in many accumulators arriving at Prestbury Park due to her record littered with firsts, including the 2025 Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle.

JADE DE GRUGY (2.40) is an interesting rival however, as she finished second to top-notch mare Lossiemouth last year and is her trainer’s chosen candidate to go for a staggering 12th title, with plenty going his way at the mid-point of the meeting.

Fact To File had a hard race at the Dublin Racing Festival and can sometimes throw in the odd disappointing effort, which gives IMPAIRE ET PASSE (4.00) a chance of grabbing his stablemate’s Ryanair Chase crown.

The eight-year-old hit number one at this fixture in the past and overcame a poor position to land the odds in the Grade Two Red Mills Chase at Gorwan Park.

Paul Townend’s mount enjoys better ground and with a month between Cheltenham and Aintree, connections may be rewarded by stopping off here.

Twice triumphant in bumpers on good ground, MINELLA EMPEROR (4.40) has been tipping away over jumps, gaining valuable experience in a decent handicap at Haydock 26 days ago.

Better off with the upwardly mobile winner Champagne Chic, my selection in the Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle is just 1lb higher with owner/rider Michael O’Neill taking the reins.

JERIKO DU REPONET (5.20) could be a handicap snip in the Rosconn Group Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap Chase.

2.00 Meetmebythesea (trb)

5.20 Jeriko Du Reponet (nb)