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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 before tipping this year's Cheltenham Gold Cup winner, Gaelic Warrior.

BRIGHTERDAYSAHEAD (4.05) is fancied to give Grand National-winning trainer Gordon Elliott the Grade One William Hill Aintree Hurdle.

The tough mare bounded to a seven-and-a-half length victory over Staffordshire Knot in the Mersey Novices' Hurdle at this meeting in 2024.

Racing in the Gigginstown silks of Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary and his brother Eddie, Brighterdaysahead has gone on to become one of the best horses in the two-mile division.

But she also stays really well and an extra four furlongs can help her uphold the Champion Hurdle form facing The New Lion, Alexei and Golden Ace again, a month on from the Cheltenham Festival.

The three-day meeting jumps into action with the first of four top flight contests on the afternoon, the Boodles Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle.

And the likeable WINSTON JUNIOR (1.45, nb) could come home ahead of a field which includes Triumph Hurdle second Maestro Conti, third Minella Study and fourth Selma De Vary.

My selection's handler, Faye Bramley, has a guide to the form as she saddled close-up fifth Lord Byron and could have run his stablemate too.

Winston Junior chased home Saratoga in the juvenile handicap, which is known as the Fred Winter, where he had to wait for a bit of room behind the well-weighted winner.

Entitled to come on for his experience in a big field, Bramley's battler has a fine chance of bettering his previous effort against Minella Study now the handicapper has assessed him.

LULAMBA (2.20) tops the ratings in the William Hill Manifesto Novices' Chase, with extra yardage to suit the star saddled by Nicky Henderson, who also returns Cheltenham Gold Cup second JANGO BAIE (2.55) to the track.

The seven-year-old chased home Gaelic Warrior, one of the most impressive heroes in recent memory and that sets the standard in the Racing Welfare Bowl Chase.

Both are understandably short in the market but HIGHLANDS LEGACY (4.40, Nap) has some juice in his price in the Close Brothers Red Rum Handicap Chase.

Progressive for the O'Neill family, the Kayf Tara gelding finished close-up behind handicap blot Mambonumberfive at this circuit in November and rejuvenated chaser Mighty Bandit around Newbury before Christmas.

In third was subsequent Ladbrokes Trophy hero Lookaway and Highlands Legacy, up 6lb to 133, was driven out to keep Torneo and couple of these behind him at Windsor.

Jeremy Scott's exciting prospect PRINCESS DAY (5.15, trb) has impressed in two starts for the stable and is the Goffs Nickel Coin Mares' Standard Open NH Flat Race pick.

A faller at the Chair when single figures for last year's Randox Foxhunters' Open Hunters' Chase, JOKER DE MAI (3.30) has each-way claims back in this sphere.

He bolted up in one of these races for his previous stable, with his other triumph coming on good to soft terrain and is tipped to give Rob James a good spin with more jumping experience gained.

1.45pm: Winston Junior (nb)

2.20pm: Lulamba

2.55pm: Jango Baie

3.30pm: Joker De Mai

4.05pm: Brighterdaysahead

4.40pm: Highlands Legacy (nap)

5.15pm: Princess Day (trb)