WAKANDA can end a lengthy losing streak that stretches back to 2015 with victory in the Sky Bet Chase at Doncaster.

Sue Smith's runner has not won since lifting a Listed chase at Ascot in December that year – yet that is not to say he has been out of form in the interim.

Indeed, the nine-year-old has been batting away with plenty of credit, falling just sort of victory on more than one occasion, most recently when chinned on the line at Wetherby on Boxing Day.

He got into a duel with stablemate Delusionofgrandeur that day and, having bested him by a neck, the lighter-weighted Get On The Yager swooped late to win by a head.

Wakanda started off a mark of 144 that day and lines up here off 145, which actually puts him 2lb well in following the handicapper's reassessment.

Today's nap selection should certainly give his backers a run for their money, particularly as all ground seems to come alike to him. Henry Brooke takes the reins.

BRISTOL DE MAI is difficult to oppose in the Betbright Trial Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham, where Daryl Jacob is in the saddle.

The Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained grey was simply awesome in the Betfair Chase at Haydock in November and is a fairly irresistible force when the mud is flying, as it was on Merseyside.

Dreams of clinching a £1million bonus went up in smoke when he could only finish sixth in the King George at Kempton on Boxing Day.

But unlike at Haydock, he was unable to get his rivals out of their comfort zone on the less demanding terrain and stomach ulcers have also been put forward since as an excuse.

Whether he is over that problem remains to be seen, yet he will undoubtedly relish conditions and has run well at Cheltenham before, so the course is not a major concern.

There would surely be no more popular winner of the galliardhomes.com Cleeve Hurdle than BEER GOGGLES.

The seven-year-old clearly took a massive leap forward when winning the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury in November – and although he had things all his own way from the front, he was pulling away again at the finish and can prove that was no fluke.

APPLE'S SHAKIRA has everything in her favour in the opening JCB Triumph Hurdle Trial Juvenile Hurdle.

She is two from two since joining Nicky Henderson and the conditions of this race once again hand the initiative to her.

CELESTIAL SPHERES can kick off an across-the-card double for Charlie Appleby in the Betway Handicap at Lingfield.

He showed some decent form as a juvenile, most notably when beating subsequent Group Three scorer Monarchs Glen on his final start of 2016 at Goodwood.

However, he showed nothing like that form on his return to action in April last year and was then off the track until making a winning return at Newmarket in November.

Celestial Spheres flopped next time but showed that was only a minor blip when winning again at Lingfield on New Year's Eve, taking a step up to 12 furlongs in his stride.

Pitched in over that course and distance once more, Celestial Spheres could take some beating, even allowing for a 4lb rise.

NATIVE ARROW can then make it a brace for Appleby in the opening 32Red On The App Store Maiden Stakes at Kempton's evening meeting.

He disappointed on his debut as an odds-on favourite at the beginning of the month but can step up on that fourth place.

SHYRON is another who was out of luck when last seen but can make his presence felt in the 32Red Handicap.

He was putting in all his best work at the finish over this seven furlongs at Lingfield but the winning post came too soon as he finished a length adrift in fourth.

A truer pace would have suited better and connections will be hoping they get that on this occasion.