Cheltenham Festival Day 1

Ladies and Gentlemen, its here! The 2012 Cheltenham Festival begins today, a day where all the hype comes to an end, when all the talk finishes and the action begins. Sixty Thousand spectators are expected to take to Prestbury Park today. So without further ado lets kick on to the first day of the Cheltenham Festival

1:30 - Supreme Novices Hurdle
19 go to post for this years Supreme and it looks full to the seams of class, DARLAN is favourite for the race after his tumble last time at Newbury, if all is well with him he should go very close but the hill may find him out in this classier race. Two that are guaranteed to get up the hill are STEPS TO FREEDOM and PROSPECT WELLS who fought out a finish here in November in which the former got his head in front. Jessica Harrington's horse was giving away 3 pounds that day but hasn't run since, he should be fighting fit and Robbie Power thinks he has an outstanding chance. Paul Nicholls won this race last year with Al Ferof and has only one runner this year. Despite going down to his rival today he ran a race too bad to be true in a slowly run Tolworth Hurdle at Sandown, it turned out he suffered an injury that day and will be alot better today. He was behind runner up COLOUR SQUADRON that day who threw the race away by hanging violently to the left, this is the other way round today so that wont be a problem. The most worrying thing was his fall last time out and may struggle today. There is some each way support behind Noel Meade's DYLAN ROSS who has made a habit of coming second in big races, one of them seconds was behind MIDNIGHT GAME who carries the Gigginstown stud second colours today. His chance really depends on how he handles the better ground today but looks a bit short of the main characters here. The first string of the Gigginstown colours are carried by Davy Russell on TRIFOLIUM who entered notebooks for his display last time out when winning a Grade 2 at Punchestown, ground is an unknown though. Behind him the last day was SIMENON who was classy on the flat but needs to improve to get competitive today. TETLAMI is unbeaten over hurdles and is an excellent second string for Nicky Henderson, it would be no surprise to see him ruffle a few feathers today but may be short on class today. He has beaten VULCANITE who has done nothing wrong over hurdles since switching from the flat but will need to prove he is capable of winning a race of this quality. Last time out he was behind MONTBAZON who is held in high regard by Alan King and has gone from strength to strength. He emptied out quickly in his first run this season here but that could be to do with fitness, he does however need to prove his love for the course. GALILEO'S CHOICE was a good second in the Royal Bond before winning a Novice Hurdle very impressively, in truth he didnt beat much though, very strong each way claims but Dermot Weld thinks his chance may be hindered by inexperience of the hurdling game. Charlie Longsdon is a trainer in form and he saddles HAZY TOM in this race who looks exposed after losing the last two races and should be out of his depth here. ALLURE OF ILLUSION'S jumping let him down last time when he dead heated in a maiden hurdle, unless he improves its hard to fancy him today. Im going for Donald McCain and Jason Maguire to get off to a flyer with CINDERS AND ASHES who has had a more laid back campaign than some of the others in this race and has done nothing wrong on ground he doesnt really like. An unfortunate runner up in his hurdling debut after being murdered at a hurdle by Ted Spread and losing the best part of 10 lengths. He was still only beaten a length by Broadbackbob but since then is unbeaten and a return to good ground will bring endless improvement. Hope you were on ante-post when mentioned previously.

1st - Cinders And Ashes
2nd - Tetlami
3rd - Prospect Wells

2:05 - Racing Post Arkle Challenge Trophy
Only six go to post today in what you would imagine is down to the presence of the immense SPRINTER SACRE who has been electric in all his chases so far and claiming some notable scalps on his way. These include seasoned chaser French Opera in the Game Spirit at Newbury when winning effortlessly on the bridle. The worry the last couple of weeks has been if he will get up the hill after emptying out last year in the Supreme quickly. He looks a different horse than last year and is a year older though and is probably just hype in trying to get him beat. His main opponent is Paul Nicholls trained AL FEROF who won the Supreme this day last year. Unbeaten in Novice company this year but was beaten last time out against more experienced chasers in Somersby and Finian's Rainbow. Looking at it that was a really good performance to come third to them two considering what prices they are in their respected races. A good pace looks assured courtesy of CUE CARD who may help set the race up for Paul Nicholls charge however jumping doesnt come as natural to him as it does the other two. MENORAH was a high class hurdler for the past two seasons but has never really taken to chasing making notable mistakes in all his races when unseating at Exeter and falling at Doncaster last time out. For the last month the only thing he has done is jump fences and should be alot better today, but is still opposed. BLACKSTAIRMOUNTAIN was 7th in last years County Hurdle and looks up against it today. FOILDUBH looks to be here for minor place money but is no slouch. I find it very hard to take on Sprinter Sacre today though and the first banker should go in.

1st - Sprinter Sacre
2nd - Al Ferof

2:40 - JLT Specialty Handicap Chase
The first handicap of the 2012 festival and an ultra competitive one at that. We will start with the top weight QUANTITATIVEEASING who won the the Spinal Research handicap chase here in December he is up 10 pounds for that victory and for that rise looks up against it. The other Nicky Henderson horse is the novice MOSSLEY who hasnt taken to fences as would have hoped but isnt short on ability and any improvement should see him go close under a fighting weight. HOLD ON JULIO is potentially well handicapped and has won all his chases under rules including two big handicaps at Sandown. He should go very close today and will have no trouble up the hill after his Sandown wins and could bag back to back wins in this race for trainer Alan King. Nick Gifford has TULLAMORE DEW in this after he ran a blinder at Ascot last time out and it would be a fairytale were he to win today. FRUITY O'ROONEY has been in fantastic form this year and may have been closer last time out if it werent for a slipping saddle. He looks set to run another bold race but may struggle to get his head in front where it counts. PENTIFFIC ran a fantastic race in the Grimthorpe last time but did have a tough race that day and may just need a break after 2 quick runs. THE PACKAGE was done on the line at the Festival 2 years ago and hasnt been seen for 493 days, but fitness shouldnt be a problem here and if at his best should go close. NOLAND is getting a bit old in the tooth now but if he runs anywhere near his best today he should take all the beating and is an attractive each way price. ALFIE SHERRIN is a pound out of the handicap and gets in off a low weight but hasnt been in sparkling form, a return to his best will put him close in Jonjo's only runner of the day. OUR MICK ran a fantastic race last time out in the Scilly Isles behind For Non Stop and has been in really good form so far this year, so its hard to see him out of the places. Last years RSA 4th MAGNANIMITY has run some decent races this year but mistakes look to cost him each time, a clear round will take him close. A very strong preference is for BAILE ANRAI who was running a big race last time in the Reynoldstown when coming down, if he had stood up there he would be rated alot higher and off a fly weight today looks a steal. He was second behind Fingal Bay over hurdles beaten 6 lengths and Ian Williams was praying for him to get into this race. Best bet of the day

1st - Baile Anrai
2nd - Our Mick
3rd - Hold on Julio
4th - Noland

3:20 - Stan James Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy
HURRICANE FLY looks good to take a step towards joining the greats today when looking to land his 2nd Champion hurdle. Off the course for a while he came back with a huge bang at Leopardstown when destroying a good field in the Irish Champion Hurdle. In that field was OSCARS WELL who hated the ground that day and will be much better for the better ground today but should still come up a bit short against the favourite today. Willie Mullins gelding's main threat today should be BINOCULAR who won this race 2 years ago and couldnt run in the race last year by no fault of his own. He looked back near his best when winning the Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton last time. In that race was CELESTIAL HALO who is a more than admirable horse, not the force of old but proved he still has some sparkle when winning a handicap under top weight at Newbury. This however may be too much for him. Another horse that has seen BINOCULAR'S backside this year is Christmas Hurdle runner up ROCK ON RUBY who will be more suited by 2 miles round here than the same trip at Kempton. Probably not good enough to win today but has strong each way claims. OVERTURN is one of the toughest horses in training and has beaten Nicky Henderson's horse this season in the Fighting Fifth. A break since his last run in the Christmas Hurdle when looking like he needed a break badly, a fresh horse should make a bold show but shouldnt be good enough here. A neck behind him in the International Hurdle was BRAMPOUR who has won 2 big handicaps this year and was running on under top weight last time out behind ZARKANDAR in the Betfair hurdle at Newbury. Last years unbeaten Triumph hurdle winner should give a good account of himself but may find it a bit tough at the end of the race. ZAIDPOUR is a very good horse in his own right but looks totally ground dependent and this is not what he wants today. KALANN is the other runner in the field and is a huge price for a horse that is a course and distance winner and prefers good ground. Saying that he is out of his depth here and shouldnt land a blow. HURRICANE FLY should take all the beating today.

1st - Hurricane Fly
2nd - Rock On Ruby
3rd - Binocular

4:00 - Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase
A race dominated over the years by Enda Bolger and JP Mcmanus, as of late they havent had it their own way though since Willie Mullins has entered these races. WEDGER PARDY will take them along today and was running a big race when all but 3 of the field took the wrong course at Cheltenham in the last cross country race. That was eventually won by GARDE CHAMPETRE who could probably run round this course blindfolded he has done it that many times, he is looking a bit old in the tooth now and shouldnt reverse the form with SCOTSIRISH who was fancied in a Ryanair at one time in his career. Strongly fancied by the Irish he looks to have an outstanding chance and should take all the beating. GONE TO LUNCH tries this race for the first time in his career and will be interesting if taking to the fences, but it is a gamble however. DOUBLE DIZZY always runs his race and was 3rd here in November, on that form he is a very live contender and should not be dismissed. DREAM ALLIANCE has won a Welsh National but should struggle against these opponents today. BALTHAZAR KING has never completed a cross country race when leaving Richard Johnson red faced after taking the wrong course and taking most of the field with him last time. UNCLE JUNIOR has won over this course and distance today and is very high in the weights, even with Emmet Mullins taking 3 pounds off his back. Last years winner SIZING AUSTRALIA should be bang there at the end and he loves this course. A positive prep run over hurdles he should be very fit today and go very close. Preference today is for last years 4th horse who has been laid out for this race all year, this horse is MALJIMAR who should go very close

1st - Maljimar
2nd - Double Dizzy
3rd - Sizing Australia
4th - Garde Champetre

4:40 - OLBG David Nicholson Mares Hurdle
Well this race shouldnt take too long to evaluate as nothing should get near the superstar mare QUEVEGA who has beaten everything to come at her in this race for the last 3 years without lifting an eyelid. It would be one of the major shocks of the festival were she to get beat. In theory the others are playing for the minor prize money. SHOP DJ is one coming in for each way support this morning after a season chasing. She won her prep race at Dundalk on the flat and should be in with a very strong each way chance. WHAT A CHARM won the Fred Winter last year but since then has been a bit disappointing and will need to improve to land a blow here. KENTFORD GREY LADY has gone from strength to strength this year and looks the strongest chance of a place in this field. She was behind VIOLIN DAVIS at Ascot but that wasnt a true run race and it turned into a sprint at the end. ALASI is a gorgeous mare and was just run out of a place last year and should run her race again this year after going chasing. SWINCOMBE FLAME won the Lanzarote in brave fashion before a 3rd at Ascot, she may struggle today when upped in class and others are preferred. but QUEVEGA is the obvious selection and should win her 4th consecutive race.

1st - Quevega
2nd - Alasi
3rd - Kentford Grey Lady

5:15 - Pulteney Land Investment Novices Handicap Chase
HUNT BALL carries 12 stone here but he doesnt actually have to give too much weight away with the bottom weight carrying only 11-4. Upped 70 pounds this year it would take a monumental effort to win today but has shown no sign of stopping his improvement yet. TRIOLO D'ALENE looks set to go off favourite and has had only one run in England which he won at Ascot, in that race he beat ACKERTAC into second place after producing a better jump at the last. Nigel Twiston Davies' charge has to be considered after Sam said it was his best chance on the first day. BLESS THE WINGS has won over course and distance and looks set to run a big race again and form could be franked by Our Mick earlier on. THAT'LL DO runs for the Champion Trainer and has to be respected, vibes from this stable are good about the horse so expect a good show from him today. VINO GRIEGO is a pound lower than he was when second at Ascot should run a good race again, but he has been out of form since his 2nd behind The Minack. BATTLE GROUP has a mind of his own and cant be trusted, if he puts his best foot forward though he could win this easily. MIC'S DELIGHT is a horse going the right way over fences and although the big step up in class he should give another good account of himself, but may find one or two too good today. Aidan Coleman has claimed CARRICKBOY as his best chance of the first day and a win at Hereford the other day boosts his credentials, five pound penalty carried today though. EDUCATED EVANS has been in flying form this year and if all is well with him should be bang there, though he is Twiston-Davies' second string. We will take a chance on ACKERTAC today though.

1st - Ackertac
2nd - Triolo D'alene
3rd - Carrickboy
4th - That'll do

I hope everyone has a fantastic cheltenham festival and lets give the bookies a bashing!
Happy Punting