Alexander is ready for Festival debut

SCOTLAND’S Lucy Alexander, in her maiden season as a professional, partners her first Cheltenham Festival runner this afternoon – Riguez Dancer in the 2.40, the JLT Specialty Handicap Chase. Riguez Dancer, trained by Ferdy Murphy, is the first of several mounts Alexander has been booked to ride during the Festival, and was priced around the 33-1 mark last night.

Ruby Walsh – who rides a string of strongly fancied mounts over the four days at Cheltenham – is the 4-7 favourite to end the Festival as top jockey, with Barry Geraghty 7-2, Tony McCoy 12-1, Davy Russell 14-1 and Robert Thornton 16-1. Willie Mullins is the even-money favourite to be top trainer, ahead of Nickey Henderson (7-4) and Paul Nicholls (7-2).