Top hurdlers at Cheltenham today

Another great card at Cheltenham this afternoon, and although the Boylesports Gold Cup, a valuable handicap chase at 15.25 CET is the big betting race of the day, the main interest will be on the leading hurdlers to be seen later on. The International Hurdle at 16.05 has only 7 runners, but they include the first two from last season´s Champion Hurdle, Punjabi (Nicky Henderson/ Barry Geraghty) and Celestial Halo (Paul Nicholls/ Ruby Walsh). Punjabi has not run since going down by a short head to Solwhit in April, while Celestial Halo was an impressive winner at Wincanton a month ago and might have a fitness advantage.

Medermet (Alan King /Robert Thornton), whos stable is still not in top form, looks next bst but is unlikely to trouble the top two. Henderson and Geraghty also team up with the unbeaten Zaynar in the Relkeel Hurdle over 2 1/2 miles at 16.40; even though it is not clear what his best distance could be, he looks unbeatable here. Shalone (King/ Thornton), unbeaten in 2008 but off the track since, looks next best. Otherwise the day could once again be a Paul Nicholls/ Ruby Walsh benefit, as they have good chances in the Boylesports with Pocquelin, in the handicap chase at 14.15 with top-weight Free World (though we also like German-bred course specialist Moon over Miami here), and in the Grade Two novice hurdle at 14.50 with The Minack, who has Tell Massini to beat. Ruby can also win the opening 3yo hurdle with Ultimate for Brian Ellison.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Ultimate - Olofi - Ebiayn
2. Race: Inchidaly Rock - Hey Big Spender - Zemsky
3. Race: Free World - French Opera - Safari Journey
4. Race: Tell Massini - The Minack - Lord Generous
5. Race: Poquelin - Atouchbetweenacara - Chapoturgeon
6. Race: Celestial Halo - Punjabi - Medermit
7. Race: Zaynar - Cape Tribulation - Shalone