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Panel:

Gary O’Brien (GOB) – attheraces

Matt Chapman (MC) – attheraces

John Hackett (JH) – Hackett Bookmakers

Davy Russell (DR) – jockey

Tony Mullins (TM) – trainer

Johnny Ward (JW) – Irish journalist

Christian Williams (CW) – jockey

Kevin O’Ryan – Jockey agent

A good crowd was in attendance for what must have been the longest preview night I’ve ever attended! The atmosphere was good though and the banter between MC and DR was top class.

The format of the evening was to cover the hurdle races and then move on to the chases.

Supreme Novices’

GOB: Is Dunguib beatable?

JH: Yeah sure, impressive so far but jumping is a question mark, tough to beat though. Menorah e/w for me.

MC: Dunguib is a certainty, should be 1/2 in my book, 5/6 is massive. Menorah is a nutcase, Get Me Out Of Here is promising but I think Bellvano is the best McManus runner. Just get Dunguib in the Champion Hurdle, Sea The Stars of the jumps world.

KOR: Dunguib is a certainty but why Champion Hurdle?

MC: Champion would be run perfectly to suit.

DR: Dunguib wouldn’t get involved in the Champion this year; would finish 8th. Honestly he wouldn’t live in it, don’t know why we’re evening talking about it.

TM: Dunguib will win half he track, 5/6 unreal price, certainty of meeting, no one will get him off the bridle, most exciting horse I’ve ever seen.

JW: His jumping isn’t an issue, never looked like falling, 1/4 in my book.

Neptune Hurdle

GOB: Some Present, Davy?

DR: Very good horse but Dunguib beating him has hurt his confidence, Rite Of Passage is a big problem for us. Irish better than the English.

GOB: 3/1 ok for Rite Of Passage?

DR: Standout out novice, bar Dunguib, Dermot Weld is crazy about him, future Melbourne Cup winner.

TM: Big fan of him but looks more a flat horse to me. His best performance to date was on the level in the November Handicap. Looks a poor race this one actually, I’ll arrive late and miss it! Form is all mixed up and Weld hasn’t had a Cheltenham winner for 20 odd years.

JW: I wouldn’t back him @ 3s and I prefer Quantitativeeasing @ 16s.

KOR: I like Rite Of Passage, impressed me no end and will be hard beat. Jumps well and is solid. Quel Esprit e/w if he runs here.

MC: Weld just uses Cheltenham to get ready for Galway, we all know that! I’m nor convinced by Rite Of Passage, not sure he’s quite good enough. Reve De Sivola not a sexy horse but is already a Grade 1 winner.

JH: Peddlers Cross has been well supported and I’m happy to lay the favourite.

CW: Favourite will take the beating but Reve De Sivola is the best of the British.

Albert Bartlett

GOB: What about the Iirsh?

JW: Quel Esprit if he goes for it has a big chance. Shinrock Paddy is ok too.

CW: Tell Massini, I rode him in work the other day and was impressive. He’ll be hard to beat.

TM: Hope Shinrock is, he’s a good horse with a chance. Quel Esprit though he goes for it. Enterprise Park is a very good horse though and is improving fast.

DR: Competitve race, Tell Massini is good, Shinrock is class but stamina is a worry for him. Enterprise Park is interesting.

KOR: Big fan of Quel Esprit and this 3m would really suit him.

MC: Not a good ante-post race as no one really knows who’s going for it. Quel Esprit must be better than we’ve seen seeing as how much Willie Mullins goes on about him. Najaf is the interesting one though.

CW: Najaf will be better next year in my opinion.

JH: Enterprise Park is the interesting one for money.

Triumph Hurdle

GOB: Mile Chief now doubtfull.

DR: Hard to assess. Carlito Brigante has done nothing wrong, but he works terribly at home, so its hard to figure him out. Don’t take his beating of Alavian seriously, and Alavian is probably the one to beat.

TM: All of these have been beating each other, so I think they are all useless.

DR: I’ve heard good things about Super Kenny from Nicky Henderson’s yard.

JW: The Irish are strong. Not Carlito nor Alavian but Secant Star is the one to beat.

CW: English horses are poor, the Irish will win it. Alan King loves Mille Chief, but I can’t have him.

KOR: Alavian worthy favourite and hard to beat. He is slowly getting the hand of things and is a different class.

JH: Most money for Secant Star, although Super Kenny is interesting and has been nibbled at.

Champion Bumper

GOB: Tavern Times?

DR: Very nice horse. His Tuesday morning work will decide if he runs or not. The bumpers this year are hard to judge.

TM: Day of a Lifetime is the best of Willie Mullins’ gang. It is so hard to judge bumpers in Ireland now; using inside tracks are no good. Al Ferof is a very good horse. He is an improver and is tough.

JW: Really like Shot from the Hip, and I’m not too keen on anything else. Ignore the hype, and follow the form.

TM: Hidden Universe has no chance. He is a 100-1 shot and it is completely impossible for him to win.

KOR: Al Farof has been impressive.

CW: I’m not Irish, so what do I know?!

World Hurdle

GOB: Is Big Bucks beatable?

CW: He’s no value, but a certainty for this. Along with Kauto Star he is the best horse in training.

JW: He’s a funny horse. He often looks in trouble but is clearly just taking the mick. Mourad for the E/W money but Tidal Bay can go well too.

TM: Big Bucks is a world apart. Tidal Bay is value though, and a good bet without the favourite. Can’t see what all the fuss is about Mourad.

DR: War of Attrition loves the track and will stay. E/W at 33s is cracking value. I’m gutted the Grand National has been ruled out BUT there is still a chance he might run.

KOR: I respect War of Attrition, but I like Tidal Bay and Cousin Vinny E/W.

MC: Big Bucks is good value, as he’s world class. Powerstation can make the frame.

Champion Hurdle:

GOB: Zaynar’s defeat has opened it all up…

DR: I have a great chance with Solwhit but I am worried about Go Native. I am slightly concerned Solwhit might lack a gear at a crucial time. I can’t fancy Zaynar, but Punjabi is not a million miles away.

CW: Go Native was maybe lucky last year at Cheltenham. Khyber Kim is the best of the English.

JW: Solwhit is an awesome bet. He just keeps improving and keeps going, and Go Native won’t hold him off up the hill.

TM: I’d love to see Go Native win and get the £1 million bonus. Zaynar should be 100-1 but Punjabi should be there again. It’s basically Solwhit V Go Native, and it’s hard to split them.

MC: Go Native is a dog. Zaynar is no good. Medermit is rubbish. Punjabi is boring and Celestial Halo is slow. Solwhit wins, and only Davy Russell can muck this up!

Arkle

GOB: Big Irish challenge…

JH: We (Irish) should win this and rightly dominate. Mikael D’Haguenet taken out of betting after schooling here after racing today.

MC: Captain Cee Bee is better since his injury and having McCoy onboard will help. Market has is right. Somersby not for me.

KOR: Great training to bring back Captain Cee Bee. Somersby is a good horse but I’ not sure about Hen Knight.

DR: I’d ride Captain if I had the choice, best horse in the race. Somersby is the danger, can’t have Sports Line.

TM: Captain is the class horse. Clear round = certainty. Sports Line is improving and is doing better than the opinion of him in the yard.

JW: I’ve got 25s on Captain so I’m happy! Sizing Europe has no chance but Sports Line is value.

CW: I’m surprise AP (McCoy) has got off Somersby for Captain.

RSA

GOB: Pandorama is doubtful which is a real shame…

KOR: Uimhiraceathair schooled well today but he’s not good enough. Punchestowns and Long Run can fight it out.

MC: Don’t like the Irish, Punchestowns decent bet at around 7/2.

TM: Punchestowns is the class, Irish are well behind.

DR: Very tough ask for Weapons Amnesty, he’s getting better but not good enough for this.

Ryanair

GOB: What did you make of Tranquil Sea’s win today?

MC: Didn’t impress me, even allowing for the trip being short of his best. Don’t like Poquelin, Barber’s Shop seems so obvious. Quality animal running over his perfect trip.

KOR: I liked Tranquil Sea today actually.

JW: Me too, plenty to like about it, did nothing wrong.

TM: Barber’s Shop is class, Tranquil Sea for the Irish. Head-to-head between them.

JW: Terrible race. Is it exciting? Tranquil is solid

DR: Tranquil Sea the value bet of the meeting.

Queen Mother

GOB: Master Minded Christian?

CW: We all know how good he is but I like Kalahari King.

DR: The one odds-on favourite that is beatable, Kalahari King is a real danger. His performance at Doncaster was very impressive.

JW: MM was flattered in this 2 years ago but with question marks against all his rivals he should win again.

TM: Best ever performance I’ve seen at the Festival was his two ears ago. If Nicholls is right, and he’s back to his best, then it’s game over for the rest.

MC: Probably the greatest 2m chaser ever, nothing is in his league.

Gold Cup

GOB: Denman vs. Kauto, the main event…Cooldine schooled well today.

CW: Big Denman fan but you can’t be with him after that last run. Have we seen the best Denman since his Gold Cup win? No.

DR: I agree but he’ll be better at Cheltneham. Not sure if McCoy is the right man, Sam Thomas should have the ride.

CW: Maybe he needs blinkers now.

MC: If both horses are at their peak then Denman wins. They need to be ultra positive on him, I’d grind them into the ground.

DR: I agree, take them all on early. Sam Thomas knows the horse better than anyone.

TM: Not sure why we’re talking about this as Kauto will win! Cooline worth a second look.

JW: Denman has no chance.