Ferdy Murphy: Cue Card has calmed right down and is now on the right lines

He won the Bumper three years ago, was third in one of the best Supreme Novices’ and then chased home Sprinter Sacre in the Arkle last year.

I’m really taken with how the horse has matured. Before, he was too excited and too flashy.

Now Cue Card and Joe seem to have an understanding – you could tell that at Ascot last time out when he handled the downhill fences much better.

His form is rock solid and the fact that he has good Festival form is a huge plus – it’s definitely worth a few lengths. Golden Chieftain’s win in the JLT on Tuesday showed that the stable has hit form at the right time.

The day begins with the Jewson for two-and-a-half mile novices and it will be a big surprise if Dynaste does not win for David Pipe and Tom Scudamore. It’s a good race, but he looks to be different class. He won his first chase at Cheltenham back in November, beating a very nice horse in Fingal Bay, and he went on to win the Grade One at Kempton over Christmas.

He’s very professional and has a nice jumping action. The Pipes think the world of this horse and that is why they did not risk him in the RSA yesterday over three miles – the race simply leaves too big a mark on horses because you’re asking novices to go flat out over fences for three miles.

I think Sam Winner will win the Pertemps for Paul Nicholls. He beat Peddlers Cross in a ‘Jumpers Bumper’ at Kempton in January and Paul has been very bullish, saying this is one of his ‘bankers’ of the meeting.

From a handicapping point of the view, this horse appears to have slipped slightly under the radar and Ruby didn’t take much persuading to take the ride.

The Ladbrokes World Hurdle is wide open because Big Buck’s is injured and can’t go for a fifth win like Quevega. I like the prospects of Reve De Sivola. He was second to Peddlers Cross in the Neptune a few years back before being switched to fences.

However, he’s been a different horse since he switched back to hurdles and Dickie Johnson says he is his best chance of a winner this week. He won the Cleeve Hurdle last time out over today’s course and trip, beating Oscar Whisky, who reopposes today. I’ll be surprised if this form is reversed.

I think the ground will be okay for Divers in the Byrne Plate. He’s another Cheltenham specialist. He won at the Festival two years ago, but we made too much use of him last year when he was fourth under AP McCoy.

James Reveley takes the ride and he’s got a good chance from the bottom of the handicap. His last run at Musselburgh was good.

In the Fulke Walwyn, I think Deal Done can win for Dessie Hughes. They just need to ride him a bit more conservatively than 12 months ago when he could have won, and I see they’ve changed jockeys.

I thought he was going to win the Irish National, but he didn’t stay. If they get the pace right, he could win at a nice price.

I’m glad they’re staging the Cross Country after it was called off on Tuesday because of frost. Nothing has convinced me to switch from Arabella Boy while Leac An Scail could run a big race for Sam Drake.

Ferdy’s horses to follow...

1.30 Dynaste

2.05 Sam Winner

2.40 Cue Card

3.20 Reve De Sivola

4.00 Divers

4.40 Deal Done

5.15 Arabella Boy

Leac An Scail (each/way)