CHIPPING Norton trainer Charlie Longsdon will put the final touches to his Cheltenham Festival team this week ahead of National Hunt’s showpiece meeting, which gets under way on Tuesday.

Our Kaempfer, an impressive winner at Kempton in January, appears Longsdon’s best chance of a first Festival winner.

The eight-year-old, who was a close fifth in the Pertemps Network Final at last year’s meeting, is a 14-1 chance for the opening day’s Ultima Handicap Chase.

However, the trainer is favouring a crack at the following day’s RSA Chase for which he is a 20-1 shot.

“He has certainly improved from Kempton,” said Longsdon. “I think the RSA doesn’t look the strongest this year, it looks more open than other races.

“I’ve always said that in all the handicaps you probably need a stone up your sleeve. He couldn’t win the Pertemps last year off an 8lb-lower mark in theory.

“I thought he is only going to get one chance to run in the RSA, so that is my slight leaning at the minute.”

Pendra, who hasn’t run since finishing unplaced in last year’s Grand National, may reappear in the Ultima Handicap Chase or the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Amateur Riders’ Handicap Chase next Thursday.

Longsdon’s team could also include Forth Bridge, owned by the Queen.

The four-year-old, a game winner of his last two starts at Musselburgh, is quoted at 33-1 for the JCB Triumph Hurdle next Friday.

“It’s not guaranteed he is going to run, we will have a look at it,” said Longsdon.

“He has been quite impressive so far on courses that haven’t suited him. I think there is loads of improvement to come.”