Fleming’s Star can be champion

And they’re off


In last year’s Cheltenham Festival preview, our man tipped up six winners (Quevaga, Ninetieth Minute, Dunguib, Chapoturgeon, Imperial Commander and Kauto Star). Now he tries to find the winners of all 26 races at this year’s Festival.

Predictions
Michael Duffy


Fleming’s Star to be champion


Tuesday
THE rollercoaster ride that is four days at the Cheltenham Festival gets underway today at 1.30pm — and expect fireworks from the very start.
The Irish like to get their week off to a perfect start and Dunguib has everything going for him to take the opener. However, with Paddy Powers’ special, it’s worth trying to find something to run well at a price.
Loosen My Load was my big ante-post fancy but he misses the festival in favour of Fairyhouse and Punchestown so I’m going to side with Menorah, who has a high cruising speed and a very capable turn of foot.
The Arkle is another hugely exciting prospect and I’m quite happy to say that it looks a match between Captain Cee Bee and Sizing Europe. There has been a lot of talk about Somersby but he simply doesn’t have the class of his other two main market rivals.
While I would love to see Captain Cee Bee win for Eddie Harty, I feel a fully wound up Sizing Europe will be very hard to beat based on the fact that he was rated 168 over hurdles.
The Champion Hurdle has cut up badly and I have doubts about many of the market leaders including Go Native (trainer form at Cheltenham); Solwhit (health, ground); Binocular (health) so I am happy to have an each way punt on Alan Fleming’s stable star, Starluck.
He was just touched off by Go Native at Christmas but he showed he was in rude health when bolting up on the all-weather at Kempton a fortnight ago.
People may worry about him getting up the Cheltenham hill but he is a stronger horse this year and he possesses the necessary turn of foot needed to win a Champion Hurdle.
In the other races on day one, I’m really sweet on the classy Bensalem for Alan King in the William Hill; L’Ami can finally get the better of Garde Champetre in the Cross Country and Quevaga will have too much speed on the likely good ground for Voler La Vedette in the David Nicholson.

SELECTIONS
Tuesday

• 1.30 - Dunguib
• (Menorah ew)
• 2.05 - Sizing Europe
• 2.40 - Starluck
• 3.20 - Bensalem (nap)
• 4.00 - L’Ami
• 4.40 - Quevaga