2010 CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL DAY ONE TIPS AND CONTENDERS

The 2010 Supreme Novices Hurdle is proving to be one of the hottest betting markets in the run-up to this year’s Cheltenham Festival. The all-action four days of jumps racing are always massive money-making opportunities and we’ve highlighted a selection of top bets for the first days betting action.
The opening day of the Cheltenham Festival sees the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, the Arkle Chase, the William Hill Trophy Chase, the Cross Country Handicap Chase, the Champion Hurdle, and the David Nicholson Mares Hurdle. There is a great opportunity to set yourself up for a big pay-off on the opening day that you can then parlay onto your favoured races on the latter 3 days.
The country’s top novice, Dunguib, is widely considered to be one of the top Cheltenham bankers and he trades at around 4/5 with most major bookmakers in the 2010 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle. Over the past few days we’ve seen plenty of betting action moving in the direction of the Jonjo O’Neill’s undefeated 6 year-old Get Me Out Of Here. The talented bay gelding has progressed nicely off the National Hunt Circuit and just captured the Grade 3 totesport Trophy Hurdle against a field of 23 at Newbury. If it isn’t Dubguib’s day, AP McCoy and the classy Irish jumper could be the ones to take the points. You’ll find them around 6/1 with most major bookmakers. Expect that price to shorten. Oscar Whiskey and Blackstairmountain both trade at 10/1 and look like the best of the rest.
The 2010 Arkle Chase is a first-rate grade 1 that pits fan-favourite Captain Cee Bee against the talented Somersby and Sizing Europe. Captain Cee Bee fell on the last hurdle to hand a Grade 1 Leopardstown decision to Sizing Europe when he had the victory in his grasp. The JP McManus-owned jumper has plenty left to offer and is lightly-raced. Somersby has been competitive on the Novice Circuit this year but hasn’t run since early December. Additionally, he has only defeated small fields this year and against a stellar line-up of jumpers, I just don’t fancy him. Sizing Europe knows how to win a race and the talented Irish stayer hasn’t lost since last May. He’s taken 3 on the bounce this season and has been laid off since late December. His succession of victories against limited fields is a stroke against, however. You’ll find Captain Cee Bee at around 10/3 while Somersby trades at 11/2 and Sizing Europe can be backed at 13/2. My outside tip for this one is Paul Nicholls’ Tatiano who comes in 112 this season against a few smaller fields. If he is leading 3 or 4 out, he could be tough to catch and he’s worth a value play in a relatively open field at 16/1.
The 2010 William Hill Trophy Chase is a very open race and could put some real cash in your pocket if your homework is done correctly. Currently, the betting markets are pitting The Package against Bensalem as the two favourites. David Pipe’s 7 year-old brown gelding won his first race in over 2 years when capturing a 12-strong handicap at Cheltenham in mid-December. He has been inconsistent in the past and could struggle against the type of quality opposition he’s likely to find here. Alan King’s Bensalem looks a more likely winner, but I don’t think he has fended off many difficult opponents. He fell when challenging 3 out in a Grade 2 at Haydock in late January. Personally, I see this race as a potential value play and I like Niche Market, who finished 2nd to the talented Tricky Trickster in the Aon Chase. Denman fell that day and just the fact that this horse lined up against Denman is a fairly solid reference. He looks an improver and could be poised to capitalize on a field without any real standouts. He’s an exciting 18/1 and is more than worth an each-way bash. Character Building at 12/1 and Calgary Bay at 16/1 both look decent shouts but I think if Nigel Twiston-Davies’ Razor Royale is still listed at above 12/1 at post-time, I would take a long look at him.
The bane of my tentofollow was Binocular, who has underwhelmed this season to say the least, and he lines up as a 10/1 shot in the 2010 Champion Hurdle. The current betting favourite is accomplished Irish jumper Go Native who is 1211 this season with multiple Grade 1 wins and a Grade 2 under his belt since October. He’s had a nice layoff and has been looking good in training. He’s a justifiable favourite and still offers up a decent payout at 7/2. Solwhit has plenty of ability and he’s another highly-rated jumper set to contest this race. He’s got a triumvirate of Grade 1 victories this season and his only blip was a 3rd placed finish to Go Native in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle. You’ll find Solwhit at around 5/1. Punjabi took a while to get going, but he is finally back to winning ways after winning a Champion Hurdle trial race at Kempton in late February. He was 4th to Khyber Kim at Cheltenham in December and ran 2nd from 4 to Medermit in a Grade 2 at Haydock. He’s been iffy, but Nicky Henderson knows what he’s doing and he looks to be shaping up nicely. You’ll find him at around 8/1. Celestial Halo is your value play here with Paul Nicholls’ 6 year-old looking to build on his 2nd placed performance from last year.
In the 2010 Cross-Country Chase we have a potential repeat of last year’s winning exacta with Garde Champetre and L’Ami set to take on a marathon field once again. You’ll find them at 9/4 and 7/2, respectively. A few jumpers who challenged in last year’s Grand National will attempt to unseat the French pair and they include 33/1 Cornish Sett and Kilbeggan Blade. There isn’t too much to say about this one as Garde Champetre tends to dominate all races at this distance.
The 2010 David Nicholson Mares Hurdle boasts the talented Quevega taking on Voler La Vedette in the marquee match-up here. Quevega, trained by Willie Mullins, hasn’t raced once this year and looks set to make a real statement here. At the price though, 5/4, I need at least a reference race before I back anything that short. Voler La Vedette has taken 3 from 3 this season with a win over Go Native in a Grade 3 at Down Royal. She hasn’t really been challenged too much this year and I think we’ll see some answers in this race. She’s solidly-priced at 5/2 but I would like additional value. If you’re looking for a potential long-shot, try the 6 year-old Zarinava who is fresh off a tight Grade 2 victory over a field of 12. She also put in a good shift against Voler La Vedette to finish 3rd at Leopardstown in late December. I think she’s the progressive sort and the 16/1 price is a solid one.