The famous Cheltenham roar will reverberate around Presbury Park at Tuesday as the four-day racing extravaganza kicks off in traditional style.
The curtain-raiser to the Cheltenham Festival at 1.30pm on Tuesday will kick-start 28 thrilling races, bringing together the best the national hunt sport has to offer.
DAY ONE
Day one has been mired with big name withdrawals including the sport's superstar Constitution Hill and the Arkle favourite Marine Nationale - but there are still plenty to whet the appetite - not just in the Guinness Village.
Without Constitution Hill, State Man is the obvious favourite for the Champion Hurdle at 3.30pm and it looks set to be his year - as although he was unable to get close to last year's winner he was significantly the 'best of the rest'.
The seven-year-old's odds will be prohibitive for value hunters so an each-way option with Nemean Lion for Kerry Lee could be worth a look at a current price of 28/1.
Other grade ones on the day include the Supreme Novices Hurdle that kicks off proceedings at 1.30pm and with Ballyburn swerving the race and go for the longer distance Barry Bingham (formerly the Ballymore) on day two, Mystical Power has improved with every run and is unbeaten in three starts since May, including an impressive showing in the Moscow Flyer Novices Hurdle. Jeriko Du Reponet is also unbeaten and won a grade two at Doncaster last time out and could be the each-way option.
The Grade One Arkle, a chase over two miles, is another day one highlight with Willie Mullins runner Gaelic Warrior leading the market. But it looks a more open renewal then previous years and we think JRP One for the Joe Tizzard stable could run a big race at 10/1. The seven-year-old looked a certain winner here in November when the jockey unseated at the last and bounced back to win a grade two at Lingfield last time out.
Lossiemouth is our NAP of the day in the Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle (4.10pm) and looked stunning when winning the Unibet Hurdle here at Festival Trials Day in January. The winner of the Triumph Hurdle last year looks a significant cut above her rivals.
In addition to the graded races the first of the handicaps on day one - with Chianti Classico looking decent value in the Ultima Handicap Chase (2.50pm) on the back of three good runs so far this season since having wind operation. There is also the Boodles Handicap Hurdle (4.50pm) for four-year-olds with Ndaawi for Gordon Elliott our pick in an open looking race.
The National Hunt Chase for amateur riders closes the card on day one with Embassy Gardens for the Mullins team is our selection based on two winning performances at Naas and Punchestown so far this season.
DAY TWO
Day two has the Queen Mother Champion Chase as the main feature.
El Fabiolo looks a solid favourite having won all six of his starts over fences, including when seeing off his nearest challenger in this Jonbon, for Nicky Henderson, by five and a half lengths in the Arkle at the festival last year.
The seven-year-old looked rock solid when adding another Grade One to his collection at the Dublin Racing Festival last time out and will take all the beating.
Jonbon was beaten on his last start out at the rearranged Clarence House at Cheltenham on festival trials day but jumped poorly and his jockey James Bowen performed miracles to maintain the partnership after a shuddering blunder four out.
The eight-year-old should give a better showing here but will have his work cut out to reverse form with the favourite.
But for each way punters Edwardstone for Alan King should be considered. The now ten-year-old has been inconsistent and never really fulfilled the promise following his Arkle win two years ago but looked somewhere back to his best when winning the Game Spirit Grade Two at Newbury last time out.
The day itself starts with the Baring Bingham Novices Hurdle over 2m5f (1.30pm) with red-hot Willie Mullins favourite Ballyburn swerving the Supreme Novices on day one for the longer distance.
It’s a race that looks set to be dominated by the Mullins team who saddle the top three in the market. The favourite looked red-hot when last seen on the track at the Dublin Racing Festival and it's hard to see it beaten here if turns up in that kind of form.
But with prohibitive odds on the market leader, each-way value could lie in Handstands for Ben Pauling, unbeaten in all three starts over hurdles and was a class above his rivals when winning a listed hurdle at Huntingdon last month.
At 2.10pm is another Grade One, the Brown Advisory Chase over an extended 3m. Fact to File for Willie Mullins heads the market and was a huge 17 lengths clear of the highly-rated Gaelic Warrior when the latter pulled up at the Dublin Racing Festival. But in what could be a day of utter Irish domination, the English do have a shot at getting on the scoreboard with Stay Away Fay, a seven-year-old for Paul Nicholls.
Previous festival form counts for a lot – and the winner of the Albert Bartlett last year could mount another strong challenge although improvement will be needed from his last run here at Cheltenham at trial’s day. Two previous wins at Exeter and Sandown offer more promise.
The Coral Cup handicap hurdle (2.50pm) is a hugely open contest but we think First Street, third in a grade two here on trial's day, for Nicky Henderson could run a big race.
The Cross Country Chase at 4.10pm includes a former Gold Cup winner Minella Indo, now 11 at the top of the market. But we believe Delta Work, last year's winner for the Gordon Elliott yard who loves the festival could be back to retain his crown.
The Grand Annual Challenge Cup, a handicap chase over 2m at 4.50pm with Harper's Brook, a winner at Sandown last time out, one to keep onside, and day three closes with the Champion Bumper at 5.30pm with Teeshan for Paul Nicholls, an impressive winner at Exeter last month, our selection.
DAY THREE
Thursday’s highlights include the Ryanair Chase over 2m4f and the Paddy Power Stayers Hurdle over 3m – with both competing for the top billing.
But the day kicks off with the Golden Miller Novices Chase over 2m4f with an open looking field. Grey Dawning, for the Harry and Dan Skelton team currently head the market and was an impressive winner at Warwick last time out.
But our pick is Ginny’s Destiny, for Paul Nicholls and Harry Cobden, who beat the favourite here in December and followed that up with another success at festival trials day.
Bainbridge for Joseph O’Brien shot to the top of The Ryanair (2.50pm) market after winning a Grade 2 at Kempton in January. But it looks wide open, and Stage Star could be forgiven for a poor outing on heavy ground here on New Year’s Day and based on previous form here should go close.
A line-up of much-loved former favourites make up the Staying Hurdle at 3.30pm. Previous winners including Flooring Porter and Paisley Park are back for more but form and age in the case of the latter are now against them. Heading the market is Teahupoo for Gordon Elliott, last seen winning a Grade One at Fairyhouse in December, but we are siding with the Grand National hero Noble Yeats won over course and distance on trial’s day and could go close again.
Handicaps include the Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle over 3m at 2.10pm with Springwell Bay for Jonjo O'Neill look set to be run a big race at an each way price of 14/1. A consistent performer, the seven-year-old won a handicap here in November and was runner-up in a qualifier event at Musselburgh last time out.
DAY FOUR
Friday is all about the feature race of the meeting – the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup with participants aiming to leave the mark on the history of the great race.
Multiple winners of the race are few and far between over the years but last year’s all-conquering hero Galopin Des Champs looks the one to beat and back to his very best after a small blip with two impressive wins at Leopardstown. Fastorslow has beaten the favourite twice but looks to have it all to do if the Galopin brings his A-game.
Shishkin is a class horse on his day but is unpredictable while Gerri Colombe has never been out the top two in his 11 starts and has Grade One winning form in the bank.
One to have an eye on each way is this season’s King George winner Hewick who fell when prominent in this last year and at 16/1 could threaten the places.
Other Grade Ones on Friday including the Triumph Hurdle at 1.30pm with a rare British favourite in Sir Gino looking to follow up victory here in January and make it four from four over hurdles. Kargese looks to be a big threat though for the Irish with the Willie Mullins four-year-old winning well on her last start at Leopardstown in February.
2.50pm sees the grade one Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle, another race dominated by Irish runners. Gidleigh Park for Harry Fry could serve it up to them though and is unbeaten in four starts under rules.
Other races include the County Handicap Hurdle at 2.10pm with course and distance winner Pied Piper for Gordon Elliott our selection, while the hunter’s chase after the Gold Cup could see Billaway, who fell when fancied last year, go close this time round.
The Paddy Power Mares’ Chase at 4.50pm could go the way of Dinoblue for Willie Mullins, who was second in a competitive handicap last year.
Closing the festival is the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle and Encanto Bruno, a six-year-old for Gavin Cromwell, our selection at an each-way price to see out the meeting in style for the Irish.
