Steve Smith-Eccles believes Go Native can land the Champion Hurdle on opening day of the Cheltenham Festival on Tuesday.

The Course & Distance Limited pundit, who steered the Nicky Henderson-trained See You Then to three victories during the 1980s, told www.cdhorseracingtours.com: "I firmly feel that Go Native will take all the beating. In winning the Fighting Fifth (Newcastle) and the Christmas Hurdle (Kempton), the £1million WBX bonus is now very much up for grabs and I hope he does it!

"There seems to be a slight concern about whether he'll be as effective on softer going - although it didn't stop him winning the Supreme Novices' Hurdle last year - I agree with the trainer of Go Native Noel Meade that Cheltenham shouldn't water and should let nature take its course."

Smith-Eccles also believes last year's winner Punjabi, trained by his old boss Nicky Henderson, and the Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained Khyber Kim shouldn't be underestimated at Prestbury Park next week.

He continued: "Punjabi remains very good value. I know for a fact that he's all of a sudden started to blossom again and seems to be peaking at just the right time. I was taken with the way he jumped his hurdles last time out at Kempton. Granted it was just an egg-and-spoon race but he looked a whole lot sharper.

"I also think that Khyber Kim might be the dark horse of the race, his jockey Paddy Brennan is very bullish about his chances and I certainly wouldn't put anyone off backing him - he could provide the shock of the race."