Ante-post look ahead to the weekend with Cheltenham in mind

The Cheltenham Festival is a little over a fortnight away and anticipation for the Cotswolds showpiece is ticking towards fever pitch.

There are still some ante-post clues to be had, however, both for Cheltenham and for Aintree's Grand National meeting in April, and we are looking at some horses running this weekend with a view to their spring festival credentials.

· Icare Allen — Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle @ 50/1 with William Hill

· Mondo Man — Triumph Hurdle @ 16/1 with Betway

· Tripoli Flyer — Supreme Novices' Hurdle @ 40/1 with bet365

· Minella Cocooner — Grand National @ 20/1 with bet365

Icare Allen ready to book Festival ticket

The Jonjo & AJ O'Neill runner ICARE ALLEN is one to keep a close eye on in the Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle at Chepstow (2.32) on Saturday afternoon.

He'll need to hit the frame if he's going to secure a spot in the Cheltenham Festival contest bearing the same name on March 13th.

He has been with the Jackdaws Castle teams since the start of the season and won at Uttoxeter in November, while he was second at Catterick last month under 7lb claimer Benjamin Macey, who rides again in Wales.

Icare Allen was a 7/1 chance in the Pertemps Final 12 months ago when trained by Willie Mullins and was still going well under Mark Walsh when a bad mistake at the second last ended his chance and he was pulled up.

That was off a mark of 142 and he's rated 18lb lower going to Chepstow, with plenty of scope to get himself booked for a Cheltenham return, in which case odds of 50/1 would vanish.

Mondo Man to advertise Triumph form

MONDO MAN is the odds-on favourite for the Grade 2 Adonis Juvenile Hurdle at Kempton (2.25) over two miles on Saturday and all eyes will be on Gary and Josh Moore's contender.

He was second at Ascot on his British debut last month, chasing home fellow French import Lulamba from the Nicky Henderson team.

The Seven Barrows handler toyed with the notion of sending his charge to this race but has instead opted to go straight to Cheltenham, where Lulamba is the current favourite for the Triumph Hurdle — a race his trainer has won a record seven times.

Mondo Man was no match for Lulamba at Ascot but the second and fifth won next time, with the latter — St Pancras — also running here. This could be an informative contest, despite Henderson swerving it.

Fergal's Flyer to seal Supreme place

The Cheltenham Festival means an awful lot to Gloucestershire-based trainer Fergal O'Brien, one of the sport's most engaging handlers.

He saddles TRIPOLI FLYER in the Grade 2 Dovecote Novices' Hurdle at Kempton (3.00) and this improving son of Getaway could cement his place in the Festival-opening Supreme Novices' Hurdle if he obliges.

He has impressed in his wins at Market Rasen and Musselburgh since finishing second on his hurdles bow at Chepstow in November and is a progressive type.

He faces two promising rivals in Miami Magic and Starcrossed Lover now and while they all face a challenge to get up to the level of the leading Irish novices, a smooth win for any of the trio would put them in the mix.

Canny Danny and Minella Cocooner worth watching

The Grade 3 Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse (3.25) is a recognised Grand National Trial and last year's Aintree scorer I Am Maximus is one of four Willie Mullins-trained contenders in the line-up.

He's going to have to defy top weight when he returns to Merseyside and will give weight to his rivals in this race too.

He ships 12lb in the direction of stablemate MINELLA COCOONER, the ride of Danny Mullins. Winner of the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown last season, this nine-year-old has tackled three Grade 1s in Ireland this season and gets a drop in class now. He gets on well with this rider and could advertise his Aintree potential with a big run.

BoyleSports Destination Cheltenham Offer