My four tips for the Cheltenham Festival

My four for The Festival


Michael Duffy

THERE are just 48 days left to Cheltenham and Festival 2011 is shaping up to be one of the most exciting for a long time.
Now is about the right time to put on an ante-post accumulator, as the fields are becoming clearer and generally there is still a fair bit of value out there if you shop around.
Last weekend saw Hurricane Fly cement his place as the leading Irish challenger for the Champion Hurdle with another smooth success. There is no doubt that Willie Mullins’ seven-year-old is a class act, but the question the remains: will he handle the undulations at Cheltenham?
One horse who will undoubtedly handle the course is Menorah and at the moment he is still my pick for the big event on day one. He has done everything asked of him in his career so far and has only been beaten twice in nine races. I think he still has plenty more to give and is less exposed than the likes of Binocular so he is the choice to get our Lucky 15 off to a flyer.
The Queen Mother Champion Chase market also changed over the weekend as Master Minded just about held off Somersby in the Victor Chandler Chase at Ascot.
He now sits alongside Big Zeb at the head of the market, with the next best being Paul Nicholls’ Woolcombe Folly at 7/1. It could turn out to be a two-horse race, and I’d be with Colm Murphy’s charge all the way. Big Zeb was simply superb last year and he hasn’t put a foot wrong since with two stylish victories over the useful Golden Silver.
It promises to be a fascinating race.
With Big Bucks likely to be one of the shortest-priced favourites in the history of the festival, its look like the Ryanair Chase will be the highlight on Thursday’s card.
Last year my heart was in my mouth as they swung into the straight as I had backed Willie Mullins’ mare Jy Vole at 33/1, but she was just outstayed in the end by Alberta’s Run. She has to come into the equation again and is as short as 12/1 in places, but at the moment I think Tranquil Sea is the one to be on.
He went off second favourite for the race last year but was let down by a few uncharacteristic jumping mistakes. However, he has looked in rude health this season, dotting up at both Clonmel and Fairyhouse, and if he brings his ‘A’ game he could be the one to beat.
I have already tipped up Diamond Harry for the Gold Cup, so I am going to have to stick with the Nick Williams stable star. However, you will no longer get the 12/1 that was available early in January; he is as short as 8/1 in places now.
Next week we will take a look at the novice events and see if there’s some ante-post value available for some of the young pretenders off to the Cotswolds in March.
TWO TO WATCH
RACING at Cheltenham goes ahead next weekend for the last time prior to the Festival itself. Punchestowns could be good value to burst the Time for Rupert bubble in the Argento Chase, while Bensalem from the Alan King yard is a confident pick for the Cleeve Hurdle.

Cheltenham ante-post
LUCKY 15 TIPS
Menorah, Champion Hurdle, 5/1
Big Zeb, Champion Chase, 5/2
Tranquil Sea, Ryanair Chase, 7/1
Diamond Harry, Gold Cup, 9/1