The Cheltenham Festival goes into action on Tuesday and will run for four days.
There are a number of important races on the first day, with Willie Mullins’ stable contenders in several races.
Mail Sport’s Marcus Townend picks out who he thinks will win the race, who their main contenders are and who could cause an upset.
There is probably nothing more trainer Willie Mullins would like to do than win his late mother’s memory race (left) and he has a great opportunity with Embassy Gardens.
THE SUPREME BEGINNERS OBSTACLE
1:30 p.m.
JERIKO DU REPONET’s performance will be a litmus test for Nicky Henderson’s team after a quiet few days, but his odds of around 8-1 are better than they seemed a few weeks ago and he looks worth the risk.
He showed a decent turn by winning twice at Newbury, including a race that Henderson, a five-time Supreme winner, has traditionally used for some of his best horses.
Jeriko Du Reponet wasn’t all that impressive when he won at Doncaster, but the opponents he beat, Lump Sum and Fiercely Proud, have since finished 1-2 in the Dovecote Novices’ Hurdle at Kempton and the drier ground at Doncaster probably didn’t take advantage of his points either powerful.
Willie Mullins is a gangster and watch watchers have been impressed by Tullyhill’s performances, while the unbeaten and impeccably bred Mystical Power is a son of Derby winner Galileo and champion hurdler Annie Power.
Tellherthename has a scream if he manages the ground.
SELECTION: JERIKO DU REPONET
MAIN HAZARD: TULLYHILL
EXTERIOR LIVE: TELL HIM NAME
Observers were impressed with Tullyhill (pictured) but Jeriko Du Reponet’s performance will be a litmus test for Nicky Henderson’s stable.
ARKLE NOVICE PERSECUTION
14:10
There are reasons to oppose Willie Mullins’ three running backs even though they have great opportunities.
Gaelic Warrior, wearing a calming hood for the first time, probably has the rawest ability, but his tendency to jump to his right will cost him ground.
Hunters Yarn also has question marks, having fallen when clear on his Hunter debut and hit the penultimate fence when winning well at Fairyhouse, while two-time Dublin Racing Festival goalscorer Il Etait Temps appears to be saving his best for Leopardstown.
Solid Found A Fifty and JPR One, the best of the British challenge, have claims to place, but the vote goes to Quilixios. The 2021 Triumph Hurdle winner was more than two years off the track, but a failed experiment more than three miles away, he looked good winning. two decent scores at Naas in January, when the hallmark of his performances has been his clean, skilful jumping.
SELECTION: QUILIXIOS (nap)
MAIN DANGER: GAELIC WARRIOR
EXTERIOR LIVE: MATARA
Quilixios has looked good beating two decent markers at Naas in January when the hallmarks of his performances have been his deft and clean jumping.
LAST HANDICAP CHASE
14:50
A strong case can be made for the Willie Mullins-trained Meetingofthewaters, impressive winner of a competitive chase at the Leopardstown Christmas meeting, and Gordon Elliott’s The Goffer, who was fourth in this race last year.
But this race has been a safe bet for the home team, with the last Irish-trained winner being Dun Doire in 2006.
There is a good chance that Chianti Classico is still a little ahead of the handicap, as he is racing in only his fourth hurdle race. He won his first two at Ascot and Chepstow before finding racing specialist Flegmatic.
His trainer Kim Bailey hasn’t won the race before, but he has had runners who have done well.
Last year’s third Monbeg Genius was a big disappointment in his last race at Kelso, but would be a contender if he can overcome that setback.
Kitty’s Light, winner of the 2023 Scottish National Championships, has mainly hurdled this season but returns to hurdles at a useful weight. She puts back on the brace she wore in her best races last season.
SELECTION: CLASSIC CHIANTI
MAIN DANGER: MEETING OF THE WATERS
LIVE OUTSIDE: KITTY’S LIGHT
THE OBSTACLE OF THE SEAS
16:10
If she had been coached by anyone other than Willie Mullins, Lossiemouth would. He probably would have raced in the Champion Hurdle and would have liked to give his fellow State Man a try.
But the strength of the stable is such that Mullins can distribute her ammunition and the winner of last season’s Triumph Hurdle, where she beat Gala Marceau by two and a quarter lengths, gets this opportunity.
She runs over 2m 1f for the first time but looked more controlled in her racing style when she cruised to a nine-and-a-half-length victory in the International Hurdle in January.
The runner-up that day was Love Envoi. He has a lot of ground to make up, but he made the big Honeysuckle do her best when she came in second last season, so she can’t be completely ruled out.
Marie’s Rock (the 2022 winner), previous festival winner Telmesomethinggirl and Ashroe Diamond command respect.
SELECTION: LOSSIEMOUTH
MAIN DANGER: SENDING LOVE
I LIVE OUTSIDE: ECHOES IN THE RAIN
If she had been trained by anyone other than Willie Mullins Lossiemouth would probably have run in the Champion Hurdle.
BOODLES HANDICAP OBSTACLE
16:50
Trainer Joseph O’Brien won this in 2019 and appears to have prepared Lark at Mornin for have another great chance to win the prize. He put in a couple of very eye-catching efforts and would have finished a little closer to winner Highwind at Punchestown last time if he hadn’t been virtually knocked down at the last hurdle and lost much of the momentum from him.
Batman Girac also looked like he could be a decent proposition when he switched to handicaps by running fourth to Kala Conti at Leopardstown in December, when he made up late ground at the end of the race from the back of the field.
Only one favorite has won this in the last 10 years and there have been some winners at 80-1 and 33-1 on three occasions. In truth, not much can be ruled out with certainty.
Outsiders to watch out for include Bright Legend, Karia Des Blaises, and Eagle Fang.
SELECTION: LARK IN THE MORNING
MAIN DANGER: BATMAN GIRAC
EXTERIOR LIVE: BRILLIANT LEGEND
NATIONAL PERSECUTION OF HUNTING NOVICES
5:30 p.m.
There is probably nothing more trainer Willie Mullins would like to do than win his late mother’s memory race and he has a great opportunity with Embassy Gardens.
He excelled at last season’s Spring Festivals but always had the physicality to thrive when sent over the fences, which he achieved with wins at Naas and Punchestown.
Willie Mullins and his galloping horses before the Cheltenham Festival
But on paper there is very little between the seven runners. Corbetts Cross could have won last season’s Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle but for running out last and hitting the self-destruct button again as he fell after jumping a rival at Fairyhouse.
Salvador Ziggy is in top form at the Festival after finishing second in last season’s Pertemps Hurdle.
There is very little between Henry’s Friend, Kilbeg King and Apple Away (1-2-3 at Ascot last month), but one suspects this greater test of endurance will suit the latter, as well as Devon National winner Mr Vango.
SELECTION: EMBASSY GARDENS
MAIN DANGER: SALVADOR ZIGGY
I LIVE OUTSIDE: APPLE FAR