Andy Stewart: Saphir Du Rheu can sparkle

Connections of Saphir Du Rheu are quietly confident he can bounce back to his best and go one place better than last year in the Ryanair World Hurdle at Cheltenham.

The Paul Nicholls-trained seven-year-old is a general 10-1 chance in a market dominated by spectacular Cleeve Hurdle hero Thistlecrack.

Saphir Du Rheu finished second in last year’s World Hurdle before going back over fences and landing the Grade One Mildmay Novices’ Chase at Aintree.