Need some inspiration deciding who to back at Cheltenham ? Sportsmail 's Marcus Townend and Peter Scudamore reveal their favourites while Sky Sports News HQ presenter Alex Hammond and other celebrities have also shared their tips for the Festival . PETER SCUDAMORE . PTIT ZIG . ( JLT Novices ’ Chase , 1.30 ) I can forgive him his fall on his last run at Ascot — it was a typical novice mistake . But his form otherwise looks pretty strong and he can also boast some top quality Grade One-winning hurdle form . He is taken to fend off the strong Irish threat led by Apache Stronghold and Valseur Lido . BEST ODDS : 7-2 . Ptit Zig , pictured at the Christmas Meeting at Ascot , is Peter Scudamore 's tip for the JLT Novices ' Chase . DON COSSACK . ( Ryanair Chase , 2.40 ) This gelding , trained by Gordon Elliott ( below ) , looks a much more complete racehorse this season and has won all his four races since being beaten by AP McCoy ’ s Gold Cup hope Carlingford Lough at the Punchestown Festival in April . He fell at this meeting last year but I would not hold that against him . Plus trainer Elliott already has a winner on the board with Cause of Causes on the first day . BEST ODDS : 3-1 . UN TEMPS POUR TOUT . ( Ladbrokes World Hurdle , 3.20 ) An expensive recruit from France who has not yet quite reached the heights expected of him . He did , however , run a very promising first race of the season when third to Thursday ’ s opponent Saphir Du Rheu in the Cleeve Hurdle in January . That was his first run since May so he is entitled to improve significantly and play a big part in a very open race . Confidence will be increased in his chance now that trainer David Pipe has had a winner at the meeting . BEST ODDS : 12-1 . BUYWISE . ( Brown Advisory & Merriebell Stable Plate , 4.0 ) This Evan Williams-trained eight-year-old was an easy five length winner at Ffos Las on his last run and looks a horse who still has a little in hand with the handicapper . BEST ODDS : 7-1 . Buywise was an easy five length winner at Ffos Las and looks to have a little in hand with the handicapper . MARCUS TOWNEND . TRUSTAN TIMES . ( Pertemps Hurdle , 2.05 ) Sybarite looks a good option here but , at even longer odds , this Tim Easterby-trained stayer looks worth a punt . He was fourth in the race 12 months ago , beaten less than half a length in a blanket finish , and he races off a marginally lower handicap mark this afternoon . His stable is in decent form with a couple of winners in its last six runners . BEST ODDS : 25-1 . EDUARD . ( Ryanair Chase , 2.40 ) Lacks a little match practice for such a hotly-contested event as this but there is no doubt the Nicky Richards-trained gelding possesses talent . He would probably have beaten Wishfull Thinking , a rival again on Thursday , in the Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon last time but for an error at the final fence . BEST ODDS : 16-1 . COLE HARDEN . ( Ladbrokes World Hurdle , 3.20 ) Has failed to win since his first race of the season at Wetherby at the start of November and could be regarded as disappointing . But the positives are that his stable has emerged from a quiet spell and he has had a breathing operation since being beaten behind Saphir Du Rheu here in January . Will be staying on better than most at the finish . BEST ODDS : 16-1 . Cole Harden has failed to win since his first race of the season at Wetherby at the start of November . Sky Sports ' News HQ presenter Alex Hammond is backing Saphir Du Rheu . AND THE CELEBS ... Here 's who the celebs are backing in Thursday ’ s Ladbrokes World Hurdle . ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... .. ALEX HAMMOND - Sky Sports News HQ presenter . SAPHIR DU RHEU . It should be an open race this year but this is a horse that is well regarded . ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... . RISHI PERSAD - Channel 4 Racing presenter . ZARKANDAR . He is a better horse than last season and they will have learned a lot more how to ride him after his defeat last time out . ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... . TANYA STEVENSON - Channel 4 Racing presenter . MONKSLAND . I can see the race panning out perfectly for jockey Paul Carberry . ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... . JOHN PARROTT - Snooker professional . ZARKANDAR . I think he will win as he ’ ll be ridden to pounce late . ANGUS LOUGHRAN - Betting pundit . MONKSLAND . You need a true stayer to win this race and he is definitely that . CORNELIUS LYSAGHT- Radio 5 Live Racing correspondent . SEEYOUATMIDNIGHT . A useful horse who should run well at a decent price .
Ptit Zig is Peter Scudamore 's tip for the JLT Novices ' Chase on Thursday . The Australian Open has been a great success story in recent years and it will be interesting to see how this year's crop of players fares. Sky Sports presenter Alex Hammond is backing Saphir Du Rheu . CLICK HERE for the Cheltenham Festival 2015 day three action LIVE !