The Cheltenham Festival roars into action on Tuesday, lasting for four days.
There are a number of big races on the first day, with Willie Mullins’ stable contenders in several races.
Mail Sport’s Marcus Townend selects who he believes will win the race, who are their main contenders and who could spark a shock.
There is probably nothing more that trainer Willie Mullins would like to do than win the race run in memory of his late mother (left) and he has a big chance with Embassy Gardens
SUPREME NOVICES’ HURDLE
1.30pm
How JERIKO DU REPONET performs will be a litmus test for the Nicky Henderson team after a few quiet days but his odds of around 8-1 are bigger than looked likely a few weeks ago and he looks worth chancing.
He showed a decent turn of foot when winning twice at Newbury, including a race Henderson, a five-time Supreme winner, has traditionally used for some of his better horses.
Jeriko Du Reponet was not as impressive when winning at Doncaster but the opponents he beat, Lump Sum and Fiercely Proud, have since finished 1-2 in Kempton’s Dovecote Novices’ Hurdle and drier ground at Doncaster also probably did not play to his strengths.
Willie Mullins is mob-handed and the clock watchers have been impressed by the performances of Tullyhill while unbeaten impeccably-bred Mystical Power is a son of Derby winner Galileo and Champion Hurdle winner Annie Power.
Tellherthename has a shout if he copes with the ground.
SELECTION: JERIKO DU REPONET
MAIN DANGER: TULLYHILL
LIVE OUTSIDER: TELLHERTHENAME
Watchers have been impressed by Tullyhill (pictured) but how Jeriko Du Reponet performs will be a litmus test for Nicky Henderson’s stable
ARKLE NOVICES’ CHASE
2.10pm
There are reasons to oppose Willie Mullins’ three runners despite them holding big chances.
Gaelic Warrior, who wears a calming hood for the first time, probably has the most raw ability but his tendency to jump to his right will cost him ground.
Hunters Yarn also has jumping question marks having fallen when clear on his chasing debut and hammered the second last fence when winning well at Fairyhouse while two-time Dublin Racing Festival scorer Il Etait Temps seems reserves his best for Leopardstown.
Solid Found A Fifty and JPR One, the best of the British challenge, have place claims but the vote goes to Quilixios The 2021 Triumph Hurdle winner had over two years off the track but a failed experiment over three miles apart, he has looked good beating two decent markers at Naas in January when the feature of his performances has been his slick, clean jumping.
SELECTION: QUILIXIOS (nap)
MAIN DANGER: GAELIC WARRIOR
LIVE OUTSIDER: MATARA
Quilixios has looked good beating two decent markers at Naas in January when the features of his performances have been his slick, clean jumping
ULTIMA HANDICAP CHASE
2.50pm
Strong cases can be made for Willie Mullins-trained Meetingofthewaters, impressive winner of a competitive chase at Leopardstown’s Christmas meeting, and Gordon Elliott’s The Goffer, who was fourth in this race last year.
But this race has been a banker for the home team with the last Irish-trained winner being Dun Doire in 2006.
There is a good chance that Chianti Classico is still a little ahead of the handicapper as he is running in only his fourth steeplechase. He won his first two at Ascot and Chepstow before just finding course specialist Flegmatic.
His trainer Kim Bailey has not won the race before but he has had runners goes well in it.
Last year’s third Monbeg Genius was a big disappointment on his last run at Kelso but would be a contender if he can shrug off that set-back.
Long shot Kitty’s Light, the 2023 Scottish National winner, has mostly been hurdling this season but switches back to fences on a handy weight. The tongue tie he wore for his best runs last season is re-fitted.
SELECTION: CHIANTI CLASSICO
MAIN DANGER: MEETINGOFTHEWATERS
LIVE OUTSIDER: KITTY’S LIGHT
MARES’ HURDLE
4.10pm
Were she trained by anyone other than Willie Mullins Lossiemouth would probably have run in the Champion Hurdle and she would have been fancied to give her stablemate State Man a test.
But such is the stable’s strength in depth that Mullins can spread his ammunition around and the winner of last season’s Triumph Hurdle -where she beat Gala Marceau two-and-a-quarter lengths – is handed this opportunity instead.
She races beyond 2m 1f for the first time but looked more controlled in her running style when cruising to a nine-and-a-half length win in the International Hurdle in January.
Runner-up that day was Love Envoi. She has plenty of ground to make up but she made the great Honeysuckle pull out all the stops when runner-up in this last season so she cannot be completely written off.
Marie’s Rock (the 2022 winner), previous Festival winner Telmesomethinggirl and Ashroe Diamond all command respect.
SELECTION: LOSSIEMOUTH
MAIN DANGER: LOVE ENVOI
LIVE OUTSIDER: ECHOES IN RAIN
Were she trained by anyone other than Willie Mullins Lossiemouth would probably have run in the Champion Hurdle
BOODLES HANDICAP HURDLE
4.50pm
Trainer Joseph O’Brien won this in 2019 and he looks to have teed up Lark in the Mornin to have another big shot at the prize. He has put in a couple of very eye-catching efforts and would have finished a fair bit closer to winner Highwind at Punchestown last time had he not been virtually knocked sideways at the last hurdle and lost much of his momentum.
Batman Girac also looked like he could be a decent proposition when switched to handicaps on his staying on fourth to Kala Conti at Leopardstown in December when he made up telling late ground late in the race from the back of the field.
Only one favourite has won this in the last 10 years and there have been some turn up with winner at 80-1 and 33-1 three time. In truth, not much can be confidently written off.
Outsiders to keep an eye on include Bright Legend, Karia Des Blaises and Eagle Fang.
SELECTION: LARK IN THE MORNIN
MAIN DANGER: BATMAN GIRAC
LIVE OUTSIDER: BRIGHT LEGEND
NATIONAL HUNT NOVICES’ CHASE
5.30pm
There is probably nothing more that trainer Willie Mullins would like to do than win the race run in memory of his late mother and he has a big chance with Embassy Gardens
He blew out at last season’s Spring Festivals but always had the physique to thrive when he was sent over fences which he has done with wins at Naas and Punchestown.
Willie Mullins and his horses on the gallops ahead of the Cheltenham Festival
But there is very little between the seven runners on paper. Corbetts Cross might have won last season’s Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle but for running out the last and he again pressed the self-destruct button when falling after jumping into a rival at Fairyhouse.
Salvador Ziggy has Festival form having been second in last season’s Pertemps Hurdle.
There is very little between the Henry’s Friend, Kilbeg King and Apple Away – 1-2-3 at Ascot last month – but the suspicion is this greater stamina test will suit the latter as it will Devon National winner Mr Vango.
SELECTION: EMBASSY GARDENS
MAIN DANGER: SALVADOR ZIGGY
LIVE OUTSIDER: APPLE AWAY
