THERE are going to be very short-priced favourites in a couple of the championship races on the first day at Cheltenham and the opening Supreme Novices’ Hurdle is one of the more appealing betting heats.
Willie Mullins saddles half of the 12-runner field in the two-miler but his old rival Gordon Elliott is fancied to prevail with Firefox.
The Walk In The Park gelding disappointed slightly when last seen at Naas in mid-January but the trip appeared to catch him out then.
He travelled nicely to the turn-in that day, in the Grade One contest won by Readin Tommy Wrong, but failed to see out the two-and-a-half miles.
It’s no surprise to see him targeted at this as the six-year-old appears to have plenty of gears.
He had lowered the colours of Ballyburn on his previous outing in a Fairyhouse maiden hurdle and that rival would have been a short price if he had turned up in this race.
To be fair Ballyburn has obviously improved since but it was still a fine effort by Firefox that day and you get the impression that Elliott thinks the world of him.
Mystical Power is sure to attract plenty of attention in this as the son of Galileo and star mare Annie Power bids to emulate his brilliant mother with a Festival win.
He’s been an improver on the track and was good when scoring in Grade Two company at Punchestown last time.
The fact that he tends to take quite a keen hold could be an issue though if he gets lit up in this. It’s no surprise to see a hood tried now.
Tullyhill looks like the other major contender from the Mullins camp and obviously has to be on the shortlist as well. The Martaline gelding disappointed on his hurdling debut this season but has been very good in two starts since.
Two miles looks to be his trip and he has a touch of class. Slade Steel is another nice horse who can be given a chance in an open enough looking opener but Firefox gets the vote to land this race for Elliott, whose only previous win was with Labaik in 2017.
The following Arkle Novices’ Chase has a similar profile with a handful of horses that can be given live chances.
Gaelic Warrior won’t be everyone’s cup of tea but he’s the best horse in the race if Paul Townend can keep him relatively straight. It’s interesting that Mullins opts to run him over the minimum trip as he does stay a good bit further than this.
Going a stride quicker may just concentrate his mind a bit more and when he’s on song he’s a top-class performer.
He did disappoint last time, when cutting out quickly and unseating at the last in a two-runner contest won by stablemate Fact Or File at Leopardstown.
It looked like he was always just doing a bit too much in front then and a hood is tried now. He’s much better than he showed then and this doesn’t look like a vintage renewal of the Arkle.
Townend will be disappointed if he doesn’t leave with several winners today.
State Man looks set to be the beneficiary of the absence of Constitution Hill in a Champion Hurdle which lacks a bit of its usual lustre.
Lossiemouth has been aimed at the easier option in the Mares’ Hurdle and defeat for the classy daughter of Galiway against her own sex would be a major upset.
There hasn’t been an Irish winner of the Ultima since 2006 and it’s strange that the raiders have such a poor record in a staying handicap chase. Meetingofthewaters, a recent purchase by leading owner JP McManus, can end the drought this year.
The progressive Court Cave gelding looks like he could still have a few pounds up his sleeve.
He was an easy winner of the ultra-competitive Paddy Power at Leopardstown over Christmas when it looked like he had joined in turning for home.
The market told a story when he was a big drifter, dropped back in trip, at the Dublin Racing Festival subsequently and he didn’t get a run really, unseating after being hampered at the first.
This test of stamina will suit much better and the seven-year-old, who is also prominent in the betting for the Grand National, could be set for a big spring
Gary Carson’s Day One picks
1.30 Firefox
2.10 Gaelic Warrior
2.50 Meetingofthewaters
3.30 State Man
4.10 Lossiemouth