Rest of Cheltenham

The remaining 6 races on Cheltenham´s opening day are also fiercely competitive, with the possible exception of the David Nicholson Mares Hurdle over 2 1/2 miles at 17.40 CET. Quevega (Willie Mullins/ Ruby Walsh) has won this for the past two years and although she has now had a long break, she is expected to score again. The card opens with the Supreme Novices Hurdle over 2 miles at 14.30 CET, a really tough race with 15 runners, 6 of them trained in Ireland. However the logical winner here should be Cue Card (Colin and Joe Tizzard), runner-up last time to Menorah (Champion Hurdle favourite later in the afternoon!) and otherwise unbeaten. Nicky Henderson saddles 3 runners here and they look the likeliest dangers.

The Arkle Challenge Trophy, the best novice chase of the season, follows at 15.05, and the grey Medermit (Alan King/ Robert Thornton) is the likely favourite here. However we prefer German-bred Ghizao (Paul Nicholls/ Timmy Murphy) and Finians Rainbow (Hemderson/ Geraghty), winner of his last 3 races.In our view the ground will too lively for Irish hope Realt Dubh (Noel Meade/ Paul Carberry), but Rock Noir (Jonjo O´Neill/ Tony McCoy) looks an interesting each-way bet at a decent price.

The remaining 3 races are all handicaps with huge fields and almost impossible to decipher. However we would not be surprised to see last year´s winners score again in two of them - Chief Dan George (Jimmy Moffatt/ Leighton Aspell) at 15.40 and A New Story (Michael Hourigan/ Adrian Heskin) in the cross-country at 17.00. The latter race seems sure to have an Irish winner, and Enda Bolger, who has a great record here, saddles 4 runners, all running in the colours of JPMcManus; L´Ami (JT McNamara) carries the first colours and could be the best of them, but Garde Champetre (Nina Carberry) should never be left out on his favourite track. He has won 5 times over CD, including this race twice.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Cue Card - Spirit Son - Zaidpour
2. Race: Medermit - Finian`S Rainbow - Ghizao
3. Race: Bensalem - Sunnyhillboy - Great Endeavour
4. Race: Menorah - Peddlers Cross - Hurricane Fly
5. Race: Garde Champetre - L`Ami - Maljimar
6. Race: Quevega - Sparky May - L`Accordioniste
7. Race: Quantitativeeasing - Definity - Divers