And they’re off!

Tuesday, 16th March 2010

The sun is shining, the sky is blue, the air has a touch of zip in it and the going is good.. It’s the first day of CHELTENHAM RACE WEEK so let’s have some fun for the next four days and forget the economy and the election and everything else doomy and gloomy.. If you have no interest in horse racing and this greatest of all meetings in the world, I’m sorry for you and you will want to wander off elsewhere.

But those who love National Hunt racing as much as I do, stick around because I have some tips. Knowing my record at Cheltenham you will want to ignore these but my money will be on them and at least you can have a good laugh at my expense come Friday night.

I live in the middle of NH racing country – there are several stables, large and small within a radius of 20 miles of here and the racecourse itself, in its bowl below Cleeve Hill, is only a few more than that. The hills will be alive with the sound of helicopters any minute because the hotel across the fields is packed, as usual, with racegoers who almost all travel in by air. I gather that if you share the cost it is not prohibitive and it certainly makes sense otherwise –the traffic being what it always is, if you set off by car now, just after nine, for the first race at 1.30 you’ll be too late.

The Irish, as ever, are hugely represented, in the form of hundreds of priests and leprechauns, and some very shrewd and successful trainers and owners. I am sure they’ll have a fantastic meeting this year and I`d put a fiver on them coming out top at the end of the week. Also, it’s St Patrick’s Day on Thursday so you’ll hear the roof raised when there’s an Irish winner and the sound of the Craic will still be drifting through the air come dawn on Friday.

I can’t wait for the first race to hear what is fondly known as the Cheltenham Roar the cheer that goes up at the start.

TIPS

SUPREME NOVICE HURDLE. No bet for me in this. The fine Irish Horse DUNGUIB is odds-on favourite and should win if his jumping is fluent today. I wouldn`t like to take him on but there are several likely winners if he disappoints. One to watch.

ARKLE CHALLENGE TROPHY CHASE.
SOMERSBY. Impressive horse. Henrietta Knight is a fine trainer who hasn`t had a too much luck here since her glory days of Best Mate, 3 times-Gold Cup Winner, but today she has a terrific chance. Jockey is Robert ‘Chocs’ Thornton, which is a big plus. You’ll get 4-1 everywhere this morning and probably not much more later. (The big danger, as they say, is last year’s winner Captain Cee Bee)

WILLIAM HILL TROPHY HANDICAP CHASE. I am with Chocs Thornton again who is on Alan King’s BENSALEM. King is a superb trainer, he has had a terrific season and I also have a small each way at a big price on his other horse in this race NENUPHAR COLLONGES. Bensalem is generally 11-2/6-1 and you can get 22-1 about Nenuphar if you’re clever.

THE SMURFIT CHAMPION HURDLE
Lots of possibilities. I`m on BINOCULAR, because I`m a huge fan of trainer Nicky Henderson, who has had a fantastic season so far. This horse was a white hope who disappointed earlier this season but I have a feeling he will come right today and trainer reports encouragingly in the last week. Any number of other possibles, PUNJABI strongest of all, and I`m not putting a lot on this race - but call BINOCULAR a hunch and I was on last week at 9-1 because if he looks good at the start the money will come in.

GLENFARCLAS HANDICAP CHASE
I`m going in big on last year’s winner, the Irish horse GARDE CHAMPETRE, with the winning combo of top trainer Enda Bolger and top Irish woman jockey Nina Carbery. Only 2-1 generally but I can`t see anything beating them.

DAVID NICHOLSON MARE’S HURDLE
This is also probably between the 2 Irish horses, QUEVAGA and VOLER LA VEDETTE. I can`t separate them and I will have a modest Reverse Forecast in them coming in 1-2

That’s it for the glorious first day. I hope we all make a bob or two but do remember, Cheltenham is well known for big surprises so don`t put your mortgage money on my tips.
More tomorrow.