The Inside Track

Tuesday 13^th March

1.30 – Supreme Novices’ Hurdle

1pt win Trifolium 1pt win 12/1 VC Bet 11/1 Generally

A very open looking Supreme Novices hurdle with a poor favourite in my opinion. Darlan may have been travelling well in the Betfair hurdle, but it was a very slowly run affair, and he took a horrible fall. I'm happy to take him on.

The Irish don't have a standout horse, but the one that I was really impressed with last time was Trifolium.  He won a very good contest last time out and really impressed with the way he travelled and finished his race that day. He looks an improver and a good bet at double figures.  His excellent trainer, reports that he’s decent form and he is taken to get us off to a flying start.

2.05 – Arkle Challenge Tophy

No Bet

Sprinter Sacre could well be the best 2 mile chaser since Moscow Flyer.

I’m not putting him up as a bet though because his price is right, but I would love to see him put in a clear round, and put in the sort of performance that I think he’s capable of. 

2.40 JLT Speciality Handicap Chase

Hold On Julio 1pt win 13/2 take best odds guaranteed if you can.

Not a strong handicap by any means and I'm keen to oppose The Package and Quantativeeasing. The Package finished second in this race 2 years ago off a 2 pound lower mark. In my opinion if he wasn't good enough to win that race, then I don't see him having improved for being 2 years older and off the track for best part of that.

Quantativeeasing is very good at Cheltenham and has been crying out for this step up in trip, however the trends are completely against him being able to win this from top weight

If there is one horse in this race that looks open to big improvement, then it is Hold On Julio.

Apart from The Railway fences, he actually jumped well at Sandown last time, and to win in the manner that he did, tells me that he had significantly more than 12lbs in hand.  I still think he could be at least 10lbs well in.  If I’m correct then he will be very hard to beat.

3.20 The Champion Hurdle

Oscars Well 1pt each way 14/1 get best odds guaranteed

If Hurricane Fly arrives in top form he will win.

I think it’s worth having a small wager each way on Oscars Well though.  Having watched a rerun of last year’s festival races over the weekend, it reminded me how well he travelled in The Neptune.  I hold his trainer in high regard, and she is more than capable of preparing one for the big day.  If they go a strong gallop, I can see him running a massive race. 

He hasn’t been suited by soft ground, and small fields in Ireland this winter, but today’s vastly different conditions, should see him in a much better light.

4.00 Glenfarclas Handicap Chase

1pt win  Fortification   33/1 VC Bet 25/1 General

Not a race I normally get involved with, but Fortification is a very interesting runner. Very useful over fences, he was given a school over this course a couple of weeks ago, and Keiran Burke reported that he took to it, like a duck to water.

The course is going to be the firmest it's ever been at a festival, and that may just inconvenience some of the more fancied Irish runners. Denis O'Regan is a superb booking for the selection and I can see him running a really nice race at big odds.

4.40 Cheltenham OLBG Mares Hurdle

NO BET

The admirable mare, Quevega, should win this for the fourth year, but is not a betting proposition at odds on.

5.15 PULTENEY LAND INVESTMENTS NOVICES´ HANDICAP CHASE

1pt win Bless The Wings   7/1 Generally

A competitive handicap to finish day one, but it can go the way of Bless The Wings, who has the invaluable course and distance form.

The race he won last time somewhat fell apart, but he always looked the likely winner and an 8 pound rise is fair. He looks on the upgrade and wouldn't have been suited by being left in the lead last time so the hope is there's more to come. Hunt Ball is a fascinating runner but this is a very different proposition to the races he's been running in recently, and I think he'll get found out today whilst, Triolio D'Alene didn't impress with his jumping despite winning last time.