CHELTENHAM:  GUEST TIPSTER - DAY ONE PREVIEW:The biggest factor for the first couple of days of the festival at least will be the ground and the way conditions look like turning up at the moment it all looks to be in Sizing Europe's favour in the Champion Hurdle, writes TOM TAAFFE

From talking to some lads who've been at Cheltenham for the last few days, they are telling me the ground will be quite testing, maybe even something like "yielding to soft" by Irish standards. And there's no knowing how much more rain might fall.

Sizing Europe will have no problem with such conditions but the same thing can't be said for Harchibald, or even Sublimity. For Harchibald in particular, the rain has come at the wrong time. He showed so much class to win at Dundalk that you just wonder if he really stays a true-run two miles. If it is even more of a stamina test than usual, then it may find him out. Two miles at a fast pace around Cheltenham is the equivalent of two and a half miles anywhere else.

Some questions have been raised about Sizing Europe's jumping but I have no doubts on that score. He jumped a little big when he ran free in the AIG. But look back at how he jumped the last. He met it wrong, took a half stride, and hurdled it brilliantly. I think Osana will probably box on to be second to him.

I fancied Captain Cee Bee in the Supreme but the ground may be gone for him too. I'm told Rippling Ring might be as good a novice hurdler as Paul Nicholls has ever had so I would have the utmost respect for his chances. But the one I'm going for at a decent price is Deep Purple. He was beaten by Rippling Ring's stable companion Breedsbreeze in the Tolworth at Sandown but was on a good run before that and he jumps and stays well.

It is very hard to get away from Noland in the Arkle. We are talking about a horse who has won seven of his nine races and managed to beat Straw Bear and Sublimity over hurdles at the festival two years ago. Ideally you would like him to have more experience but if he jumps well he should be very hard to beat and he has the right man on his back for that. Thyne Again will run a real good race and has a huge chance of being second to Noland.

The ground for the Cross-Country race will be interesting. In theory it should be quicker, but the place drains in there and it can sometimes be worse in the middle. On balance though, it should be slightly better going than the main track and I would look no further than Wonderkid for the winner. The race seems to suit him and he has already beaten Heads Onthe Ground around there.

It is hard to look beyond Ashkazar and River Liane in the Fred Winter and I would just give the edge to the Irish horse. Impressed as I was by Ashkazar at Sandown on Saturday, 11lb is still a lot of weight to give away to a horse who was as impressive as River Liane was at Leopardstown. Even more encouraging is the way Made In Taipan came out and boosted the form at Naas on Sunday. I think the handicap chase is very open but it could narrow down to An Accordion and Ofarel d'Airy. The Pipe horse was good at Doncaster in January but Ofarel d'Airy might edge him if he settles better than at Newbury.

TOM TAAFFE'S TIPS

2.00: Deep Purple

2.35: Noland

3.15: Sizing Europe

4.00: Ofarel d'Airy

4.40: Wonderkid

5.20: River Liane