Brian Hayes gives his thoughts and tips for day one of the Cheltenham Festival, via Bookmakers.com :
Hopefully Honeysuckle Does The Business!
It's of course all about Honeysuckle for Henry De Bromhead and Rachael Blackmore in the Champion Hurdle at 3.30pm on Day 1, Tuesday of the Cheltenham Festival.
It would be the perfect start to the week if the mare and Rachael can deliver again like they did last year but a lot of respect will have to be given to Appreciate It who takes her on for the Willie Mullins team. He won a Supreme Novices' Hurdle last year at Cheltenham in impressive style but despite that still looks to have it all to do giving the mare 7lbs here on his first run since then.
Honeysuckle is currently rated 165 and Appreciate It 160, so apart from already being 5lbs behind on the official ratings the further concession to Honeysuckle really makes her look the one to beat and let’s hope she will go and do the business once again.
Racing Set To Start On Perfect Ground
I had a run around the Cheltenham track there this afternoon and the ground is good, good to soft in places and should truly make for perfect racing conditions and perfect in general for the week. It’s set fair for the Festival to get underway and the sun is shining and I can see the big three of Willie Mullins, Gordon Elliott and Henry De Bromhead all in the winners enclosure on Day 1 with some great racing in store.
All Other Races On Day 1
Dysart Dynamo - 1:30 Supreme Novices' Hurdle
Great race to start the meeting. I think the market is right and it's going to be between Dysart Dynamo and Constitution Hill. As I said earlier in the week in my Cheltenham preview column on Bookmakers.com I'm just a big fan of the Willie Mullins trained horse Dysart Dynamo. I think he has enough pace and enough stamina to win this race and what he has done so far has been very impressive and he will be hard to beat here.
Obviously it's a very good race with Constitution Hill and Nicky Henderson's other runner Jonbon in the race, plus Kilcruit who would have an each way chance but preference is for Dysart Dynamo.
Riviere D'etel - 2:10 Arkle Novices' Chase
For the Arkle I'm going to go with Gordon Elliott's Riviere D'etel. She is a very good mare and maybe slightly unlucky the last day in Leopardstown at the Dublin Racing Festival. If she brings her A game here I think the strongly run race will be ideal for her.
There is a lot of pace in the race and with it being the Arkle expect it to be fast from the word go with speed horses like Magic Daze and Saint Sam likely to want want to make it. I really think that will suit a strong traveller like Riveire D'etel and I think the race might go her way.
Noble Yeats - 2:50 Ultima Handicap Chase
I am going to side with the Emmet Mullins trained Noble Yeats who has recently been bought by Robert Waley-Cohen, so his son Sam, who won the Gold Cup on his father's horse Long Run in 2011, takes the ride here.
I've ridden the horse and won on him a couple times in the past and I just think he could be one to take to it and go very close in this tough handicap for his new connections. He stays very well so 3m1f should definately bring out the best in him.
Echoes In Rain - 4:10 Mares' Hurdle
The Willie Mullins' mare Echoes In Rain was very impressive last year winning a Grade 1 at the Punchestown Festival and although she hasn't quite got back to that level yet this season, maybe with the spring on the way she could be just coming into form at the right time.
At the current prices she could be good value to outrun her current odds with the leading bookmakers and surprise a few.
Gaelic Warrior - 4:50 Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle
This race is all about one horse. Everybody is talking about Gaelic Warrior and off a mark of 129 he could really be very well handicapped. As I explained in my Cheltenham preview she one of Willie Mullins' stronger chances of the week and the work at home suggests he is nicely treated and his schooling has gone very well. Hopefully Gaelic Warrior can live up to all the talk now and get that job done.
Paul Townend will have a lot to deal with here though. With a max field of 22 runners, all tightly packed, he will want to make sure to get a safe clear passage but hopefully the pair will come through where it matters close to the end.
Stattler - 5:30 National Hunt Chase
Stattler is obviously the least experienced of the field for the NH Chase with only two chase runs whilst the others have had numerous runs over fences already. So the fact it is only 7 runners here will actually be a big help Patrick Mullins who rides him and should let him negotiate things a little bit easier with less horses around him.
It adds another layer to his already strong claims and I think Stattler is another who represents one of Willie Mullins' best chances this week at the Festival.
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