CHELTENHAM NH FESTIVAL 2018 -- DAY ONE TUESDAY (CHAMPION HURDLE DAY)

NOT MUCH ROOM TO MOVE IN HERE

OPENING DAY OF THE 2018 CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL, EXPECTING OVER A 250,000 PEOPLE OVER THE FOUR DAYS, INCLUDING 70,000+ ON GOLD CUP DAY ITSELF. THE BEST TOP CLASS NH RACING ANYWHERE, AND YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO MOVE FOR IRISH PEOPLE.

CHELTENHAM NH FESTIVAL– TUESDAY MARCH 13TH 2018
1.30pm 2m 110yds Supreme Novices Hurdle	Supreme Novices Hurdle  Day one, Race one, of the 2018 NH Festival and we're off... The Supreme novices hurdles gets us under way, we have a very short priced favourite here in GETABIRD for Mullins and Walsh and the Irish will be keen to start with a winning fav.  The likes of Kalashnikov and Summerville Boy will also be poplar but my EW/Place bet will be SLATE HOUSE, a course and distance winner here available at 25/1 . Result -- 1st; SUMMERVILE BOY 9/1.
2.10pm 2m Arkle Chase	Arkle Challenge Trophy Only a small field for the Arkle, rare for any festival race to only have five runners in, FOOTPAD might have scared off a few but is there really a lack of depth in the Novice Chasers? BRAIN POWER might be a value bet in a small field for a trainer who was won three of the last six renewals of this race, will need to improve his jumping though.  Result -- 1st; FOOTPAD 5/6F.
2.50pm 3m 1f Festival H'cap Chase	Festival Handicap Chase  First big chase of the festival with 18 runners declared and market looks wide open at about 8/1 the field. That includes the likes of COO STAR SIVOLA and VINTAGE CLOUDS who come here on the back of a decent runs although the latter fell here last year should stay all day.  Top weight is going to have to go some in this ground but is given a place bet GOLD PRESENT to collect along with a nod for VICENTE who failed to complete the Welsh National but a dual Scottish winner will also not mind the trip nor the going and will also be interesting for a place bet.  Result -- 1st; COO STAR SIVOLA 5/1.
3.30pm 2m 110yds Champion Hurdle	Champion Hurdle  The opening day's feature race is of course the Champion Hurdle and this year we're missing a few of the big guns from recent years but there's still a quality field. Last years winner BUVEUR D'AIR lines up again in great form and will a very short price to repeat his success of twelve months ago.  ELGIN has been supplemented for this and while a big step up in class must be well thought of at home, handicaps are out of the question so you might as well reach for the stars. A place bet at least. MY TENT OF YOURS should still be thereabouts up the hill but expect to be chasing the favourite and not good enough. N/R Result -- 1st;  BUVEUR D'AIR 4/6F.
4.10pm 2m 4f Mares Hurdle	"David Nicholson" Mares Hurdle (2m 4f) The Mares Hurdle is a Grade 2 hurdle run over run over two miles and about four and a half furlongs. It is open to mares only, aged five and above .  Looks to be at the mercy of APPLES JADE where surely a clear round will be more than enough.  Of the others JERS GIRL looks like the most likely one for the place market but I've got the fav in many acca's so if this goes down I might pack it in.  Result -- 1st; BENIE DES DIEUX 9/2.
4.50pm 4m NH Chase (Amateur Riders)	Toby Balding National Hunt Handicap Chase (4m) The National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup is a Class B chase run over four miles. It is the oldest race at the festival and is open to novices aged five years old and upwards, all horses are ridden by amateur jockeys who have to be Category B (Britain) and Category C (Ireland) riders to take part in the race.  Looking at the jockey bookings here, would give us IMPULSIVE STAR along with NO COMMENT against the field, probably not a race to be heavily involved with and over 4m on this ground it's most likely to see only a few finish. Result -- 1st; RATHVINDEN 9/2.
5.30pm 2m 4f Centenary Novices Chase	Centenary Novices Handicap Chase (2m 4f) Our finale on the opening day is a novices chase over 2 1/2 miles, where we have a field of 20 declared. .  Our selection here includes MISTER WHITAKER comes in with the lowest weight of the 20 declared, looks in form, and can give Mick Channon a winner today. Also of interest here is the Mullins/Walsh pairing on LIVELOVELOUGH who is making his handicap debut here. Result -- 1st MISTER WHITAKER 13/2. Enjoy your Cheltenham Festival this week.

GOOD LUCK
RESULTS SHOULD APPEAR DURING THE COURSE OF THE AFTERNOON