Four To Follow On Cheltenham Festival Opening Day Preview

Share:    

Four To Follow On Cheltenham Festival Opening Day Preview

Hurricane Fly (3.20) can strike a highly significant early blow for the Irish by landing a mouth-watering Stan James Champion Hurdle on the Cheltenham Festival 2011 opening day. Willie Mullins' slick-jumping star is the proverbial winner machine on home soil and belatedly turns up at Cheltenham having missed the last two Festivals through injury.

He could well be the real deal and Mullins' recent bulletins have been upbeat. The bookies are finding it difficult splitting the market principals but punters searching for an each-way alternative should consider Mille Chief at around 14-1. The new kid on the block was possibly attempting the impossible when trying to concede 22lb in defeat to handicap blot Aegean Dawn at Ascot in November and has since posted two victories.

Cur Card (1.30) can lift the roof in the Stan James Supreme Novices' Hurdle. Last year's impressive Champion Bumper winner will undoubtedly stay further as his career develops but he should still possess enough toe to see off his challengers. Dunraven Storm was no match for Cue Card here earlier in the season but Philip Hobbs brings him back fresh and quietly fancied. Odds of 25-1 demand an each-way saver.
Share:    

The Irish Independent Arkle Chase has a very open look to it butGhizao(2.05) gets the vote following an excellent course victory at the Paddy Power meeting when hammering Captain Chris by 10 lengths.

First of the big handicaps is the Stewart Family Spinal Research Chase andGreat Endeavour (2.40) gets the nod over old adversary Sunnyhillboy. They have both been laid out for this event, although form students will be quick to pick holes in their possible stamina limitations over this extra trip. I'm prepared to take the risk with David Pipe's grey on this less testing ground.

As theCheltenham clock ticks down to theStan James Supreme Novices' Hurdle curtain-raiser, now's the time to draw breath and consider a couple of stonewall bets mixed in with an Irish dark horse running in theWetherbys Champion Bumper.

Big Buck's (Ladbrokes World Hurdle) andQuevega (David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle) (11/10Coral) are my idea of bankers and the 5-4 atVictor Chandler on offer for the best staying hurdler in training is surely manna from heaven I can't have Grands Crus on my mind against the awesome reigning champion.

Quevega is the Willie Mullins hotpot of the meeting and even-money is tempting in a double with Big Buck's.

Another jolly' on my radar isBig Zeb at 3s for theSportingbet.com Queen Mother Champion Chase atWilliam Hill and, with the ground drying up, why not addPoquelin at the same price atBlue Square and888Sport in theRyanair Chase for a long-range Yankee?

The Irish dark horse in question for thebumper isAupcharlie. Some shrewdies have snapped up the early 50s but this last-time-out winner is still trading at 33s withCoral and is sure to go off shorter on the day.

CompareCheltenham Odds and bet at the best prices.

POST COMMENT

Cheltenham Festival 2011 Preview: Day Two Importance of USDA in the developing countries Holiday Villas – Rental Accommodation for Temporary Visit Rental Villas – Get your own property from the Sale to Start Income Spend the Holidays in Rental Villas Villas – You can Have your Own Property Benidorm As A Spectacular destination On The Costa Blanca Use Your Own Celebrity Engagement Rings A Comparison in Terms and Application for Drugs and Biologics Forget Doing This with your Vietnam Ethnic Tours , Do This Do you want enjoy Relaxed stay in Three Star Hotels in Delhi Renew Your Spirit in South India with Kerala Backwater Tours Using Classic Vietnam Tours