The Cheltenham Festival is final here (Day 1)

Tommorrow sees the start of the Cheltenham festival which is undoubtley one of my sporting highlights of the year. Four days of top notch national hunt racing and all the drama it entials.

After hearing much discussion, many previews and festival trends I've finally come to my first day picks. I'll be placing these in various multiple bets all of which I won't bore you with here, I'll simply name the selecitons I fancy in each race.

13:30 Supreme Novices' Hurdle
Dunquib as been touted as the Irish banker of the festival in the eagerly anticipated opening race. Can always guarantee a quick pace in this one. The Irish have a very good record in this which is big plus for favourite Dunquib. Other trends includes 12 out of the last 14 winners having won LTO. My first choice in this race is Get Me Out Of Here who is unbeaten it's five races to date. My back-up selection is Blackstairmountain who has only had one run over hurdles, but it was a very impressive performance and who knows how much it could come on for that run. In addition Paddy Power are offering a moneyback special if Dunquib wins the race, which is a terrifc offer and I'll probably be backing these with them.

Selections:
Get Me Out Of here 4/1 (PaddyPower)
Blackstaismountain 10/1 (PaddyPower)

14:05 Arkle Challenge Trophy
The last 19 winners of this race have been no greater than 11-1 and I can't see that changing this year. I can't see beyonf the first three in the market, Captain Cee Bee lines up in favourite in this but I'm happy to oppose it after it's fall at Leopardstown,a race in which Sizing Europe won. Sizing Europe is my first choice selection for this race and is current third favourite in the market, I'd have Somersby as my second choice who is seemingly been gaining a lot of support recentley.

Selections:
Sizing Europe 5/1 (Various)
Somersby 4/1 (Various)

14:40 William Hill Trophy Chase
This is a sort of mini-Grand Naitonal if you like, and it's just as unpredictable. A few key trends to consider there's only been two winning favourites have won since 1977 and the last 10 winners carried less than 11 stone. My main selection in this race is a horse I really rate, Character Building, I backed it when it won the Kim Muir Amateur Handicap chase at Cheltenham last year and I'm happy to back it again. My second selection is Cheif Dan George who was impressive when winning at Doncaster LTO, stayed on strongly so no stanmia doubts but this is step-up in quality and it will need to improve greatly on the back of that win to challenge here. Got a third selection in this race due to the sheer big field and attractive prices. The third seleciton is Nenuphar Collognes, who as good form around Cheltenham with two wins and a third in its previous three runs at Cheltenham.

Selections:
Character Building 12/1 (Totesport/PaddyPower/Betfred)
Chief Dan George 33/1 (BlueSquare/888sport)
Nenuphar Collognes 24/1 (Betfair)

15:20 Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy
The feature race of the day and a very tricky one to call. My first selection is a horse I've followed a lot and that's Celestial Halo and at the 9/1 that's still readily avaiable he'd probably be my bet of the first day. However this will be a very close race I should think, Go Native is going to be the favourite and it's easy to see why with two top class performance towards the back end of 2009 as well the Supreme Novices' Hurdle win last year at Cheltenham, Go Nativ eis my second selection. With me finding it hard to narrow down I've also got a third seleciton in this race and this Zaynar. Was overturned at 1/14 last time out at Kelso, yeah that's right 14/1 on! Although that can be out down to the extreme heavy ground which the horse obviously didn't like. Back on better ground at Cheltenham, were he won the Truimph Hurdle last year if he runs to his best he should be thereabouts.

Selections:

Celestial Halo 9/1 (Various)
Go Native 9/2 (Ladbrokes/William Hill)
Zaynar 11/1 (Betfair)

16:00 GlenFarclas Handicap Chase
The cross county chase always adds something a bit different to the day's racing. I'm finding it hard to see past Garde Champetre in this one, who is a course and distance specialist. However I think another Another Jewel is a good enough E/W shout and is my second choice.

Selections:
Garde Champetre 9/4 (SporitngBet/WIlliam Hill)
Another Jewel 14/1 (SkyBet/Boylesports/PaddyPower)

16:40 David Nicholson Mares' Hurlde
Final race of the day and I like the look of the favourite in this one, Voler La Vedette and Sway looks like a reasonable E/W shout.

Selections:
Voler La Vedette 7/4 (Various)
Sway 14/1 (Betfred)