Cheltenham - Day 1

Watch replays of today's races at Cheltenham here (Ireland only)

By Barry McEneaney

Review

Many Irish punters will be licking their wounds after early skirmishes with the old enemy went the way of the bookmakers.

The defeat of Dunguib means some punters' festival is already over, as he was tagged the Irish 'banker' for Cheltenham.

Sizing Europe may have struck for Ireland in the Arkle, but Captain Cee Bee was the Irish gamble that went awry in that contest.

Outsider Chief Dan George denied the punted on The Package in a tight finish to the William Hill Chase to add to punters' woes, while there was a clean sweep for the English in the Champion Hurdle as Solwhit and Go Native failed to even make the frame.

A New Story caused a 25-1 upset in the Cross-Country Chase, and while many of the Irish contingent will have recouped some of their losses in the finale where Quevega scored, few will be in front after Day 1.

So it's 1-0 to the bookmakers, but 3-3 in the Irish-trained v British-trained winners stakes, but that will not console backers of all the Irish favourites this afternoon.

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4.40 David Nicholson Mares Only Hurdle, 2 miles 4 furlongs

The betting suggests this is a two-horse race, with Quevega and Voler La Vedette the two leading contenders.

Quevega won this last year with a devastating display, but has been off the track since flopping in Auteil in May of last year. She looked to be returning to her best when galloping at Leopardstown recently and has usurped Voler La Vedette at the head of the market.

Colm Murphy's mare shapes as if best over the minimum trip. Will she last home over 2m4f?

JP McManus and Tony McCoy are hoping for a double on the day courtesy of Sway, who has been well-backed this afternoon.

They're off.

Quevega wins the race for the second consecutive year. Caroles Legacy was second, with Voler La Vedette third.

1 Quevega (R Walsh) 6-4 Fav
2 Carole's Legacy (A Tinkler) 20-1
3 Voler La Vedette (B J Geraghty) 9-4

Willie Mullins executes a fine training performance to get his mare back to the peak of her powers despite an absence of 296 days.

The win means Ruby Walsh has equalled the record of wins for a jockey set at Cheltenham Festival by the great Pat Taaffe.

That tally of 25 winners looks certain to be broken tomorrow, with Walsh confirmed for a typically strong book of rides.

We'll be back tomorrow, so join us then.

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4.00 Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase, 3 miles 7 furlongs

This race polarises people - some love it, some loathe it. I'm afraid I fall into the latter category. The cheese wedges, water jump and proliferation of hedges enthral some, but is the premier National Hunt Festival really suited to this curiosity?

Rumours that horses will have to play a trumpet, while blindfolded and perched on a unicycle in next year's contest can't be confirmed.

JP McManus bought favourite Garde Champetre to win Gold Cups, but having failed spectacularly to make the grade he was rerouted to this discipline where he's dominated.

Enda Bolger's dominance in the event means Garde Champetre is a clear favourite here, while L'Ami is a clear second in the betting. He also saddles three others who have sound each-way claims.

Garde Champetre seems likely to fight out the finish with L'Ami. Sizing Australia bids to give Henry de Bromhead a double on the day.

Another Jewel had looked interesting after his win at Punchestown, but has been friendless in the betting this afternoon.

They're off!

A New Story breaks the Bolger stranglehold, with L'Ami second, Lacdoudal third and Another Jewel fourth - WATCH IT HERE

1 A New Story (A P Heskin) 25-1
2 L'Ami (Mr J T McNamara) 4-1
3 Lacdoudal (R Flint) 28-1
4 Another Jewel (D J Condon) 16-1

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3.20 Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle, 2 miles 1/2 furlong

The drift on Solwhit continues, which a worry is given his connections.

Noel Meade's Go Native can earn his connections a £1m bonus from betting exchange WBX if he wins here.

Meanwhile, Richard Johnson has been handed a whip ban for his ride on Menorah after he was adjudged to have used the gentleman's persuader with excessive frequency. The modern persuader is air-cushioned and his mount wasn't marked, but the authorities will be eager to crack down on anything that could show the sport in a bad light over the next four days.

When you could use one of the greatest terms in the sporting lexicon, why refer to the gentleman's persuader as a 'whip'? It's beyond me.

Meade's day will have already been tainted by the news that Casey Jones had to be humanely destroyed after falling in the last.

Late money for Solwhit, a highly significant move?

They're off.

Binocular hacks up from Khyber Kim, while Zaynar finished third - WATCH IT HERE

Go Native and Solwhit both failed to fire and the Betfair account holders who laid the winner at 1000 (999-1) on the exchange after the horse was ruled out of this race with a muscle problem will be cursing their luck. Caveat Emptor, as they say up my way.

1 Binocular (A P McCoy) 9-1
2 Khyber Kim (P J Brennan) 7-1
3 Zaynar (A Tinkler) 15-2

In non-Cheltenham news, Tiger Woods will play at The Masters next month. No word on whether he was on Binocular today, but he's known to like a bet.

Binocular had gone close at the Festival in the last two years, with last year's run particularly impressive considering he missed vital work in the run-up to the race.

However, his form this year has been distinctly average and if you convinced yourself to back him you deserve a clap on the back.

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2.40 William Hill Trophy Handicap Chase 3 miles 1/2 furlong

A devilishly-difficult contest to decipher hasn't dampened the enthusiasm of Mark Donovan who emailed sportonline@rte.ie earlier with this advice: 'I've heard a lot of talk about New Alco in the William Hill Trophy Chase today. His current price is 20/1, my advise is to LUMP ON.'

The consensus in the offices of RTÉ Sport is that The Package is a good thing for the Pipe team, while I fancy Bensalem - if he handles the ground.

New Alco and Ogee continue to attract support.

Bensalem is a negative on the exchanges and there has to be a doubt about his ability to handle the ground. Certainly well-handicapped, though.

They're off.

Chief Dan George denies The Package in a driving finish. Ogee was third, while Offshore Account claimed fourth. The Tother One finished fifth - WATCH IT HERE

The Package would have got up in a matter of yards, while backers of Bensalem will also count themselves as unlucky as he was arguably travelling best of all before coming down at the business end of the race.

1 Chief Dan George (P Aspell) 33-1
2 The Package (T J Murphy) 9-2 Fav
3 Ogee (J A McCarthy) 8-1
4 Offshore Account (D J Casey) 33-1

The Tother One could be the one to take from the race after the top-weight ran solidly in a race where those at the top of the handicap have a poor record.

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2.05 Irish Independent Arkle Challenge Trophy Chase, 2 miles

Captain Cee Bee is our Arkle favourite at 11-4.

If this race was run over hurdles, Captain Cee Bee would be even shorter and it will be interesting to see how his jumping holds up this afternoon.

The winner of the last seems certain to remain over hurdles next season, with trainer Phillip Hobbs favouring a campaign targeting the Champion Hurdle rather than the Arkle.

Ted Walsh has been impressed by Sizing Europe's jumping and it's easy to see why as he looks the most natural jumper in the race.

Captain Cee Bee has been hammered in the ring and trades at 9-4 from and opening show of 3-1. Has owner JP McManus got involved? It looks likely.

Everything else is on the drift, but Quiscover Fontaine is remarkably solid in the market for an outsider.

They're off.

Sizing Europe wins, from Somersby and Osana - WATCH IT HERE

Captain Cee Bee disappointed and never travelled well.

Mad Max was going well before blundering two out, while Sports Line blew his chances by pulling too hard in the early exchanges.

1 Sizing Europe (A E Lynch) 6-1
2 Somersby (R Thornton) 4-1
3 Osana (A J McNamara) 14-1

Sizing Europe jumped impeccably throughout and his strength in that area won the day.

It's emerged that Captain Cee Bee burst a blood vessel and connections may regret running him in his final prep at Naas as 'bleeders' have a better record when given a big break between races.

Somersby could be a better horse over further where the Ryanair Chase may be the ideal race next year.

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1.30 Spinal Research Supreme Novices' Hurdle, 2 miles 1/2 furlong

Jonjo O'Neill believes he has second favourite Get Me Out Of Here at the top of his game ahead of today's assignment and he looks a solid alternative to Dunguib.

Phillip Fenton's star has been backed from evens into 5-6, he should relish the ground conditions this afternoon.

Glorious weather at Cheltenham, and they're just off in the opener.

Menorah wins the first, with Get Me Out Of Here second, and Dunguib third - WATCH IT HERE

1 Menorah (R Johnson) 12-1
2 Get Me Out Of Here (A P McCoy) 9-2
3 Dunguib (Mr B T O'Connell) 4-5 Fav

The went no pace in the early stages and the jocks will have been well aware that was the best way of beating the favourite. Get Me Out Of Here would also have appreciated a stronger early gallop.

The winner clocked a really fast time when winning at Kempton over Christmas, but disappointed slightly when beaten at Ascot in a muddling race last time out.

Pre-race build-up

11.30 It's finally here. The four-day Cheltenham Festival gets underway at 1.30 with the Spinal Research Supreme Novices' Hurdle.

Going

12.00 The official going on the chase and hurdles courses is good to soft, good in places, while the going is marginally softer on the cross-country course, with the description listed as good, good to soft in places.

'Official' is very much the optimum word here and, as always, race times and jockey comments during the afternoon will provide a more accurate guide to how the track is actually riding.

Connections of Champion Hurdle favourite Go Native will be hoping clerk of the course didn't overdo it with his giant watering can when that process of providing safe ground began last week.

Schedule

1.30 Spinal Research Supreme Novices' Hurdle, 2 miles 1/2 furlong
2.05 Irish Independent Arkle Challenge Trophy Chase, 2 miles
2.40 William Hill Trophy Handicap Chase 3 miles 1/2 furlong
3.20 Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle, 2 miles 1/2 furlong
4.00 Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase, 3 miles 7 furlongs
4.40 David Nicholson Mares Only Hurdle, 2 miles 4 furlongs

Today's Selections

Ted Walsh
1.30 Blackstairmountain e/w - unplaced, Get Me Out Of Here e/w - placed @ 9-2
2.05 Captain Cee Bee - unplaced
3.20 Go Native - unplaced
4.00 Garde Champetre - unplaced
4.40 Quevega - Winner @ 6-4F

Tony O'Hehir
1.30 Dunguib (nap) - placed @ 4-5F
2.05 Sizing Europe - Winner @ 6-1
3.20 Go Native - unplaced
4.00 L'Ami - placed @ 4-1
4.40 Quevega - Winner @ 6-4F

Barry McEneaney (RTÉ.ie)
1.30 Dunguib - placed @ 4-5F
2.05 Sports Line - unplaced
2.40 Bensalem - fell
3.20 Go Native - unplaced
4.00 Another Jewel - placed @ 16-1
4.40 Quevega - Winner @ 6-4F

A preview of today's Grade 1 action is available here.

Online Coverage

12.30 Don't forget that if you're in Ireland you can watch the racing live from Cheltenham right here on www.rte.ie/racing. If you're not in Ireland, we'll keep you updated on all the action as it unfolds. You can also listen to RTÉ Radio's live stream from anywhere in the world.

Click here for full details of RTÉ's Cheltenham coverage
If you've any views, news or tips (good ones only, please) that you'd like to share with us, email us at sportonline@rte.ie

Market Movers

1.00 With these markets already so mature, there haven't been as many early-morning steamers as you might think for the first morning of the four-day betting frenzy. Prices have had weeks, and in many cases months, to stabilise.

In the opener Dunguib hovers between 4-5 and evens, and remains solid on the exchange at 1.97.

Two outsiders have attracted cash at massive prices in the same contest, with Vino Griego trading shorter on the exchange (90) than he is with some bookmakers (100-1).

Some optimistic punters believe that Chain Of Command could reach the frame at a massive price. The rag was 200-1 this morning, but is now trading at 100-1 with many firms.

Outsiders Quiscover Fontaine and I'm Delilah have attracted money in the next, which could be ominous given their connections.

The William Hill at 2.40 has seen support for The Package, Ogee and New Alco along with three or four others with the layers, but a number of the gambles haven't been replicated on the exchanges and that's probably the first place to look if you're going to follow the money.

The Champion Hurdle at 3.20 has seen solid support for Khyber Kim, Starluck and Celestial Halo backed. The two at the head of the market early doors - Go Native and Solwhit - have been relatively friendless. Interesting to see if there's late money for Solwhit, though.

No major market moves in the Cross-County at 4.00, while Quevega has usurped Voler La Vedette at the head of the market in the finale in what looks a two-horse race.