Day 1: Your guide to the highlights of the opening day at Cheltenham
The Cheltenham festival kicks off today at Prestbury Park in the English Cotswolds with a feast of national hunt racing to saviour.
After last year’s incredible haul of 14 Irish winners from nine different trainers, hopes will be high of another decent showing from the Irish this time out.
As always, Ireland’s fortunes will fall largely on the shoulders of Willie Mullins and jockey Ruby Walsh who will be aiming to become champion jockey for the eighth time in the last 11 years – a truly incredible feat.
Here’s your quick-stop guide to the highlights from Day 1:
- In the opening race, Ruby has plumped for Vautour to land the Supreme Novice’s Hurdle ahead of fellow Irish challenger Wicklow Brave and the best of the English, Paul Nichols’s Irving. Ruby’s mount was impressive in winning the Deloitte Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown last month, ahead of the likes of Tullow Tank.
- The next race, the Arkle Chase, sees a host of horses in with a shout including, Cheltenham favourite and Willy Mullins-trained Champagne Fever; Bryan Cooper’s mount Trifolium; proven hurdler Rock on Ruby and Nichols’s Dodging Bullets. It’s Champagne Fever who leads the betting due in no small part to his fondness for the Cheltenham track. Two wins from two speaks for itself.
- The biggest star of the day is also undoubtedly one of national hunt racing’s biggest ever stars and finest horses. With 19 grade one wins to his name already, Hurricane Fly is assured his place among the greats but will look to write even more history by claiming a third Champion Hurdle in four years under the stewardship of Ruby Walsh.
It won’t come easy as he faces stiff opposition from youngsters The New One; My Tent or Yours; Our Conor and Jezki. The Fly leads the betting in what is a high-class field and despite fears that he’s never quite produced his best at Cheltenham, he has already claimed two Champion Hurdles which is no mean feat. This is the one that Ruby really wants to win – and the majority of Irish punters along with him. This horse is made of stern stuff and will be hard to beat having regained his crown in impressive style last year.
- If Hurricane Fly is the biggest draw on the opening day then Quevega is a very close second.
The incredibly successful mare will be looking to land an unprecedented sixth OLBG Mare’s Hurdle surpassing the great Golden Miller. Cailin Annamh is perhaps the most fancied of the challengers and at 14/1 offers good value, while last year’s runner-up Sirene D’Ainay will also be hoping to take advantage should the record-equalling mare fail to meet expectations, as so nearly happened last year.
