WGC – Dell Technologies Match Play, Wednesday, March 22

The WGC – Dell Technologies Match Play gets underway at the Austin Country Club, Texas on Wednesday and may present last year’s losing semi-finalist Rory McIlroy with an opportunity to improve his already impressive match play record. The 27-year-old Northern Irishman has finished in the top ten on all three outings this season and arrives relatively fresh, which must be an advantage which features three days of group matches followed by head-to-head knockout matches over the weekend. McIlroy should have too many guns for Emiliano Grillo, Gary Woodland, Soren Kjeldsen in Group 2 and cannot face anyone ranked tenth or lower in the world rankings until, at least, the quarter-finals, so looks well worthy of support at 15/2 with Sky Bet.

Selection: Rory McIlroy to win outright (15/2 with Sky Bet)

1.30 Cheltenham, Wednesday, March 15

Neon Wolf has won both starts over hurdles with the minimum of fuss and was particularly impressive when drawing clear on the run-in to beat Elgin by 9 lengths in the Grade 2 Rossington Main Novices’ Hurdle, over 1 mile 7½ furlongs, at Haydock in January. The stoutly bred gelding steps up in class and distance in the Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle, over 2 miles 5 furlongs, at Cheltenham on Tuesday, but looks a worthy favourite. Harry Fry’s 6-year-old is already the best horse in the race, according to official ratings, won his sole point start over 3 miles and has winning form on good to soft and soft going, so has plenty going for him. Of course, he also remains open to significant improvement after just four starts in all, so it will take a very smart performance to lower his colours.

Selection: Cheltenham 1.30 Neon Wolf to win (7/4 favourite with Sky Bet, who are offering new and existing customers their money back as a free bet, up to £20, if he’s beaten)