Cheltenham set for the off on Tuesday

BY DAVE KEENA

The four-day Cheltenham Festival gets underway on Tuesday and this remains the most important fixture of the year bar none.
The atmosphere before the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle is something else and there is always a great sense of expectation before racing on Tuesday.
From a punting point of view, it’s worth remembering that this is a marathon, not a sprint. There are 28 races over the course of the week and a nicely priced winner each day will help you make a profit or break even.
The ante post market is very weak, and few if any of the on course bookmakers have laid a euro on any of the races to date, so don’t be surprised if a horse drifts between now and race time.
Enjoy the few days. Be disciplined and try not give the bookmakers the upperhand early in the week and whatever you do, don’t chase your loses

TUESDAY

Tuesday’s feature is the Champion Hurdle and it looks a wide open contest with Epatante the favourite since her smooth success in the Christmas Hurdle at Cheltenham. She ran a poor race here at the Festival last season, but her trainer Nicky Henderson put that down to the flu jab that she received early last year.
The Irish are well represented with Cilaos Emery, Sharjah, Darver Star, Supasundaue and Petit Mouchoir.
Darver Star has the best recent form and represents a syndicate from Louth and local trainer Gavin Cromwell and remarkably he couldn’t win a race over hurdles this time last year.

Meath trainer Gavin Cromwell won the Champion Hurdle at last year's Festival

He has improved no end this season and while he may have surprised a few with this third placing behind Envoi Allen in The Royal Bond at Fairyhouse, the 7yo went on to post a career best when he chased home Honeysuckle in the Irish Champion Hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival.
His trainer Gavin Cromwell won the race last year and he has a serious chance of doubling up this season with Darver Star and in what looks an open renewal, he’s my tip in the Champion Hurdle.
I don’t have a strong opinion in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle. Gordon Elliott has suggested that he may run Envoi Allen in The Supreme should the ground be testing and if that happens, he’ll win.
He is the best novice hurdler in Ireland and England and he remains unbeaten and Davy Russell’s mount appears to have no faults. Were he to line up in The Champion Hurdle, I thought he’d win that too – that’s how good this horse is.
He is a horse with a huge amount of ability, but should he by-pass Tuesday, then the nod goes to Asterion Forlonge.
The Arkle Chase is a race to watch. Generally speaking the best hurdler wins this race and none of the main contenders were what you’d call top class novice hurdlers from last season. Bapaume looks over priced and might be worth a small interest to win this race for Willie Mullins.
I’d expect Benie Des Dieux to beat Honeysuckle in what looks the race of the day in the Mares Hurdle, while Gordon Elliott could win the novice handicap chase with Milan Native.

Tips

Envoi Allen (if a non-runner, then Asterion Forlonge).
Bapaume
Vindication
Darver Star
Benie Des Dieux
Milan Native
Carefully Selected

Check out Tuesday evening's Meath Chronicle for the rest of Dave Keena's preview of what is sure to be a thrilling Cheltenham Festival for local Meath connections.