Day 1 Cheltenham Preview

My Tent Or Yours is the short priced favourite however statistics are against him as a market leader hasn’t won this race since Brave Inca prevailed in 2004. He was impressive in the valuable Betfair Handicap Hurdle at Newbury last time out but he has been beaten over hurdles and is well worth opposing. JEZKI and Un Atout are the two for me with the former getting the verdict. Both have been flawless over hurdles to date but JEZKI has much more experience and has shown that he is versatile in terms of ground. Last year’s Champion Bumper winner Champagne Fever also lines up with Ruby Walsh in the saddle. Walsh picked him over Pique Sous and Dodging Bullets however he hasn’t set the world alight over hurdles and the selection should have no trouble in confirming form with him. Of course plenty others have decent claims and Cheltenian in particular is an interesting contender. He won the Champion Bumper at the Festival in 2011 but after a long absence since that win he only returned to action last month. He made his debut over hurdles on that occasion and was just denied. He will have learned plenty from that experience and a big run wouldn’t come as a surprise.

Selection: Jezki. Next Best: Un Atout

This promises to be one of the races of the Festival with Simonsig and OVERTURN going head to head. The high class duo, have both been flawless over fences and they are both fast and slick in their jumping. OVERTURN is as versatile as they come and having recorded big wins on the flat and over hurdles, he is three from three since going over fences. Simonsig had an excellent Novice Hurdle campaign last season and has been very impressive on his two starts over fences on the track. There should be very little in it come the business end and I think the selection would have the measure of Simonsig should it come down to a battle. He has more experience than Nicky Henderson’s grey and his game, resilient side could prove the decisive factor in the outcome of this race. Arvika Ligeonniere and Baily Green represent the Irish challenge and although the former is our top two mile novice chaser this season, it would be hard to see him beat either of the market leaders.

Selection: Overturn. Next Best: Simonsig

This looks a wide open handicap and a chance is taken on FRUITY O’ROONEY, who finished second in this race last year. The Gary Moore trained gelding had The Package, Our Mick, Quantitativeeasing and Tullamore Dew all behind him in last year’s renewal and those four re-oppose. The selection is rated one pound lower than last year and after decent efforts on his last two starts he is well placed to go close under the trainer’s son Jamie. Jadanli and White Star Line are the two Irish representatives. The former is not without his chance after winning the Thyestes at Gowran in January and he prepared for this race with a decent fourth in a hurdle at Navan last month. Andrew Lynch takes the ride on the 11yo Paul Gilligan trained gelding and he has solid each-way claims. White Star Line finished second at the Festival last year but he has yet to win a race over fences and despite running well at Fairyhouse last time out it is hard to see him winning this. Our Mick finished third in the race last year and he should go close again for Donald McCain and Jason Maguire while Loch Ba is another with solid prospects for Mick Channon and Dominic Elsworth.

Selection: Fruity O’Rooney. Next Best: Jadanli

Hurricane Fly was widely expected to win this last year and was sent off the 4/6 favourite. However he didn’t live up to expectations and finished third behind ROCK ON RUBY. He was beaten by the better horse on the day and no excuses could be offered for his defeat. Twelve months on and the pair meet again with Hurricane Fly still the shorter of the two in the betting. ROCK ON RUBY limbered up for this race with a good win at Doncaster last time out which should leave him spot on in his bid to defend his crown. Hurricane Fly has been flawless this season and although he won the 2011 renewal of this contest there is question mark over his love of Cheltenham. Zarkandar finished fifth to the selection last year and although he is three from three this term, he was very workmanlike for two of those victories. Grandouet has yet to beat Zarkandar on their three meetings to date and there is no reason he should buck that trend here. 2010 winner Binocular finished fourth to the race last year and after a satisfactory return to action at Leopardstown in January he should give a good account of himself.

Selection: Rock On Ruby. Next Best: Hurricane Fly

With Josh Halley taking a valuable seven pounds off, OUTLAW PETE gets the verdict here. Trained by the jockey’s father John, this fellow won over the course and distance in December and will carry just ten stone nine here. He ran out a good seven length winner in December and despite the fact he has been beaten, when sent off favourite, on his last two starts he should still give a good account of himself in this gruelling race. Uncle Junior is a twice course and distance winner however he has to carry top weight here and that should stop him from recording a third course and distance success. Arabella Boy was struggling when he unseated Nina Carberry in the race won by Outlaw Pete here in December. That was his first try over the cross country course and he since won the banks race at Punchestown. He is sure to have learned plenty from that December run and coming here on the back of a win, he looks the biggest danger to the selection. A New Story will take his chance in this race for the sixth year in-a-row. He won it in 2010 and was just beaten a head by Balthazar King in last year’s renewal. Considering he has yet to finish worse that fourth in this contest, another big run can be expected from the Michael Hourigan trained fifteen year old.

Selection: Outlaw Pete. Next Best: Arabella Boy

After winning this race the past four years QUEVEGA will bid to make it an unprecedented five in-a-row and it is hard to see anything bar a fall stop her. She is an incredible mare who has been very lightly raced over the last three seasons. She is unbeaten since 2009 and after pleasing her trainer Willie Mullins in a racecourse gallop at Leopardstown last week it is all systems go for her fifth straight win at the Festival. Une Artiste has been beaten just once from six starts and her rider Barry Geraghty believes she could be the best QUEVEGA has come up against. She won the Fred Winter at the Festival last year and although she will hardly be able for the selection, she looks a clear second best. Kentford Grey Lady is a consistent mare, she finished second in last year’s renewal and another good showing can be expected. Shop Dj finished a good fifth last year and she might be able grab a place this time around while Shadow Eile is another decent performer who also has an each-way shout.

Selection: Quevega. Next Best: Une Artiste

Another wide open handicap where a chance is taken on KLEPHT. The Tom Mullins trained gelding won his beginners chase at Wexford in October and ran a cracker in the Leopardstown Handicap Chase in January to finish just over two and a half lengths third to Farrells Fancy. He took a big step up in class last time out and ran very well in the Grade 1 Dr PJ Moriarty Novice Chase to finish just over twelve lengths fifth to RSA Chase favourite Boston Bob. A reproduction of that effort should see him go very close with Paul Townend booked to ride. The 2011 Coral Cup winner Carlito Brigante is the only other Irish raider in the race but he hasn’t shown the same level of form over fences as hurdles and the ground may be going against him. Colour Squadron is sure to be popular among punters for the Nicky Henderson and Tony McCoy. The high class hurdler has yet to win over fences and so it is hard to be strong about his chances here. Point-to-point winner Forgotten Gold could run well for Paddy Brennan and Tom George while Fourjacks has been a very consistent sort and another good run can be expected from him. Venetia Williams does well with handicappers and Aidan Coleman is reportedly fancying his chance aboard her Giant's Causeway gelding Shangani.

Selection: Klepht. Next Best: Fourjacks