Cheltenham Festival Betting 2010 / Cheltenham Free Bets

The First Day of Cheltenham 2010 sees 6 top clas races, with the feature race being the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle
Spinal Research Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (grade 1)
Philip Hobbs has his team in good form coming into the festival and Menorah is no exception having not been out of the first two home in any of his four starts over hurdles for the stable since his debut success in a bumper in Ireland and earning a rating of 147 but he faces no easy task against DUNGUIB, who can get backers off to a good start with the main danger rated as Get Me Out Of Here. Jonjo O’Neill’s gelding remains unbeaten after five starts and was most impressive when beating 22 rivals in the Grade 3 Totesport Trophy Hurdle at Newbury last month off a mark of 135. We may not have seen the best of the six-year-old yet and he has to be respected but will need to improve again to get the better of the selection. Nicky Henderson’s Oscar Whisky has similarly yet to taste defeat in his four starts and he too has to be considered but may not be as effective on the better ground today than the heavy ground that he handled really well at Sandown last time. Dan Breen was well held on his only start in a bumper in Ireland but has run better since joining David Pipe’s stable, winning all three starts but this is a lot tougher than the races that he has contested so far. Willie Mullins had a marvellous Festival 12 months ago and is represented in the opener by Flat Out and Blackstairmountain with the latter having shown improved form of late with wins at Galway and Punchestown but this is likely to go to another Irish challenger in Dunguib. Philip Fenton’s gelding won the Champion Bumper last season in impressive fashion by 10 lengths before further success in that sphere at the Punchestown Festival. He has done nothing wrong since being put over hurdles this term winning all four starts, including Grade 1 races in his last two outings, and can make it five on the bounce over timber today.
Champion Hurdle Preview
PUNJABI can post back-to-back successes in this race with Solwhit and Celestial Halo the dangers. Nicky Henderson’s inmate was a shock victor last term and while this season has been disappointing for his followers, in truth, this race is probably an easier renewal than the Champion Hurdle he won. Connections have spoken of him as a spring horse and if that is the case, he should come on for his victory in an egg-and-spoon race at Kempton. Solwhit meanwhile is one of the most improved horses in training. He should stay the two miles and were he not the subject of a bad scope last week, he would have probably shaded favouritism. Good ground suits. Celestial Halo has a couple of questions to answer though this probable front runner has a tonguestrap on for the first time. As one of the glaring omissions in his CV, Paul Nicholls will be desperate to win a Champion Hurdle. Binocular was favourite for this race last year though has been distinctly unimpressive this season. Muscular problems have been blamed though he has reportedly been in good form on the gallops over the last few weeks. Zaynar has been rejected by Barry Geraghty and that could tell its own tale. He can be forgiven for being turned over at odds of 1/14 on bottomless going at Kelso. Noel Meade has been distinctly downbeat about Go Native and Cheltenham’s watering policies. Connections stand on the verge of a £1 million bonus and having taken two key trials, he has every right to the mantle of market leadership. Khyber Kim has been rejuvenated by Nigel Twiston-Davies and much of the credit can go to Paddy Brennan. The pair have a bit to find though have had much better form en route to the big race than most. Medermit won Haydock’s Champion Hurdle trial. The yard took this prize previously with Katchit and invariably seem to be underestimated at this grade. Starluck travels well and if staying has to be given a chance. His unorthodox prep saw him win on the Polytrack at Kempton. If Celestial Halo sets the pace at speed, his chance could be compromised. Jumbo Rio, Won In The Dark and Raise Your Heart are predictably trading at big odds and in fairness to the them, that reflects their chances based on anything they have shown at the races. A race where holes can be found in the form of plenty but Punjabi has been there and done that and his experience could count for plenty.
Cheltenham Day 1 Tips

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Cheltenham Tuesday Card Day One Race Card

13:30 Spinal Research Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (grade 1) (4yo+, Class 1, 2m 110y, 18 runners)
14:05 Irish Independent Arkle Challenge Trophy (grade 1) (5yo+, Class 1, 2m, 12 runners)
14:40 William Hill Trophy Handicap Chase (grade 3) (5yo+, Class 1, 3m 110y, 24 runners)
15:20 Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle (grade 1) (4yo+, Class 1, 2m 110y, 12 runners)
16:00 Glenfarclas Handicap Chase (cross Country) (5yo+, Class 2, 3m 7f, 16 runners)
16:40 David Nicholson Mares’ Hurdle (grade 2) (4yo+, Class 1, 2m 4f, 17 runners)

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