LET’S get ready to rummbbllleeeeeee!
We’ve made it, people, and I’m pumped as a pumped thing for Day 1 of the Cheltenham Festival – and what a belting way to start.
The Grade 1 Unibet Champion Hurdle takes centre stage, but the Sky Bet Supreme and Singer Arkle look peaches as well.
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No State Man, Sir Gino or Constitution Hill in the Champion, but an intriguing contest.
Lossiemouth with cheekpieces is fascinating.
She could easily hack up as she loves it at Cheltenham.
Getting 7lb the value for me lies with BRIGHTERDAYSAHEAD as she may be the first to pounce on pacemaker Tutti Quanti.
I’m the first to believe on evidence so far that this is not the track for my selection – although she was a fair second to Golden Ace in the Mares’ Novice – but there have been reasons given for previous defeats.
Gordon Elliott’s runner stays strong and beat Lossiemouth last time.
She’s rated 1lb higher than The New Lion but gets 7lb.
If she performs to her best she simply should win for Jack Kennedy and being relatively lightly raced she could well be reaching a peak.
Elliott is looking for his first Champion Hurdle success and she has at least an each-way chance.
Cheltenham 2026 gets under way with the Grade 1 Supreme Novices’ Hudle over an extended 2m.
I have long been an OLD PARK STAR fan.
He’s won all three starts over hurdles this season at Kempton, Cheltenham and Haydock and looked a monster last time.
He did hang a little left into the rail late on there but he was miles clear.
Nicky Henderson has won this five times with River Ceiriog, Flown, Altior, Shishkin and Constitution Hill and doesn’t usually miss in this with a good one.
Nico de Boinville is on top. Let’s get off to a bang.
The Grade 1 Singer Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices’ Chase over 2m comes after that.
It’s Henderson and de Boinville for me again here with LULAMBA.
Of course Kopek des Bordes will be hard to catch, and he was brilliant in the Supreme last year, but he’s had his issues and Lulamba is very good.
The youngster probably should have won the Triumph, but he’s now unbeaten in three over fences at Exeter – beat a very good field – Sandown in Grade 1 company and in open fair at Newbury in the Game Spirit.
He jumps and stays very strongly.
Henderson is going for win number nine in this and his victories have included some of the greats in Sprinter Sacre, Altior and Shishkin.
Gold Cup hope Jango Baie banged in for this column last year.
In the McCoy Contractors Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (Fred Winter) over an extended 2m I like SARATOGA.
I was left feeling he had more to offer after a second to the useful Highland Crystal at Naas last time. An each-way chance.
Next the Trustmarque Ultima Handicap Chase over 3m1f.
JOHNNYWHO is not one to rely on but he’s had wind surgery since his last effort and on his previous third at Ascot would have strong each-way claims.
He stays very well, and was second in the Kim Muir last year.
Richie McLernon will nurse him into the race and you can do far worse than being trained by father-son duo Jonjo and AJ O’Neill.
After the Champion Hurdle comes competitive stuff with the beautiful Sun Racing Plate Handicap Chase over 2m4f.
I like WILL THE WISE who has experience in big fields and was sixth in the Pertemps Network Final last season.
My hope stays well. Another each-way poke.
Day 1 ends with the National Hunt Challenge Cup Novices’ Handicap Chase over 3m6f.
ICEBERG THEORY lacks experience but is progressing fast and might run well for Paul Nolan and Conor Stone-Walsh.
Good luck!
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