Cheltenham Wed the 17th of March

Felt day one went to the bookies but rather confident that Master Minded can win with a clear round.

The best race should be between Long Run, Punchestown and Diamond Harry, should stick with Punch as changing my mind from Sizing Europe to Captain Cee Bee was a mistake on day one!

The bumper remains wide open but my early choices Shot from the Hip or Drumbaloo should run well.

good punting!

We should here from Molly in the morning.

A tough 1st day for the punters although I think Sizing Europe and McCoy on Binocular were popular winners. Apparently Ruby Walsh feels as long as he doesn't fall off Master Minded he should win.

If the ground stays as it is I think Kauto will win by half the racecourse...

Wednesdays Card

Walsh remains odds-on to be top festival jockey


RUBY WALSH remained the 1-3 favourite with Totesport on Tuesday night to take home the top jockey title at the Cheltenham Festival after his victory on Quevega in the David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle, the final race on the opening day of Cheltenham 2010, got him off the mark.

Despite failing to register a winner on Tuesday, Barry Geraghty remains second favourite at 7-1, although he boasts a strong hand of rides on day two, including Punchestowns and Finian's Rainbow.

Tony McCoy, who leads the way after his victory on Binocular in the Champion Hurdle and second on Get Me Out Of Here in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle, is also a 7-1 chance.

It was single honours all round in the trainers' battle at Cheltenham as well, although Nicky Henderson's victory and two thirds highlighted that his string is in particularly good order.

In the battle of the nations it was all square after day one. Britain and Ireland both claimed three victories apiece.

Cheltenham Festival Top Jockey
Totesport 1-3 R Walsh, 7 B Geraghty, AP McCoy, 14 R Thornton, 25 bar.

RXP

Master Minded to deliver the Queen Mother in style

GEOFF LESTER, CHELTENHAM - We won’t be able to pay off our mortgage with what we win on Master Minded in the Queen Mother Champion Chase, but he is definitely in much better form now than when he won the race for the second time last year.

His trainer Paul Nicholls is supremely confident the favourite can deliver in style on Wednesday afternoon. Forget Master Minded’s last-fence blunder at Newbury - Ruby Walsh blamed himself for being too complacent - and I fully expect him to take his place with the elite by clocking up a hat-trick of two-mile crowns. Kalahari King, impressive in his dress-rehearsal at Doncaster, looks a sound choice for the Exacta.

The RSA Chase has produced a few surprises over the years, but it will be a major shock if Nicky Henderson does not lift this year’s renewal. However, his Lambourn yard is split down the middle as to which is the better, Punchestowns or Long Run.

Long Run was a class act in France and though he had not yet adapted to the different type of obstacles we have in Britain when he made his debut at Kempton at Christmas, he jumped much better when dropped to two miles for a sharpener at Warwick. He stays well and I just prefer his chance to Punchestowns, who was lucky to get away with taking a liberty of the downhill fence at Sandown and might not be so fortunate if he takes chances here.

Diamond Harry, like Punchestowns, was a smart hurdler, but lacks the scope to make a chaser and though Irish challenger Weapon’s Amnesty is as tough as teak, he is definitely better with dig in the ground and might make mistakes if they go off fast.

Nicholls has laid out Massasoit for the four-mile NH Chase and he should not be missed with excellent amateur Ryan Mahon in the saddle. Blinkers improved Massasoit at Sandown where he finished third to Monkerhostin and against these lesser rivals, he can grind out a victory.

Irish wizard Dermot Weld has only had one winner at Cheltenham - Rare Holiday in the Triumph Hurdle 20 years ago - but his smart Flat-racer Rite of Passage has taken well to jumping and will be hard to beat in the Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle. Finian’s Rainbow looks the best of the home team and is worth a saver.

The next two races are ``pin jobs’’ - both handicaps with full fields. Lake Legend is 5kg higher than when winning at Kempton on Boxing Day and may have too much weight in the Coral Cup, so I will side with Henderson’s Spirit of River, who was going well when he made a crucial jumping error three out in the totesport Gold Trophy at Newbury. This longer distance will give him more time to fine-tune his jumping and he has been pleasing in recent work.

My two against the field in the Fred Winter are Causeway King, who will finally get the good gallop that he needs, and Sanctuaire, who provided he settles, would have a good Eachway shot, while Choc Thornton has been snapped up for the unbeaten Irish youngster Drumbaloo in the Festival Bumper. Take the hint.

Selections: 1.30 Massasoit, 2.5 Rite of Passage (nap) 2.40 Long Run, 3.20 Master Minded, 4.0 Spirit of River , 4.40 Causeway King (value), 5.15 Drumbaloo.

Is the cheltenam festival similar to the Oppiekoppie festival. What goes on their should this not be under the general thread.

Open day and Chicago Grey,holiday time if they win,tempted with the july..

Still waiting for a bet but races have been great

This what the Barry Geraghty had to say about his mount Big Zeb:

"In the Champion Chase I reckon Big Zeb has a big chance of turning over Master Minded. People say that this horse might not travel well to England but he was going fine when he fell four out in last year’s race — and I’ve no doubt that he would have beaten Master Minded but for making a bad mistake at the last at Punchestown in April. He lost two lengths and was beaten a head and the ground at Cheltenham will not be a problem.

You could question his jumping but, touch wood, he’s jumped well this season and he wasn’t right when he was beaten at Sandown. I schooled him at Leopardstown last week and he jumped well and felt well, in very good form."

I couldnt resist a few quid at 12's after reading this, the bookies must be booking their holidays now...