Confidence in Hunt Ball

Trainer Keiran Burke says he is "more confident" of Cheltenham Festival success with Hunt Ball this year than he was last year.

The eight-year-old defied top weight in the Pulteney Land Investments Novices' Handicap Chase at the meeting last term and is set to tackle the Byrne Group Plate this time.

Hunt Ball was last seen finishing a distant third in the extended three-mile-one-furlong Argento Chase at Cheltenham in January but drops back in trip for this handicap date.

Burke said: "I don't mind if it rains, we did always think he needed better ground but he was the last off the bridle in the Argento.

"He's very well and did a blinding bit of work on Thursday morning. We've also taken him to the beach to freshen him up.

"I'm more confident than I was this time last year."