Today's Racing Tips: Sam Turner's best bets for day three of Cheltenham's November meeting

• Skeltons set for super Sunday

• Mira can prove the fairest of them all

• Proud poised to outrun price for Pauling

Cheltenham, 14.55 - Back Protektorat @ 3/14.00

Although he is 11 years of age in a few weeks, Protektorat remains capable of running to an extremely high level and if he boasts anything approaching full fitness for his reappearance he must surely take some beating in this handicap.

Although Dan Skelton's doughty 10-year-old was beaten in the Paddy Power Chase on his comeback last yeat, the ground was pretty slick on that occasion so it was no great surprise to see him outspeeded by some faster rivals.

However, the 35ml of rain which fell on Friday should leave conditions perfect for his comeback here and it's worth recalling that this is a horse which thumped subsequent Charlie Hall winner Djelo by 23 lengths at Windsor when encountering soft ground, while his effort behind Jonbon in the Melling Chase at the National meeting in the spring was another terrific effort.

While Windsor will no doubt be his primary objective once more, he will find these much calmer waters and, although he has to give lumps of weight away, there aren't many in here which could appear on the same card as Jonbon and Djelo let along run against them.

One exception is Tanganyika who is sure to relish the test this race presents and wound up a successful season with a fine second in the Midlands National.

He looks the type to excel in the Welsh version so it will be interesting to see what level of fitness he is at for his comeback.

Cheltenham, 15.30 - Back Mirabad @ 5/16.00

Although there was a deluge at the track on Friday, there isn't expected to be too much more rain over the ensuing two days of the meeting which should ensure it is ideal ground for day three, even it it has been opened up by the previous two days' action.

Mirabad has had this race as his objective since being switched to the Skelton operation and with the front-running stablemate Knickerbockerglory present, the six-year-old should have the ideal lieutenant to track and assist his chance.

The likes of Alexei and Celtic Dino appeared to have their chances compromised by the Friday rain, but it appears that conditions won't be as testing by Sunday which arguably makes the 5/1 on offer for Mirabad a little on the tight side.

However, we have to play the hand we're dealt and, as we've already seen, his team are an irresitible force at present so he gets the nod.

Cheltenham, 15.30 - Back Fiercely Proud each-way @ 16/117.00

At the time of writing, there are quotes in the village of 22/1 for Fiercely Proud - although the Sportsbook compilers wisely duck last year's sixth and go 16/1 with a sixth place option.

Connections feel they have some unfinished business with this race after running well in it last year when jockey Ben Jones held up his mount and stuck to the inside of the track for the most part of a race which was dominated by the wide racing, front-running Burdett Road.

Given the first four home were all wide, it was a fair effort from Ben Pauling's six-year-old who went on to reverse placings with the likes of Be Aware and Dysart Enos when they met a month later in a warm Ascot handicap which the selection gamely landed.

He looks a touch overpriced here and is worth playing each-way as he has won following a 220-day absence from the track, while was arguably coming to win when falling at Ascot before his run in this race 12 months ago.

Now read Katie Midwinter's latest tips here