Let the Festival fun begin at Cheltenham

Let the Festival fun begin


Preview
Michael Duffy

Tuesday
THE first day is also perhaps the best day of racing and really sets us up for a cracking week. I am sticking with course form for two of the big races and can see Cue Card and Menorah being successful.
As a value alternative in the opening race, Nicky Henderson’s Gibb River has been totally overlooked and is cracking value at 20/1. In the Champion Hurdle, Dunguib is the value against the top three and don’t be surprised if he is gambled on on Tuesday morning.
The Arkle looks a below par renewal and while Realt Dubh has a great chance, Finian’s Rainbow looks a bit more classy and gets my vote. I really like the look of Bensalem in the Festival’s first handicap, and Maljimar is an interesting recruit to the Cross Country game and may give Garde Champetre something to think about.
Quevaga is many people’s idea of a festival banker but Sparky May really impressed me at Ascot and he could be a first Festival winner for Somerset trainer Patrick Rodford.
It could be a bleak first day for the Irish but Gordon Elliott’s Tharawaat is good value at 14/1 in the Centenary Novice Chase.

Wednesday
GORDON Elliott can take the National Hunt Challenge Cup with the distinctive Chicago Grey in the first on Wednesday. There are strong Mayo connections with this eight-year-old, who could have gone for the RSA, an indicator of his obvious talent.
In the Neptune Investment Hurdle, the English could again overturn the two hot Irish hopes, So Young and Oscar’s Well. Bobs Worth has a win under his belt at Prestbury Park, and the fact that Barry Geraghty bred the horse and sold him to Nicky Henderson speaks for itself.
Time for Rupert is a worthy favourites for the RSA, but seven-year-old Wymott is a beast of a horse and his jumping has been impressive to date. He may have more in the tank.
I am sticking with Big Zeb for the competitive Queen Mother Champion Chase. Colm Murphy’s ten-year-old has been there and done that and can provide Barry Geraghty with another winner.
Call The Police and Aegean Dawn are the talking horses in the Coral Cup, but For Non Stop has the best form in the book and gets in on a featherweight.
The last two races are wide open, but Plan A is well fancied for the Fred Winter. I like the look of Ian Williams’s Twentycaratgold when he beat second favourite Ericht and he looks good value at 25/1 for the Bumper.

Thursday
IT’S pretty easy to give back any money made on the first two days during Thursday. The card is dominated by tricky races, so keep the stakes small.
In the Jewson Novice Chase, I really like the look of Alan Potts’ Loosen My Load, who has a course win under his belt. Paul Nolan’s Noble Prince is the big danger though.
Sivota looks very well in the Pertemps Final and he is a confident choice to give Willie Mullins his first win.
I think he can follow up with another winner in the Ryanair Chase with classy mare J’Y Vole, whose seven-pound allowance may prove the difference.
The fact that Big Bucks is odds against in the World Hurdle that shows how impressed people have been with Grands Crus, and I think he can prove them right. Expect him to be backed again if For Non Stop wins the Coral Cup.
Cross Kennon also loves it around Cheltenham and looks over-priced at 33-1.
You’ll need a bit of luck to find the winners of the last two handicaps but Cape Tribulation is a classy sort from the Malcolm Jefferson yard who looks well in in the Festival Plate. Massini Man is on a bit of a roll for Brendan Powell at the smaller tracks and could cause a 33/1 surprise in the Kim Muir.

Friday
UNACCOMPANIED can get the Irish off to a flyer in the Triumph Hurdle on Friday. Dermot Weld’s yard are confident of a good run and her allowance can prove invaluable against likely favourite, Grandouet.
The County Hurdle is always competitive, but Snap Tie is a course winner and trainer Philip Hobbs rates him as one of his best chances of the week, so may be able to defy a heavy weight.
In the Albert Bartlett Hurdle, Emma Lavelle’s Court in Motion may be up to reversing form with hugely impressive first-time winner Back in Focus. Willie Mullins’ Lios a Choill looks overpriced at 25-1.
It is an intriguing Gold Cup as some of the older horses look for one last shot at the title while the new superstar, Long Run, looks to cement his place at the top table. He cannot afford to make jumping errors like he did on his last two runs here, but if he reproduces his King George form, he’ll win.
However, Imperial Commander is a very solid favourite and this could be a two-horse race, so a reverse forecast could be on the cards too.
The last three races are difficult to predict, but for what it’s worth, I am particularly sweet on On the Fringe in the Foxhunters, and Cool Operator looks a big price at 33/1 in the Conditional Hurdle.
Rock Noir has a lot of entries during the week but if he is kept for the Grand Annual, he could be one of the best of the festival in the finale at 16/1.
Enjoy what promises to be a great week.

SELECTIONS
Tuesday
1.30 - Cue Card
2.05 - Finian’s Rainbow
2.40 - Menorah
3.20 - Bensalem (nap)
4.00 - Maljimar
4.40 - Sparky May
5.15 - Tharawaat

SELECTIONS
Wednesday
1.30 - Chicago Grey
2.05 - Bob’s Worth
2.40 - Wymott
3.20 - Big Zeb
4.00 - For Non Stop (nap)
4.40 - Plan A
5.15 - Twentycaratgold

SELECTIONS
Thursday
1.30 - Loosen My Load
2.05 - Sivota (nap)
2.40 - J’Y Vole
3.20 - Grand Crus
4.00 - Cape Tribulation
4.40 - Massini Man

SELECTIONS
Friday
1.30 - Unaccompanied
2.05 - Snap Tie
2.40 - Court in Motion
3.20 - Long Run
4.00 - On the Fringe (nap)
4.40 - Cool Operator
5.15 - Rock Noir