Jefferson aiming to get off to a flier at the Festival

The Norton-based trainer is no stranger to success at the showpiece meeting – Tindari and Dato Star were both Festival winners in 1990s, while Attaglance and Cape Tribulation both prevailed in 2012.

This year’s select team is headed by Cyrus Darius, who will line up in the Champion Hurdle as a big outsider. The eight-year-old bolted up at Aintree in the Spring of 2015, but was injured on his chasing debut at Perth and was sidelined until his comeback at Haydock in January.

Having blown away the cobwebs, he got back on the winning trail in last month’s Morebattle Hurdle at Kelso. “We think it’s worth taking a chance with Cyrus Darius in what looks an open Champion Hurdle,” said the trainer.

Cloudy Dream, who won his first two starts over fences before bumping into Buveur D’Air at Haydock and Forest Bihan at Doncaster, is set to take on the mighty Altior in the Arkle Trophy.

Jefferson’s third and final runner at this year’s Festival will be Double W’s, who will contest the concluding Novices’ Handicap Chase. He said: “All being well, we’ll run the three of them on the first day and they all seem in good form. Cloudy Dream looks tremendous, as does Double W’s.

“We know the Arkle will be a tough race, but they’re all tough races at Cheltenham. Double W’s is near the top of the weights in the novice handicap, but there’ll only be about 10lb from top to bottom, so we’re not too worried about that.”