We are here already. The 361 day pilgrimage has met its end. The summit of the mountain has been reached. The sea crossed. The plane has landed. It's Cheltenham baby!
I will be taking up my pitch in the Best Mate once again for all 4 days (and a trip to Kempton on Saturday is pencilled in too). I'll be down the the pub on Saturday and it will either be a night of celebration or an damp evening in which to sink my sorrows. Boy I love it!
13:20, Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle
Old Park Star 5/2, 2pts win
El Cairos 8/1, 1pt win
Class. This is about a decent renewal of a curtain raiser as you could hope for. It's stacked with potential. You have to start with the Irish goliath that is Willie Mullins. His hopes seem to lay mainly with Mighty Park. Not many Supreme winners have been so lightly raced but the 5 year old son of Walk In The Park dismantled the field on his sole hurdle run at Fairyhouse in January, looking potentially top class. It's hard to know what he achieved that day though as not many others made much attempt to get into the race and the worry must be inexperience here. He will need to be a worldy to take this. Paul Townend rides Leader Dallier who hacked up last time out at Punchestown after finding Ballyfad too good on his Irish debut. He won plenty in France for previous connections and looks like one who will be equipped for this test. The stable has brought runners with more in the form book to this before and it may be that this year passes him by however. Sober Glory has only tasted defeat once in his career (a line can be put through that) but he has dotted up on every start since, looking very smart. The worry is that he's been winning at a much lower level than this and won't be allowed to dominate. Mydaddypaddy was ante-post favourite for this before Christmas but couldn't get the job done at Aintree when pitched into a Grade 1. He's better than that though and this race will be run to suit. He's got stacks of potential and I'm sure the stable will have him ready to show a career best but the worry is that the form isn't as strong as others here. Talk The Talk is the only Grade 1 winner in this race and must hold a big chance. He does take some chances at his hurdles though (fell at Christmas) and has looked an improved horse when faced with a softer surface. He's a smooth traveller but he may end up wanting more of a trip than this and the ground is a bit of an unknown for all he could just outclass these. Talking of class, El Cairos has oozed class since sent hurdling. He was going to dot up first time out for Gordon Elliott before falling at the last and nearly did the same at Thurles last time out before easing away head in chest. He's all speed and the forecast ground has come right for him. He has experience from the Bumper last year to call upon and he has a little bit of star potential about him. We have no idea where the limit lies and he's a bigger price than Mighty Park. This could all be elementary however, as Nicky Henderson knows how to win this race and sends out the clear favourite in Old Park Star here. A revelation since sent hurdling the 6 year old son of Well Chosen looked classy at Kempton in the Autumn before routing his opponents here over Christmas and then smashing up the field again in the Rossington Main. You can quibble with the form but not the manner of victory and course form (albeit the New Course) is always a positive. He's got such an abundance of class and stamina at this trip that he could have everything in trouble approaching the last and he must be in the list to get the week off to a flyer.
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14:00, Singer Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices' Chase
Lulamba 13/8, 3pts win
This is what this week is all about. A British superstar taking on an Irish one. It's Mullins v Henderson, Townend v de Boinville. Potential v Experience. Kopek Des Bordes v Lulamba. Don't get me wrong, Kargese is a top class mare who will have a chance for all she doesn't have the wow factor of her stablemate and Steel Ally is a slick jumper who has yet to taste defeat over larger obstacles. But I feel that the stage is set for a titanic tussle. Kopek Des Bordes looked a superstar last season and couldn't have looked any more impressive on chasing debut in the Autumn. He's been off 113 days however and that has to be a worry. While he's been off, Lulamba has been sweeping all before him. He ate up the ground from the pond fence at Sandown in December, steaming up the hill. That was good but the way he moved clear from his opponents at Newbury on terrible ground after plenty went wrong was plenty impressive as well. It's a real humdinger this but preference is for Nicky Henderson's 5 year old to take the beating here.
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14:40, McCoy Contractors Juvenile Handicap Hurdle
Winston Junior 11/2, 3pts win
Glen To Glen 8/1, 2pts win
The Fred Winter is always one of the best betting races of the week and it's got a new slot here, being the 3rd race up. Saratoga has been on everyone's lips for the past few weeks and he must have a chance on handicap debut. He'll enjoy the better ground and could be chucked in on flat ability. He's on a stiff enough mark considering he hasn't actually got his head in front however and perhaps doesn't look as classy as last year's winner in these colours. Manlaga and Mustang De Breuil also represent J P McManus (both for Nicky Henderson) and must hold chances but preference is for impressive Ascot winner, Winston Junior. The son of Churchill built on his hurdles debut at Fontwell to finish second on this course behind Triumph hope Minella Study. He travelled like a classy horse that day and was unlucky not to finish closer. It all came together at Ascot the last day when he bolted up and a mark of 131 looks readily exploitable. Glen To Glen represents Joseph O'Brien who has farmed this race recently and must also hold a good chance. He was 4th at Royal Ascot last year but hasn't had the ground this winter. He won last time out however, and that was a good effort all things considered.
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15:20, Trustmarque Ultima Handicap Chase
Johnnywho 12/1, 2pts win
Resplendent Grey 20/1, 1pt each-way (5 places)
This is difficult. Jagwar heads the betting to double up at Festivals but has let down favourite backers the last twice and hopes are pinned on a step up in trip. This is a tough race to try the trip however and doesn't look much value. Iroko is the class horse in the race but must defy top weight in one of the seasons toughest races. Myretown must have a chance of taking this race again but his jumping is really starting to let him down and it's unlikely he'll be given a freebie in front again. Hyland and Handstands both hold chances too but have to bounce back to form. Another who must bounce back is Johnnywho for the same owner as the front two in the market. Jonjo O'Neill must be frustrated that he has yet to get a big win into the 9 year old but let's not forget how he came there swinging in the Kim Muir last year only to get chinned on the line. He's the type who relishes a big field test and he has plenty of experience now. He likes the track and it could be that in first time cheekpieces it all comes together here. It would be some story. At bigger odds Olly Murphy's Resplendent Grey was talked about as a potential Gold Cup horse early in the year and was well fancied for the Coral Gold Cup but got left at the start. He's since run well behind Protektorat at Windsor and comes into this a relatively fresh horse. It's not forgotten how he came from the clouds to win at Sandown and could be mowing them all down late.
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16:00, Unibet Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy
The New Lion 3/1, 2.5pts win
Not one of the best Champion Hurdles ever run but it's an intriguing renewal nonetheless. Lossiemouth finally runs in the big one after taking the Mares' Hurdle for the past 2 years. Connections may feel it's a winnable race and she does look to be the horse with the best form book but hasn't looked at ease when facing the best of the best over this trip in the past and I just wonder if connections think she will need to be right up there with them turning in to win, and hence why they've plumped for headgear. She must have a massive chance of landing a festival 4 timer nonetheless. Brighterdaysahead downed her in the Irish Champion Hurdle last month and although value for the win, Gordon Elliott's mare doesn't have the best Cheltenham record and may be better over further at this trip. Golden Ace must be mentioned again and will run her race but it's unlikely things will pan out so well again. Alexei isn't without a chance either for all he'll need to step up again but it's Dan Skelton's The New Lion who gets the vote. He is a horse who always finds masses for pressure and that will stand him in good stead here. He won at the festival last year and would have learned a lot for the Fighting Fifth for all he fell late on. This track will suit more, so too will a strongly run affair on nice ground. He showed he has a turn of foot last time out when he needs it and while others have had brutal campaigns, he's been kept nice a fresh to peak when it matters. Huge chance of claiming a first Champion Hurdle for the Skeltons.
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16:40, Sun Racing Plate Handicap Chase
Down Memory Lane 9/1, 2pts win
Madara has been well touted for this since finishing 2nd at Kempton last month and must have a big chance here for the Skelton's but I can't help remembering how she's been beaten when a short price over this course and distance before. It's an open race but Gordon Elliott must hold a good chance with Down Memory Lane for JP. I remember seeing him finish behind Leau Du Sud at Sandown last season and he really did poke your eye out. He's a horse who's shaped as though there's a big run in him and it could be that he's a proper graded horse in a handicap here.
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17:20, National Hunt Challenge Cup Novices' Handicap Chase
Wade Out 8/1, 2pts each-way (5 places)
King Of Answers 14/1, 1.5pts each-way (5 places)
One of the more fiendish handicaps to end the day. Newton Tornado will likely go well for last year's winning trainer if going on the ground while King Of Answers has looked a proper stayer in his runs to date this season. The suspicion is that top weight Wade Out could sweep past them all however. Olly Murphy has already got a course win into the 7 year old and he will have learned plenty for the run at Windsor the last day. He doesn't travel well, which is why stronger headgear is now applied and he'll require another Sean Bowen masterclass but connections have aimed him at this race all season and he looks the type who will find bundles of improvement for the step up to marathon trips.
