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This is a bonus preview report in addition to the ten we will cover as Ferdy Murphy (FM) and Denis O’Regan (DO’R), who were down for the Doncaster preview but could not attend, were appearing here so we wanted to include their views. Also appearing were to myself Paul Jones (PJ), Iain Turner (IT) of WBX.com and local racing journalist John Budden (JB). Denis O’Regan was riding in the last race at Newcastle so missed the start and joined the panel mid-way through the first day analysis. I’ve attended this preview for all five years and this was the best to date and the biggest audience so far, the biggest in the north I would say.

SUPREME NOVICES’ HURDLE

FM: I’ve never seen a novice quicken like Dunguib when his rider changed his hands since Golden Cygnet and the mistakes he made early on were because he was put to sleep. If you have that kind of class, it is very hard to get beaten on good ground.

PJ: History has taught me you don’t win in the long run backing odds-on shots at the Festival and I like the two Mullins horses e/w or betting without Dunguib namely Flat Out and Blackatairmountain with the former the better value. I do like lightly-raced novices for this race and both won their only hurdling start.

IT: Get Me Out Of Here looks the best alternative to Dunguib so back him with Paddy Power who will refund stakes if the favourite wins.

JB: Dunguib is too short so take him on with both Get Me Out Of Here and Blackstairmountain.

ARKLE TROPHY

FM: We run I’m Delilah and she has a sporting each-way chance if she gets into an early rhythm. Captain Cee Bee will not get away with his mistakes here and Sizing Europe is a poor traveller and he wrecked the box on his way to Naas.

PJ: Sports Line is my idea of the best bet and hopefully they can rein his enthusiasm in a little. I see him improving greatly on his second in the Irish Arkle which is usually their best guide. I have time for Somersby but am worried he has been off for so long and think Sizing Europe is a better horse than Captain Cee Bee but I have Riverside Theatre down as a flat track horse.

IT: I hear McCoy can not split Captain Cee Bee and Somersby bur he is contracted to ride for the owner of Captain Cee Bee. However, I feel the Brits have the edge and fancy Somersby to beat Riverside Theatre.

JB: Captain Cee Bee is too short so I am a Somersby man whose Supreme form from last season is working out great and he is a super jumper.

CHAMPION HURDLE

FM: Go Native is the class act of the race and I really hope he can the £1million bonus.

DO’R: It looks like I will be on standby as don’t have a ride but Muirhead is a possibility for me. Having worked at Noel Meade’s a few years back I really hope Go Native can win for them and Carberry who was centimetres away on Harchibald from the greatest ride in Festival history.

PJ: Punjabi each-way is my idea of the best bet. He may not have beaten much last time but he had his swagger back and a fast-run 2m at Cheltenham is perfect for him. Celestial Halo is becoming the forgotten horse and unlike last year he could get the run of the race from the front so I have time for his chance as I do Medermit. Go Native has his chance but 31/ looks on the short side.

IT: Last season’s race is just not working out at all. The rumours last week that all was not well with Solwhit. Carberry rode Go Native in work this week for the first time in ages and could not have been happier and it will be fantastic if they can land our £1million bonus. Punjabi rates as the main danger.

JB: Medemit for me. He beat Punjabi convincingly at Haydock and there is little between him and Go Native on Supreme form but he is twice the price.

TUESDAY SHOULDER RACES

FM: Graham Lee will ride Calgary Bay in the William Hill Trophy so he doesn’t go for the Gold Cup. I used to run horses and win the cross country races but there is no point now as J P McManus sends expensive horses to these races and they outclass everything so what is the point?

DO’R: I make Quevega my banker of the meeting in the Mares Hurdle

PJ: I think its between the novices at the front of the market in the William Hill Trophy namely The Package and Bensalem, reckon Quevega will outstay Voler La Vedette if Ruby kicks on early enough and Sizing Australia is the each-way play in the cross country.

IT: I’ve heard that David Johnson rates The Package as his best chance of a winner at the Festival in the William Hill Trophy and Carberry has been booked for Character Building who should sui him ideally but a late injury meant they missed the Grand National last season so will they want to risk leaving Aintree behind here?

JB: Alan King had a good season last year but a poor Festival. This time he has had a poor season but I can see him having a good Festival. If Bensalem jumps well he is handicapped to win the William Hill Trophy. Character Building loves good ground and will be fit as he has a bad foot so has to be fit when he runs.

NEPTUNE INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT NOVICES’ HURDLE

FM: I have to be against Rite Of Passage given Dermot Weld’s record at the Festival so I will go with Finians Rainbow.

DO’R: I know Barry Geraghty is really looking forward to Finians Rianbow who he thinks is his best ride of the meeting which is saying something the book he has.

PJ: I think Rite Of Passage will be well backed and have too much speed for the NH-breds with ground looking as if it is not going to be testing.

IT: Finians Rainbow is the value. Peddlers Cross should be in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.

JB: The Challow Hurdle is working out well so I respect the winner Reve De Sivola but feel Finians Rainbow can reverse placings with him on the better ground.

RSA CHASE

FM: They go near enough Gold Cup pace so jumping is crucial. The Nightingale is one of the nicest horse I’ve seen for a while and like him if he runs. If a top jockey was on Long Run then you be confident as he looked special at Kempton.

DO’R I thought Long Run was a future Gold Cup winner when I saw him at Kempton. It takes a special horse to win at 3m and then drop down and win at 2m.

PJ: Punchestowns, Diamond Harry, Uimhiraceathair and The Nightingale have only run twice over fences which concerns me as experience allied to toughness counts in the race which is why I like Weapon’s Amnesty to run a big race back up to 3m and back on a decent racing surface.

IT: prefer Punchestowns to Long Run. Henderson thinks he may now beat Big Buck’s if he took him on again over hurdles as they know more about each horse.

JB: If Punchestowns runs he looks value following his drift. Knockara Beau is the best each-way shot. Forget his Reynoldstown run where he jumped left throughout as he slipped into the second fence and hurt his back which has been treated since.

QUEEN MOTHER CHAMPION CHASE

FM: Kalahari King schooled over four fences this morning and everything is going well with his preparation. The plan was the Peterborough Chase but he had a slight setback and we were never going to run him on testing ground in the middle of winter. We wouldn’t want any more watering but understand why it is necessary for safety reasons.

DO’R: Master Minded was seriously impressive at Newbury and maybe I’m reading too much into it but I still felt he was hanging slightly. Twist Magic has been trained differently this season and I don’t believe the rubbish he doesn’t handle Cheltenham so he can go very well.

PJ: Master Minded to win easily with Kalahari King’s running style being ideally suited to run through beaten horses for second. Kalahari King without Master Minded at 5/2 for me.

JB: Kalahari King won in such a stylish manner at Doncaster I would take a chance with him to beat Master Minded who still has some questions to answer.

WEDNESDAY SHOULDER RACES

FM: Poker De Sivola goes for the NH Chase. I like Bothy for the Fred Winter as he is a right tough little horse and have heard Walsh feels that Al Ferof has a big future so he could be the one for the Bumper.

DO’R: I’ve a great chance on On Raglan Road in the Coral Cup who is one of my best rides at the meeting and can see Presenting Forever for well in the NH Chase.

PJ: I like Saddlers Storm for the NH Chase, Day In a Lifetime is the only bumper this season I’ve been really impressed with and reckon Quantitattiveeasing is handicapped to win the Coral Cup if they head down that route.

IT: Quantitativeeasing catches the eye off 139 in the Coral Cup, Gilded Age could be the one for the Fred Winter on better ground and if Olofi goes for the Fred Winter also look at him as Tom George and Sam Thomas think he would have a chance of winning of the Triumph.

JB: Pettifour for the NH Chase, Bothy for the Fred Winter and Drumbaloo in the Bumper.

RYANAIR CHASE

FM: Petit Robin will appreciate the step up in trip so is my selection with Tranquil Sea as the danger.

DO’R: I think Schindlers Hunt is great each-way value. He was not beaten in this race last year of the Melling Chase and Voy Por Ustedes has regressed since then.

PJ: Scotsirish is overpriced at 25/1 but Cheltenham form is the key and I find it hard to split Poquelin and Tranquil Sea. I just feel Barbers Shop is and always will be a nearly horse.

IT: Barbers Shop is ideal for this race and better value than Poquelin who would be double the price if not trained by Nicholls.

JB: Barbers Shop appeals back to 2m5f. I can’t see a weakness in Tranquil Sea and he looks the most reliable horse in a tricky race.

WORLD HURDLE

FM: Big Buck’s is quirky but Ruby rides him so well but Baracouda was a similar type beaten twice as a hot favourite in this race. If anything finds him out it will probably be Tidal bay.

DO’R: The key to Big Buck’s is Ruby as he gets a great tune out of him and the horse likes a target. I ride Tidal Bay who will love decent ground and think we have a chance. Barry said he made a mistake in last year’s race on Punchestowns as he kicked on when he saw Ruby rowing along but now wishes he had held onto him.

PJ: Very hard to see beyond Big Buck’s so prefer to bet in a market without the favourite where Time For Rupert makes plenty of appeal at 10/1 as he is progressing with each run and I feel he could reverse placings with Tidal Bay given that fact and racing off level weights this time.

IT: Sentry Duty could run into a place if there is a big battle up front.

JB: Tidal Bay is a spring horse and he can give Big Buck’s one heck of a race.

THURSDAY SHOULDER RACES

FM: Watch My Back goes for the Byrne Group Plate and I would say he is my best chance of the week on his run behind Poquelin back in December. The Hollinwell goes for the Jewson and is not the finished article and is on a high enough mark and I am not 100% sure Cheltenham will suit. All that said, if he takes to the course he has a decent chance as he is a horse with a future. Nina Carberry Galant Nuit in the Kim Muir but 11st 5lbs is more than I would like. He handles any but soft would be best as he handles it better than most. Elzahann goes for the Pertemps Final and is a spring horse that wants the sun on her back. She would have a good chance on good ground.

D’OR: Door Boy is a great ride for me in the Jewson and he has been trained for this. He jumps great and is well handicapped. I fancy Abbeybraney for the Grand National and we struggled to beat The Hollinwell so I rate him my main danger.

PJ: Silk Affair looks to have been plotted up for the Pertemps Final as does Song Of Songs for the Plate and Sunnyhillboy for the Jewson though I just prefer Rivaliste for that race. Shillingstone is my idea of the Kim Muir winner.

IT: J P McManus can win the Jewson with either Sunnyhillboy or Jered.

JB: The Hollinwell ahs to go well in the Jewson, Fredo for the Pertemps Final, Galant Nuit for the Kim Muir and Watch My Back for the Plate.

TRIUMPH HURDLE

FM: I think Carlito Brigante is a gorgeous horse, maybe too big for a 4yo but I don’t know a lot about the race so will go with him.

DO’R: Advisor looked very professional at Ascot and I will be surprised if he is not in the frame.

PJ: I was big on Mille Chief so have had to have a rethink. Secant Star at a push but this race is really disappointing.

IT: Alaivan is a small horse that looks like he may need soft ground so is not great value. If Olofi runs here don’t write him off and better ground will suit.

JB: I am keep being told Alaivan with reverse Leopardstown running with Carlito Brigante but I am not sure and think Gordon Elliott’s horse can prevail.

ALBERT BARTLETT NOVICES’ HURDLE

FM: Enterprise Park has been laid out for this and I hear he did a very good piece of work at Thurles last week.

DO’R I ride The Knoxs feel he can go well at a big price. Tell Massini is the one to beat and I know Sam Thomas is very sweet on him.

PJ: I am confident I have nailed this down to two class horses in Enterprise Park and Tell Massini but just prefer the latter at the prices and, looking at his action, I feel he will improve for better ground whose last time out win has been franked by the second and third.

IT: Enterprise Park has been very well backed in the last week. The Betchworth Kid ran well over too short a trip last time and should be backed each-way.

GOLD CUP

FM: Kauto Star will win as Denman has ‘gone’. McCoy couldn’t get a tune out of him so reckon there must be something radically wrong. Cooldine is his main danger.

DO’R: Very soft ground brings Denman into this but I rode in the King George and I’ve never seen a horse like Kauto Star. Cooldine is the each-way horse.

PJ: Kauto Star all the way with Cooldine more of a threat than Denman as he doesn’t know when to lay down and has been trained to peak slowly for this race.

IT: Lay Denman win and place.

FRIDAY SHOULDER RACES

FM: Naiad Du Misselot goes for the Martin Pipe. He should just creep in and I am pleased with him. Beggars Cap travelled well in the Grand Annual last year until falling. He is a few pounds higher but has a chance on decent ground.

DO’R: Caravel goes for the Imperial Cup and then we will see about the County or Martin Pipe. Arcalis goes for the County and finished like a train to just miss out on fourth last year. Lennon goes for the Grand Annual but his main aim is the Topham at Aintree.

PJ: Trust Fund ew is a knocking bet in the Foxhunters’, if Quantitativeeasing goes for the Martin Pipe then he would interest me most, I backed Arcalis e/w in the County last season and don’t think he is out of it again on good ground despite his age.

IT: Just follow J P McManus in the County Hurdle. Trust Fund for the Foxhunters’ and maybe Ashkazar for the Martin Pipe. He may have ‘gone’ but still could be worth taking a chance on.

JB: Sericena for the Foxhunters’, Palomar for the County or Martin Pipe and Dave’s Dream will appreciate better ground in the Grand Annual.

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