Good Evening/Morning to you all, I hope you are ready for this!
Today marks the first day of the 2014 Cheltenham Festival, the day when all talk stops and attention is turned to the track. At 1:30 this afternoon thousands of racing fans will cheer in unison as the Cheltenham roar before the Supreme Novices gets us underway for 4 days of heart stopping action. Over the next week we will see history changed, names immortalised along with faces of old and names of new announce their arrival into the world of national Hunt Racing. Join me as we get this show on the road after months of anticipation, ladies and gentlemen, the Cheltenham Festival is here!
Our video with Nick Scholfield previewing the Champion Hurdle and Supreme Novices
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fFzX0bqxTQ&list=UUezAefNM6xM_sGDsrGUwjjQ
Now onto the racing! (Apologies for all the ante post prices, they all seemed to want to run on the same day!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fFzX0bqxTQ&list=UUezAefNM6xM_sGDsrGUwjjQ
Now onto the racing! (Apologies for all the ante post prices, they all seemed to want to run on the same day!)
SkyBet Supreme Novices Hurdle - Irving
Until a month ago the name of the novice on everyone's lips was that of Vautour after his victory in the Deloitte Hurdle when beating The Tullow Tank. However around a month ago Irving staked his Festival claims when winning the Dovecote Hurdle at Kempton in emphatic style. That has been the case on all of his starts this season albeit in lower company but Irving has shown that he is all class on more than one occasion. He landed the Kennel Gate at Ascot in good fashion when maybe looking more impressive due to Prince Siegfried departing at the last hurdle. Splash Of Ginge who re opposes here today has since gone on the boost that form however when winning the Betfair Hurdle, but he should once again struggle to contend with Irving. Nick Scholfield and Paul Nicholls to get the Festival off to a flying start with Irving. (10/1 ante post)
Racing Post Arkle Challenge Trophy - Grandouet
This year's Arkle looks wide open with the dual Festival winner Champagne Fever at the head of the market. Preference however is for Nicky Henderson's Grandouet who is still a maiden over fences but was a classy animal over hurdles. On chase debut he unseated Barry Geraghty in an incident that probably wasn't all his fault with Hinterland jumping across him, but it is debatable if he were to win that day. As always he improved for his seasonal debut and ran a fantastic race in the Henry VIII back at Sandown when jumping perfectly bar two out which cost him. Hinterland was once again just in front that day but Grandouet came flying up the hill but just ran out of time and settled for second. The last time we saw him was at Kempton when trailing in a well beat second behind Dodging Bullets who is in today's field once again. However it must be said that nothing was in Grandouet's favour that day with bottomless ground, a severe lack of pace and the stable being under a bit of a cloud. That run is best forgotten and back on Good ground for the first time this season Grandouet is taken to land the Arkle of 2014. (16/1 ante post)
Baylis and Harding Handicap Chase - Alfie Sherrin
Alfie Sherrin was put up as one of my handicappers to follow for Cheltenham but I have to say im surprised he comes here instead of the Kim Muir, that said he is a past winner. Stamina is Alfie Sherrin's forte and has been looked after this year as he has only seen the racecourse once all season when fourth in a big handicap hurdle at Haydock. Last season however he was fourth in the Kim Muir off a two pounds higher mark, but his jumping wasn't great that day and he will need to brush up on that. AP McCoy takes the ride this afternoon as he prefers Alfie Sherrin to top weight Cantlow who is a consistent sort in his own right which can only be seen as a positive. Alfie Sherrin to win this race again from six pounds higher than he was when victorious in 2012 and with Cheek Pieces reapplied. (20/1 ante post)
Alfie Sherrin was put up as one of my handicappers to follow for Cheltenham but I have to say im surprised he comes here instead of the Kim Muir, that said he is a past winner. Stamina is Alfie Sherrin's forte and has been looked after this year as he has only seen the racecourse once all season when fourth in a big handicap hurdle at Haydock. Last season however he was fourth in the Kim Muir off a two pounds higher mark, but his jumping wasn't great that day and he will need to brush up on that. AP McCoy takes the ride this afternoon as he prefers Alfie Sherrin to top weight Cantlow who is a consistent sort in his own right which can only be seen as a positive. Alfie Sherrin to win this race again from six pounds higher than he was when victorious in 2012 and with Cheek Pieces reapplied. (20/1 ante post)
Stan James Champion Hurdle - The New One
The New One announced himself as a top class hurdler when taking some notable scalps at Cheltenham last year in the Neptune before a good effort out of Novice company at Aintree. He has been campaigned lightly this year starting off with an impressive display at Kempton when beating ex winner of this race, Rock On Ruby. He then tackled a higher class of race when winning the International here at Cheltenham fending off Zarkandar in more testing conditions than he will experience today. Most recently he was seen just being touched off in the Christmas Hurdle behind My Tent Or Yours when in reality he probably should have won after fluffing the last completely. He had to be the first to commit that day also which isn't ideal and in the end My Tent Or Yours was able to travel into the race and pounce at the last to win. Sam Twiston-Davies to team up with his father and ride The New One to victory in the Champion Hurdle. (3/1)
The New One announced himself as a top class hurdler when taking some notable scalps at Cheltenham last year in the Neptune before a good effort out of Novice company at Aintree. He has been campaigned lightly this year starting off with an impressive display at Kempton when beating ex winner of this race, Rock On Ruby. He then tackled a higher class of race when winning the International here at Cheltenham fending off Zarkandar in more testing conditions than he will experience today. Most recently he was seen just being touched off in the Christmas Hurdle behind My Tent Or Yours when in reality he probably should have won after fluffing the last completely. He had to be the first to commit that day also which isn't ideal and in the end My Tent Or Yours was able to travel into the race and pounce at the last to win. Sam Twiston-Davies to team up with his father and ride The New One to victory in the Champion Hurdle. (3/1)
OLBG Mares Hurdle - Quevega
This should be a fairly short one as Quevega goes for her sixth successive win in the Mares Hurdle and to reinstate herself as the Queen of Cheltenham. Her closest rival is likely to be Sirene D'ainay again who at one point looked to have the beating of her last season before Quevega found an extra gear after the final hurdle. Nothing has managed to get close to her in recent times and with her usual preparation of coming here fresh she should once again be very hard to beat. (10/11)
This should be a fairly short one as Quevega goes for her sixth successive win in the Mares Hurdle and to reinstate herself as the Queen of Cheltenham. Her closest rival is likely to be Sirene D'ainay again who at one point looked to have the beating of her last season before Quevega found an extra gear after the final hurdle. Nothing has managed to get close to her in recent times and with her usual preparation of coming here fresh she should once again be very hard to beat. (10/11)
Terry Biddlecombe National Hunt Chase - Rogue Angel
One for Gigginstown and Mouse Morris now as they saddle Rogue Angel in the four miler this year who has been consistent enough throughout the season. He managed to win a Beginners Chase easily at Punchestown two starts ago in a competitive field on testing ground, which im not convinced is what he wants. The blinkers are kept on today after disappointing in a big way last time behind Foxrock but the return to good ground should see him post a much better performance. Davy Russell said at the start of the season that he will win an Irish National one day which would suggest that stamina is at a premium. On the other hand he isn't short of speed as on his second start over fences he was able to match Champagne Fever for a long way before a shuddering error bought him to a halt. Rogue Angel to land the four miler for Steven Clements and Mouse Morris. (14/1)
One for Gigginstown and Mouse Morris now as they saddle Rogue Angel in the four miler this year who has been consistent enough throughout the season. He managed to win a Beginners Chase easily at Punchestown two starts ago in a competitive field on testing ground, which im not convinced is what he wants. The blinkers are kept on today after disappointing in a big way last time behind Foxrock but the return to good ground should see him post a much better performance. Davy Russell said at the start of the season that he will win an Irish National one day which would suggest that stamina is at a premium. On the other hand he isn't short of speed as on his second start over fences he was able to match Champagne Fever for a long way before a shuddering error bought him to a halt. Rogue Angel to land the four miler for Steven Clements and Mouse Morris. (14/1)
Rewardsforracing Novices' Handicap Chase - Close House
Close House is an intriguing runner for David Pipe in the finale after a couple of good efforts out of Handicap company earlier in the season. He is the second of our Handicappers to follow that will run today but this race was always the one he was aimed at as it was his only entry, so no surprises here. Close House was running a big race on Chase Debut behind Wonderful Charm and Oscar Whisky before coming down four out, up until which his jumping had been good. Next up, once again at Cheltenham he was third behind Oscar Whisky and Taquin Du Seuil in what has to be said was atrocious ground on New Year's Day. More recently he was dropped to two miles which was never likely to suit and it showed as he laboured out the back and came in a well held fourth of four. However, he has dropped three pounds for that effort which can only help his cause today and is taken to land the finale. (25/1 ante post)
NAP - The New One
Nb - Irving
Good Luck and as always, Happy Punting!
Close House is an intriguing runner for David Pipe in the finale after a couple of good efforts out of Handicap company earlier in the season. He is the second of our Handicappers to follow that will run today but this race was always the one he was aimed at as it was his only entry, so no surprises here. Close House was running a big race on Chase Debut behind Wonderful Charm and Oscar Whisky before coming down four out, up until which his jumping had been good. Next up, once again at Cheltenham he was third behind Oscar Whisky and Taquin Du Seuil in what has to be said was atrocious ground on New Year's Day. More recently he was dropped to two miles which was never likely to suit and it showed as he laboured out the back and came in a well held fourth of four. However, he has dropped three pounds for that effort which can only help his cause today and is taken to land the finale. (25/1 ante post)
NAP - The New One
Nb - Irving
Good Luck and as always, Happy Punting!
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