THE 2011 Cheltenham Festival starts tomorrow and it is set to be the most open meeting for many years. Kicking off the week’s prestigious events will be the Supreme Novices Hurdle at 1.30pm tomorrow. Of course, the main event is the Gold Cup itself on Friday afternoon, and after last year’s surprises – who knows what will happen.
The Cheltenham Gold Cup – Friday: 3.20pm
Imperial Commander was the shock winner of last year’s Gold Cup, but he isn’t the favourite this year. Yet again, that honour falls to Kauto Star. Trained by Paul Nicholls, he won in 2007 and 2009, but fell last year whilst in the midfield. Ruby Walsh will once again take the reins, and Kauto’s form isn’t great coming here. He was surprisingly beaten in the King George VI at Kempton in January, so he will be looking for a return to form here. 2008 winner Denman and Imperial Commander are likely to be in the race and other leading runners will be Ireland’s best hope Kempes, ridden by Tony McCoy and Long Run, who was the King George VI winner. Can Kauto Star win the Gold Cup for a third time and cement his place as one of the greatest steeplechase horses of all time, or is another shock in store for the favourite? My tip is for Kauto to defy his bad form and make it a third win.
HAPPYDUDE’S GOLD CUP TIP: Kauto Star
The Champion Hurdle – Tomorrow
McCoy might be the leading jump jockey of all-time, but the BBC Sports Personality of the Year winner in 2010 will not have a show ride in tomorrow’s feature race. Binocular, who won the Champion Hurdle last year had to pull out yesterday from this year’s running list, after trainer Nicky Henderson was told that medication given for an allergy would not clear up in time for the horse to pass a standardised drugs test. It means the field for this race is thrown wide open, with Welsh Champion Hurdle winner Oscar Whisky and Hurricane Fly among the leading contenders. However, my tip is Peddlers Cross, who is trained by Donald McCain and arrives in Cheltenham with an unbeaten record. I think that formidable form will be good enough to turn the tables.
HAPPYDUDE’S CHAMPION HURDLE TIP: Peddlers Cross
Queen Mother’s Champion Chase – Wednesday
Wednesday’s big race is the Queen Mother’s Champion Chase and it is set to be a blockbuster, with one of the most eagerly awaited battles of the four-day event. MasterMinded is the king of this race, following dominant wins in 2008 and 2009. However, he was usurped last year by Big Zeb. Ruby Walsh is back on MasterMinded, and although he is lacking fitness, his stunning Cheltenham record is enough for to convince me that MasterMinded will return to glory in this race this year.
HAPPYDUDE’S CHAMPION CHASE TIP: MasterMinded
Ladbrokes World Hurdle – Thursday
Walsh will also ride the favourite in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle on Thursday, as he strides to succeed on Big Bucks for the third successive year. However, he has a much more talented field to deal with this year and I reckon this could be the surprise of the week. I’m backing Fiveforthree to end Big Bucks ten race winning streak. Plus, there is always an upset at Cheltenham every year in one of the feature races.
HAPPYDUDE’S WORLD HURDLE TIP: Fiveforthree
The festival reaches its centenary this year and I predict the racing to be as close as ever, the pints of Guinness to flow and the Irish to rule the roost on St. Patrick’s Day. This is set to be a cracking Cheltenham Festival in 2011 and it starts at 12.20pm tomorrow, LIVE ON CHANNEL 4.
No comments:
Post a Comment