Cheltenham Festival Day 1

The first day of the Cheltenham Festival. Excellent racing with some very strong renewals and plenty of doubts / questions marks at the same time in the big race of the day.

The meeting starts as ever with the Supreme Hurdle.

Old Park Star is the favourite for Nicky Henderson. I can’t remember the last time we’ve had an English trained favourite? Old Park Star, numbers on the clock have been very impressive, it’s not easy to pick holes, he should have every chance.

Talk The Talk has proven Grade 1 form, his effort to win last time from a near impossible position was outstanding. Made lengths up against two classy horses whilst quickening on heavy ground.

Mighty Park could be anything but having just the one start over hurdles beforehand, is asking an awful lot. Mydaddypaddy will travel good as anything, I can forgive his last run.

Talk The Talk can be backed ew at odds of 9-2. He looks solid as does the favourite Old Park Star.

I’m in the Kopek Des Bordes camp for the Arkle. I think he’ll have too much speed for Lulamba.

The Juvenile Hurdle comes next at 2:40, aka The Fred Winter.

Ammes EW for me at 9-1, trained by one of our trainers James Owen.

Form behind Minella Study now looks very good whilst he did plenty wrong during the race. Ammes had a blow the cobwebs away run on the level 17 days ago, this will have put him spot on. He could be better than his rating of 128.

The big race of the day comes at 4:00, The Champion Hurdle.

Lossiemouth finally gets her chance to run in the race and has been heavily supported in the betting. Lossiemouth is 4 from 4 around here but does she have the speed for 2m on nice ground?

The New Lion I think is crying out for further and could be done for speed at the business end, not keen on him. Brighterdaysahead beat Lossiemouth fair and square when last seen, does she act around here though?

Golden Ace was given the race last year with the fallers, she’ll run her race and looks to have an ew chance especially with questions on the above three mentioned horses.

The race is a puzzle, If forced, I'd go with Lossiemouth with the cheekpieces on, but I’ll be sitting back and watching it without any investment.

In the last race at 5:20, One Big Bang will enjoy the step-up in trip. He should give you a run for your money at 9-1 ew.