Cheltenham Day 1

A change of tactic this year as I am doing all my bets in advance and will sit back and enjoy the spectacle of one of the greatest sporting events in the world, The Cheltenham Festival.

The BBC weather says rain so I'm going on a soft ground attack which will bring the bigger priced Irish horses into play & may see some of the short priced favourites founder.

The build up to this year has been one of 4 horses, Binocular in the Champion Hurlde, Kauto Star in the Gold Cup for the 3rd year running, Master Minded in the Champion Chase and Kasbah Bliss in the World Hurdle. The logic behind all these horses winning is a sound one but I have 3 form books, two supplements, a racingpost 10 year data base and a bottle of red wine to find the value and get the odds on beaten.

Day 1...

Supreme Novice Hurdle....

I love this race as Flat racing is my favoured code (read win more) of racing so I'm always keen to see a horse entered with strong flat form. History tells me I need a horse that has won it's last race, solid flat form, lightly raced over hurdles and will need to act on spongy ground if the weather forecast is correct so a French flat horse could pay off nicely. Two jump out off the page, Red Moloney who was placed in a Group race in the Summer and the French horse Aachen who has testing ground form.

1.30 @ Cheltenham -

Red Moloney €50 win @ 14
Aachen €25 place @ 26

Arkle...

I'm looking for a proper jumper here, with solid Grade 1 winning form over fences & will need my runner to be fresh so their last race being in January or one of the Christmas meetings.

Calgary Bay has been my Arkle pick since his 2nd at Ascot in January, he didn't like the right handed track there, he loves Cheltenham and he's scored over 2 miles 5 so the testing ground shouldn't be an issue.

Forpaddytheplaster gets my nod for a place after a battling display at Leopardstown over Christmas again his victories have come in the mud so I'm thinking he'll get up the hill.

2.05 @ Cheltenham -

Calgary Bay €50 win @ 6.4
Forpaddyhteplaster €25 place @ 3.7

William Hill Handicap Chase...

Lightly treated by the handicapper and rated at around the 140 mark gets my attention here, Wichita Lineman is a funny horse and take some persuading but gets there in the end ultimately so he gets my place vote and Possol who ran well at Kempton last time out is my win selection.

2.40 @ Cheltenham -

Possol €50 win @ 9.2
Witicha Lineman €25 place @ 2.8

Champion Hurdle...

The big race of the day with a very well fancied horse in Binocular, I don't think he wins & the Cheltenham Hill is going to eat up his stamina like it did last year. Osana is relativity fresh this term and will lead from the front and for my money will take the beating, Ashkazr likes Cheltenham and is in fine form so he gets my place vote.

3.20 @ Cheltenham -

Osana €50 win @ 12
Ashkazar €25 win @ 9.8

Cross Country Chase....

No easier race to bet on in the racing calender, a horse who is trained by Enda Bolger & won the Hogan Memorial Chase at Punchestown in February gets the nod.

4.00 @ Cheltenham

L'ami €50 win @ 3.4

So that's day one sorted.

JB