1:20 – Supreme Novices Hurdle (Grade 1)
The famous Cheltenham roar will await the runners as the Festival kicks off with a fascinating renewal of the traditional curtain raiser, the Supreme Novices Hurdle over 2 miles and half a furlong. Nicky Henderson trains favourite OLD PARK STAR, looking for a sixth win in the race. The horse is 3/3 over hurdles, winning the Haydock Trial for this race by a whopping 18L back in January. He has done nothing wrong and looks a rock solid favourite to start the festival for a stable who knows how to get the job done in this race. However given his price and the depth of this race it might be worth looking for a bigger priced alternative.
Willie Mullins saddles three in this race with MIGHTY PARK his most fancied runner according to the market. Although only having run once over hurdles, the Mullins team hold this Walk in the Park gelding in very high regard, and his maiden win at Fairyhouse confirmed the promise that had been spoken about prior to his appearance. A lot of faith would have to be shown in Mullins that this horse is ready for a championship race of this standard, especially at the general 5.00 available, but he cannot be ruled out.
TALK THE TALK for Joseph O’Brien won the Dublin Racing Festival trial for this race, and showed that he has all the battling qualities needed, staying on strongly to get up on the line. The ground, as it has been for most of the winter was bottomless that day, and given the good ground although he would have to be respected, there is a worry that a few jumping flaws could be exposed.
The selection is MYDADDYPADDY at a decent each way price. He should relish the better ground and is an exceptionally strong traveller which should help in a race likely to be run at a very good pace. His jumping is very sound and his form gives him a very good chance to kick off the meeting with a nice priced winner.
2:00 – Arkle Challenge Trophy Novice’s Chase (Grade 1)
A field of six go to post for The Arkle where again Nicky Henderson and Willie Mullins hold the aces according to the market. Mullins saddles last year’s Supreme winner KOPEK DES BORDES, who hasn’t been seen since suffering a small injury after his only run over fences in his career, a facile 13L win at Navan. Mullins said that he was ready to go for the Dublin Racing Festival but they decided to give the assignment a miss due to the bottomless ground. The vibes coming out of the camp are extremely strong and that is often foolish to ignore with the all conquering Mullins stable.
LULAMBA represents Nicky Henderson. Denied a win in the Triumph Hurdle at the festival last year by 100/1 outsider Poniros, Lulamba decisively reversed the form later in the season at Punchestown. A perfect 3/3 over fences this year, including a Grade 1 and a Grade 2, he is undoubtedly more experienced over fences than Kopek Des Bordes. There would be a worry that if this is run at a frantic pace, Lulamba could come under pressure earlier than ideal.
The mare KARGESE is a very interesting runner for Willie Mullins here as well. Last year’s County Hurdle winner is battle hardened in open company unlike her other two market rivals here, having finished 3rd in the Punchestown Champion Hurdle last season. She was outstayed by Romeo Coolio at the Dublin Racing Festival, but her jumping was very sound that day and she was able to travel at speed when going off hard in front. However, as was the case at Leopardstown, she might just be slightly outclassed here, and I would be tempted to trust the bullish words coming from the KOPEK DES BORDES camp.
2:40 – McCoy Contractors Juvenile Handicap Hurdle
This is usually a very hard race to find the winner of. A lot of these juveniles should be holding a fair amount up their sleeve, having had this race in mind for the entirety of their season. SARATOGA will be looking to follow in the footsteps of Brazil, for JP McManus and Padraig Roche. A smart flat horse for Aidan O’Brien, Saratoga finished second in a race that has been known to be a good guide for this race at Cheltenham having produced four of the last seven winners of this race.
WINSTON JUNIOR heads the market for Faye Bramley, having made all most recently at Ascot. No doubt a very popular winner in the making, there would be a small concern about how keen the horse can be and the fact that it has made all or been very prominent in his runs, which does not tend to suit this race.
3:20 – Trustmarque Ultima Handicap Chase
This staying handicap chase is one of the few races at the festival where you can always hang your hat on a British trained horse to get the job done. The market is also often very informative in this race, with many winners over the years coming from the top few in the betting.
JAGWAR and IROKO head the market for JP McManus, both trained by the very capable duo of Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero. Although regular jockey Jonjo O’Neill has chosen to ride IROKO over JAGWAR, this is likely to be down to their partnership in The Grand National at Aintree.
JAGWAR has a very good record at the track, having won the Plate here last year and has run two solid races, both at Cheltenham this year. The step up to 3 miles is seen as a positive and although likely to go off favourite, he should take all the beating.
QUEBECOIS for Paul Nicholls and Harry Cobden is also prominent in the betting, having attracted attention with his last run at Newbury. Going off a warm order over a seemingly unsuitable two miles, the horse was a complete no show. Connections reported that he could not go the pace in the ground and would be suited with a step up to three miles. Owned by connections who are long time sponsors of this race, it is not hard to believe that this has been the plan all season.
4:00 – Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy (Grade 1)
There is an element of what might have been in this year’s Champion Hurdle, with connections of Constitution Hill electing for a campaign on the flat instead of coming back to try and regain their crown. LOSSIEMOUTH has defected from the Mares Hurdle to come and have a crack at the big prize in his absence and is the favourite here.
She has a perfect record at the track (4/4) and is 3 out of 3 at the Cheltenham Festival. The worry would again be on the drying ground that the two mile trip might be a bit sharp, especially with the speedy BRIGHTERDAYSAHEAD likely to try and make it a frantic pace. Both these mares have beaten each other this season and it may take a good one to beat them. However it would have to be the Mullins charger that is preferred especially given her perfect course form and slight class edge.
THE NEW LION was a good winner of the Ballymore Novice’s Hurdle at the festival last year, seeing off two good horses in The Yellow Clay and Final Demand. However the form has not worked out quite as well this season.
Last year’s winner in dramatic style, GOLDEN ACE, is back to defend her title. She is also 2/2 at the Cheltenham Festival having beaten BRIGHTERDAYSAHEAD in the Mares Novice’s Hurdle the year prior to her Champion Hurdle victory. She is a very consistent and high class mare and could be a good each way alternative with a very good chance of winning again.
4:40 – Sun Racing Plate Handicap Chase
Another big field handicap chase is the penultimate race on day one. The selection is DOWNMEXICOWAY who has been running well this season, having put up a decent performance in the Irish Arkle at the Dublin Racing Festival.
Despite not being of the requisite class required to win a race like that, he showed enough to convince that he could have finished a lot closer that day. He should relish the better ground, and it looks as though he has been laid out for this race. Trainer Henry De Bromhead has shown over the years that he can get one ready for the big day at Cheltenham and does well with handicap chasers at the festival.
Also worth a mention is MCLAUREY who is trained by Emmet Mullins, another very good target trainer. MADARA for the Skelton stable is also very high on the list, having returned from a long setback last season and appears to retain all of his ability.
5:20 – National Hunt Challenge Cup Novice’s Handicap Chase
NEWTON TORNADO for last year’s winning trainer Rebecca Curtis has proved very popular in the run up to the race. Winner of two of his four starts this season he has very creditable claims, however he was a faller on his most recent visit to the course. Should he jump more soundly on this occasion he is likely to be bang there.
Preference however is for BACKMERSACKME who was a good winner of a competitive handicap chase over two and a half miles at the Dublin Racing Festival, albeit on soft ground. He has previously run very well over three miles at Cheltenham, finishing second in the October meeting behind Three Card Brag. The fact that very shrewd connections have chosen this race as his target is enough for me and he will likely take a good bit of beating and still an attractive enough price.
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