CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL DAY TWO PREVIEW TIPS AND SELECTIONS PART ONE

What an exciting opening day of action we had at the 2010 Cheltenham Festival! Things got off to a very interesting start when Dunguib only managed a third place finish in the Supreme Novices Hurdle while my tip, Sizing Europe was able to capture the 2010 Arkle over Captain Cee Bee and Somersby. Chief Dan George rolled back the years to capture the William Hill Trophy while Binocular proved to be the story of the day by topping an absolutely quality field in the 2010 Champion Hurdle. The rumour out there is that several Betfair punters were able to back him at 999.0 when it was rumoured that he wouldn’t run this year… Who’s laughing now?

Gardre Champetre didn’t show up properly for the Cross Country Chase, with A New Story coming in at around 25/1 ahead of 2nd favourite L’Ami. Quevega proved to be the only real winning favourite of the day by taking the David Nicholson Mares Hurdle over Carole’s Legacy (who I had on an each-way) and Voler La Vedette who just couldn’t dig deep enough. The big story for me is the quality demonstrated in each of the key races- all of them were bang on and the conditions on the ground certainly made things fair.
For tomorrow’s action, we’re getting off to a good start with the National Hunt Chase- another wide open race that could go in any direction. Any Currency is the favourite at around 6/1 with Massasoit and Synchronised just behind at 7/1. Keep your eye on Poker De Sivola who has received good ratings and scored a victory in a field of 5 in a chase at Catterick just over a month ago. He’s at 12/1 and could spring a surprise.
The Neptune Novices Hurdle is a solid money-making opportunity, but it doesn’t boast some of the big names we saw in the Supreme Novices today. Currently, Quel Esprit and Rite of Passage are trading as the 3/1 or 7/2 co-favourites. Willie Mullins Quel Esprit really does have an unshakable record over hurdle with 4 wins from 6 starts with 1 second place finish. He came 4th to Dunguib in the Champion Bumper at last years festival and I think he could build on the performances he put in this year in Ireland. I like hurdlers that come out of the point-to-point system and I think he is definitely a stayer. Rite of Passage started on the flat and moved to hurdles with plenty of success. He has taken 4 from 6 with 1 third place finish. I like him, but not as much as I like Quel Esprit although Rite of Passage is undefeated this year. My outside tip is Reve De Sivola who boasts form of 121 this season while finishing sixth to Zaynar at last year’s festival in the JCB Triumph Hurdle. You’ll find him at around 12/1.
Anybody thinking of a cheeky De Sivola Double on the opening two races of the day? It’s paying around 145/1 with William Hill…
The Queen Mother Champion Chase is an absolute corker and I think we could see one of the festivals best performances from the uber-talented Master Minded. He’s one of the few odds-on favourites at the festival and will pair up nicely as the top end of your forecast selections with any of Big Zeb (8/1), Kalahari King (6/1), Twist Magic (7/1) or the well-respected Forpadydeplasterer (9/1). I will be playing Master Minded on a key with the rest of the field. I have a feeling that some of the higher-profile jumpers will push early and tire themselves out, leaving the doors open for less-fancied jumpers like Well Chief (33/1), Mahogany Blaze (who has course/distance and is 100/1) as well as Golden Silver (40/1).
Stay tuned for the 2nd part of our 2010 Cheltenham Day 2 preview coming up in just a few minutes. In fact, by the time most of you read this, the second part will be available in the box on the upper left hand corner of your screen!