All the talk is almost over and the racing, thankfully, goes ahead. Here’s what to look forward to on Day 1 of the Cheltenham Festival.
Day 1 is the best day of the Cheltenham Festival for any number of reasons. Firstly, there’s usually a slate of excellent racing and the 2013 edition is no exception. Secondly, everyone has hope in their hearts and some money in their account. Thirdly, everyone thinks they have a winner or two picked out and believes that this is the year they win big on Day 1 and can enjoy the rest of the week in financial comfort.
By tonight, some will have succeeded and we’re here to help you become one of them. After hours of hard study, some hunches and with at least one tip gleaned off a bloke in our local dry cleaners, here’s our Day 1 preview.
Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (2.05)
Arguably the race of the day, this always hard to pick race is stuffed with contenders. Heading the betting is Nicky Henderson’s My Tent Or Yours. A hot tip from nearly every Cheltenham preview night, the fact that AP McCoy chose to ride it over his boss JP McManus’ other horse Jezki has led most to follow suit.
But we prefer Jezki’s chances. Robbie Power will pilot it and he impressed around Leopardstown over Christmas. The ground will be a touch soft though, so others come into contention.
Ruby Walsh will ride Champagne Fever, winner of last year’s Champion Bumper, and the ground, and trip, will suit. As EW shots go, it is hard to beat. Willie Mullins other entry, Un Atout, is one of Michael O’Leary’s stable and he is usually good for a Festival winner or two while some fancy Dodging Bullets, Paul Nicholls entry.
This race is a disaster for favourites (remember Dunguib?) so be careful.
Arkle Chase (2.40)
The first bombproof favourite of the meeting appears as Simonsig goes to post. Another from Henderson, the grey won the Neptune Novices Hurdle in some style last year and a flawless campaign this year (two races over fences, with a total margin of victory of 69 lengths) makes him a worthy favourite.
The only real opposition is the multi-talented Overturn but even with Donald McCain’s great record at Prestbury Park we just can’t see Simonsig beat.
Champion Hurdle (4.00)
The feature of the day and a race where Irish hopes will rest on Hurricane Fly. Mullins’ charge’s third place in this race last year sunk a lot of Irish accumulators but he is favourite again this year, though not odds-on as he was in 2012. Connections say he is in much better form than last year but he has many worthy foes here.
Paul Nicholls’ Zarkandar has some impressive form, beating last year’s winner Rock On Ruby and Grandouet this season. Rock On Ruby hasn’t looked quite as good as last term while Grandouet only run in the last 16 months was that defeat by Zarkandar.
Winner of this race in 2010, Binocular is also back and the likes of Countrywide Flame and Cinders and Ashes have more than decent EW shots.
Whoever wins this it will be a great story. For Ireland, and our accumulators, we hope it’s the Fly.
Best of the rest…
Quevega goes for a fifth Mares’ Hurdle (4.40) in a row and is unbackable to do so. The Enda Bolger/Nina Carberry combo looks unbeatable on Arabella Boy in the Cross Country (5.45 but due for inspection) and the two handicaps (the JLT (3.20) and the Novices Handicap (5.15) are tricky but we like Merry King and Carlito Brigante respectively.
Don’t forget, check out theTote.com for all the best odds, especially on those above 7/1, while you can also take advantage of their epic Jackpot and Placepot pools. For more on that, just click here.
And check back here at 1pm as we kick off our liveblog covering all the craic, news and winners from Day 1.
