The countdown to the 2012 Cheltenham Festival is finally over and horse racing fanatics will already be preparing themselves for a £600million betting war with the nation’s leading bookmakers.
The opening day of the meeting is always one of the most eagerly anticipated sporting occasions of the year and at 1.30pm on Tuesday, 50,000 people will roar their approval as the action kicks off with the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.
But while the first day of the Festival is always one of the more enthralling spectacles of the season, it can also be one of the most difficult punting puzzles of the year and there will be plenty of racing fanatics keen to deal a hammer blow to the bookies on day one.
We take a look at all the action and try a nail a few winners on the most explosive afternoon’s racing on the calendar.
1.30 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle
The 2012 Cheltenham Festival gets underway with a sensational renewal of the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and it looks to be one of the most fascinating races of the meeting.
Cousin Vinny, Dunguib and Cue Card have all dominated the betting for the Supreme in the last three years, but in the absence of any short priced favourites in next week’s contest, Darlan (5/1,
Paddy Power) currently heads the market.
The market leader finds himself at the top of the pile after a horrendous fall in the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury last time out and though he looked to be tanking in a race that was eventually won by Zarkandar, it’s hard to have too much faith in a horse that was last seen having a crashing fall.
The likes of Steps To Freedom, Cinders And Ashes and Montbazon (who is reportedly working incredibly well for Alan King) will all take their chance, but it could be worth siding with the inexperienced, but very classy,
GALILEO’S CHOICE (8/1,
Blue Square).
Dermot Weld’s Irish raider brings some very high class flat form to the table and the six-year-old was seen winning a Group Three at Leopardstown in September. Other runs saw him finish third behind Aidan O’Brien’s Fame And Glory and in front of Luska Lad and he has taken to hurdles impressively this season.
He kicked off the campaign with a second behind Willie Mullins’ Sous Les Cieux (20/1,
Sportingbet) but anybody who saw that race at Fairyhouse would be hard pressed to say that Galileo’s Choice wouldn’t reverse the form over better ground. Indeed, it was testament to how much ability Galileo’s Choice possesses that he managed to get so close to the winner in such testing conditions.
His last performance in February saw the selection stroll to victory in the perfect Cheltenham prep and he jumped fluently before quickening away in some style. He will relish the good ground at Cheltenham and though his inexperience will worry his supporters, at 8/1 his class could be enough to get him through a wide open race and he rates a good each-way bet.
Nick Wilby’s selection –
Galileo’s Choice 8/1,
Blue Square
(Supreme Novices' Hurdle Cashback at
Betfred: get money back if Darlan wins)
2.05 Irish Independent Arkle Chase
One of the highlights on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival is the Arkle Trophy and there will be plenty of racing fans desperate to see Nicky Henderson’s sensational
SPRINTER SACRE (10/11,
Paddy Power) in action.
The market leader has always been highly regarded by his trainer and since he finished third in last year’s Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, the six-year-old has taken the chasing game by storm.
With three victories over the larger obstacles under his belt, Sprinter Sacre looks an absolute freak and it is difficult to remember a horse that has attracted so much attention so early on in their chasing career.
Jockey Barry Geraghty has already described the horse as the best he has ever sat on and it isn’t hard to see why so many people are excited about the superstar. After a twenty-four length success on his chasing debut, Sprinter Sacre then gave Jewson Novices’ Chase favourite Peddlers Cross a sixteen length hammering in an incredible display of power-packed jumping in the Wayward Lad Novices’ Chase at Kempton.
He was immediately sent to Arkle favouritism and further enhanced his reputation with a facile success in the Game Spirit Chase at Newbury last time out. After getting somewhat warm in the preliminaries, he pulled himself to the front of affairs at a very early stage. Those looking to lay the horse will look to this as a possible negative, but he looked totally in control throughout the contest and he was remarkably clever at all of his fences.
There are also doubts surrounding his ability to get up the hill after he faded in last year’s Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, but he looks older and more mature this year and it is difficult to see anything being able to live with a horse that looks set for much greater things.
If you do want to take him on, make sure you do it with Paddy Power who will refund all losing bets on the race if Sprinter Sacre wins. With the likes of Al Ferof (5/2,
Blue Square) and Cue Card (6/1,
bet365) this will be a promotion that makes plenty of appeal to those looking to oppose the exciting market leader.
Nick Wilby’s selection –
Sprinter Sacre 10/11,
Paddy Power
(Arkle Chase Money Back Special at
Paddy Power: get money back on losing bets if Sprinter Sacre wins)
2.40 JLT Speciality Handicap Chase
The newly named JLT Speciality Handicap Chase is the first time of the meeting that punters get to sink their teeth into some handicap action and it looks a typically competitive renewal of the three mile chase.
David Pipe’s The Package (13/2,
Ladbrokes) heads the betting for the race and after finishing runner-up for this race in 2010, he will be looking to go one better now. He has been off the track since November that year, but the Pipe team appear to be very bullish about his chances and he looks set to run a massive race under Timmy Murphy.
Alan King’s Hold On Julio (13/2,
Blue Square) is unbeaten this season and still has plenty of improvement in him and Quantitativeeasing (13/2,
Ladbrokes) looks set to run well under his massive weight, but it could be worth taking a chance on Paul Nicholls’
NOLAND (25/1,
Bet Victor).
The eleven-year-old has already tasted Cheltenham Festival glory in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and he has been lightly raced over fences, despite his advancing years. A Grade Two victory over What A Friend at Newbury two years ago was the last time we saw him in the winner’s enclosure, but he has run with great promise since and he looks like he could have a big run in him.
Travelling well before blundering three out in the BetVictor.com Handicap Chase last time out, he is a classy individual on his day and he is a decent each-way alternative to the market leaders.
Nick Wilby’s selection –
Noland (each-way) 25/1,
Bet Victor
3.20 Stan James Champion Hurdle
Thousands of Irish punters descending on Prestbury Park will be confident that Willie Mullins’
HURRICANE FLY (10/11,
Paddy Power) can fly their flag and secure his status as their best hurdler since the mighty Istabraq and it looks unlikely he will be turned over in the opening day feature.
The Irish raider was unbeaten in five Grade One starts last season and he seemed to improve with every race, winning the Champion Hurdle before scoring with consummate ease at the Punchestown Festival.
Off the track for some time at the start of this campaign, he returned with a most impressive performance in the Irish Champion Hurdle and Hurricane Fly seemed to answer almost every question, turning in a near-faultless round to win easily.
What most people will agree on is that Hurricane Fly has everything you would want to see in a Champion Hurdle contender. His jumping is near faultless when he is concentrating on the task and he has enough speed to keep himself in a race should he make an early mistake. His slick jumping and his ability to cruise into a challenging position before knuckling down to the task are a potent mix and he has proved that he doesn’t mind getting in a battle to the line.
With the likes of Zarkandar (7/1,
Ladbrokes), Oscars Well (14/1,
Coral) and Rock On Ruby (10/1,
Ladbrokes) taking their chance in the opening day feature, the challenge to Hurricane Fly doesn’t look as tough as it might be.
Indeed, the horse most likely to chase him home will be 2010 Champion Hurdle hero Binocular (5/1,
Stan James) who has looked good since undergoing a breathing operation this season. He is a classy operator who could pose a threat to the favourite.
However the guaranteed fast pace and good ground at Cheltenham are certain to suit Hurricane Fly’s breathtaking acceleration and with his slick jumping, ability to stay and his desire to get his head in front, the French import has all the necessary ingredients to confirm he is the best hurdler on both sides of the Irish Sea. He rates as my bet of the whole Cheltenham Festival.
Nick Wilby’s selection -
Hurricane Fly (NAP) 10/11,
Paddy Power
(Champion Hurdle Cashback with
Boylesports: get your money back if your horse finishes second)
4.00 Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase
The Cross Country Handicap Chase isn’t a race that looks particularly enticing as far as punting goes and while it is a thoroughly enjoyable contest, it isn’t the sort of race you would approach with an open wallet.
Edna Bolger’s dominance in the race has come to an end in the last two years and though Garde Champetre (10/1,
Boylesports) represents, the trainer looks to be up against it this year.
The Willie Mullins’ duo Scotsirish (7/2,
bet365) and Uncle Junior (9/2,
Coral) are afforded maximum respect and Sizing Australia (5/1,
Ladbrokes) will be back to defend his crown, but a chance is taken on Philip Hobbs’
BALTHAZAR KING (14/1,
BetVictor).
The selection appeared to be going well before colliding with a rail on his first attempt at one of these races at Cheltenham and the useful novice chaser is certainly worth another go on Tuesday.
Nick Wilby’s selection –
Balthazar King (each-way) 14/1,
BetVictor
4.40 Mares’ Hurdle
The Mares’ Hurdle revolves around Willie Mullins’ QUEVEGA who will be looking for a fourth consecutive victory in the two-mile four furlongs showpiece.
It is remarkable to think that the mare always dominates this market for so long when she arrives so fresh (not run since April last year) and those backing the horse at odds-on will be taking it on trust that Willie Mullins has the chaser in top condition for her trip to Prestbury Park.
That being said, she does look a formidable favourite and she was imperious when winning this race and another Grade One at Punchestown last season.
It is likely that any horse that finishes in front of her will be winning the race and though it isn;t very exciting, in all honesty, she should be too hard to beat.
5.15 Centenary Novices’ Handicap Chase
The final race on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival looks another fiercely competitive affair and if punters can pick the winner they should surely be heading into day two of the meeting in profit.
Alan King’s Bless The Wings (15/2,
Blue Square) heads the betting for the race and the team behind the seven-year-old will hope that there is more improvement in the locker. Equally, Hunt Ball (7/1,
Ladbrokes) and Ackertac (14/1,
Coral) should go close, but Nicky Henderson’s
TRIOLO D’ALENE (7/1,
Ladbrokes) looks a very smart prospect and he could end the day on a high for the legendary trainer.
The French import won on his only start in Britain, finishing ahead of Ackertac in the process and his jumping was very impressive at times. A fine looking chaser, he should be able to cope with his 9lb hike in the weights and the 7/1 on offer makes plenty of each-way appeal.
Nick Wilby’s selection –
Triolo D’Alene 7/1,
Ladbrokes