There are 28 races up for decision across four days of racing, with the Champion Hurdle the centrepiece of Day 1. Here's a guide to the action along with some betting advice.
1.30 Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle
Eighteen runners and a bit of a quagmire for punters - but still this has the feeling of a run-of-the-mill renewal, at best. Perhaps time will upgrade its quality.
Connections of Al Dancer and Angels Breath certainly won't care. Effectively under the same ownership, there is a very strong chance of one of them winning, but which one?
Al Dancer has achieved a rating that arguably makes him the run to beat after two pretty bloodless handicap wins and he may still be underrated by many, if not by his trainer, Nigel Twiston Davies, who has been raving about him.
Marginal preference is for Angels Breath. It is hardly ideal that he was beaten in his prep by Southfield Stone, but he shaped like the best horse then and he looks crying out for the test of a strongly-run race over two miles – or indeed farther. Nicky Henderson clearly likes him a lot.
The Irish challengers look vulnerable here but Vision D'honneur could out-run his odds. He was behind Klassical Dream and Aramon at Leopardstown but he should have more to offer and is a classy prospect.
The really intriguing runner is the four-year-old Fakir D'oudairies but he has an awful lot on his plate as he bids to take on his elders for the first time under JJ Slevin.
Selection: Angels Breath 11-2
2.10 Racing Post Arkle Chase
If the Supreme is slightly underwhelming, this looks a poor renewal of the Arkle with Cilaos Emery and Le Richebourg, who would surely be first and second in the betting, both missing out due to setbacks.
Something has to win and the chances are one of the home hopes will. Kalashnikov, who was a neck second in the Supreme Novice Hurdle last term and hacked up in his first two chase starts, might be worth chancing. He was hugely underwhelming behind Glen Forsa at Sandown, but surely that is not his true running.
Richard Johnson has put in plenty of motorway miles to ride work on Lalor, who would be a hugely emotional winner for Kayley Wollacott, wife of late trainer Richard. He bombed behind Ornua last time but again looks likely to leave that form behind.
Paloma Blue does not jump well enough to win this and Duc Des Genievres is probably vulnerable too. Ornua will give Rachael Blackmore a hell of a spin but is unlikely to be quite good enough.
Selection: Kalashnikov 8-1
2.50 Ultima Handicap Chase
Coo Star Sivola won this last year, travelling strongly, and Lizzie Kelly is again aboard as Nick Williams' charge attempts a repeat success. This will have been the plan all term, so his chance needs to be respected.
The betting will be fascinating regarding Minella Rocco, somehow now down to a mark of 152 despite finishing ahead of Native River when winning here as a novice and only two years since he chased home Sizing John in the Gold Cup. If you perceive him to be a plot horse, he could be a relative certainty, but you have to forgive him a seriously patchy record in general (no victory in the past three years and quite a few failed completions).
Willie Mullins’ Up For Review is probably a more sane selection. This horse has had a mere 15 career starts and, all told, his Gowran effort was highly encouraging. Considering his profile, and that this was his return, this was hugely positive. He could make no real impression, but there was plenty of zest , and he jumped nicely. He races off the same rating in Britain, which is usually worth a few pounds.
Singlefarmpayment, who so likes this track, merits a second look, though he had no obvious excuses in this 12 months ago.
Remarkably, no ride for Ruby Walsh in this.
Selection: Up For Review 8-1
3.30 Unibet Champion Hurdle
A cracker of a renewal and the best race of the day by a country mile. What a race we have to look ahead to.
I would prefer to take on the two horses at the head of the wagering, Buveur D’air and Apples Jade. Regarding the horse attempting his third successive win in the race, there have been mixed messages over the past 12 months regarding his form. That said, he reportedly scoped wrong after his underwhelming win 12 months ago.
The performances of Apples Jade have been pretty astonishing this season and kudos to connections for taking this route, yet there have to be reservations. She may be taken on up front under Jack Kennedy, she has never been at her best at Cheltenham so far and the track raises question-marks: she edges right at her hurdles before jumping.
Third in is Laurina and she could be anything but she has been backed into 7-2, which is probably short enough at this stage. This tank of a mare is hugely exciting, taking on rivals that she has never been asked to take on before; this is a massive test.
On a line through Stormy Ireland, Espoir D’allen may not be a million miles off Laurina and what I really like about Gavin Cromwell’s horse is his finishing surge. He saves a fair bit for the end of his races, and that always stands to him, though he does need to jump really well here.
If he is thereabouts at the last I can see him winning this race, providing Cromwell with his first winner at the Cheltenham Festival in perhaps the best possible way.
Melon came here on the back of a dire run 12 months ago and nearly landed a gamble so he cannot be fully ignored for place purposes. Sharjah will certainly not welcome the rain.
Interestingly, this is a race that could prompt a debate about the mares’ allowance as both Laurina and Apples Jade, really strongly mares, get 7lb from the boys.
Selections: Espoir D’allen 18-1
4.10 OLBG Mares’ HurdleRuby W
This is a bang-average renewal of the race. Imagine if Laurina and Apples Jade rocked up here. Thankfully, for the good of the Champion Hurdle, they do not, and Benie Des Dieux looks the winner by default.
Clearly she only won this race last year because Apples Jade flopped but there does not look to be much in the way of opposition. Stormy Ireland should ensure a good gallop but will be surely gasping for air as they come up the hill, while Limini looks very vulnerable on this season's form.
Benie Des Dieux has reportedly been in excellent nick in recent weeks and her lack of an outing this season probably makes no odds.
Elimay is not one to give up on for JP McManus. Considering her profile, she ran a blinder on her Irish debut at Leopardstown, and certainly has place claims.
Selection: Benie Des Dieux evens, Elimay 20-1
5.30 Close Brothers Novices’ Handicap Chase
League of Ireland fans should note that St Patrick's Athletic captain Ian Bermingham is involved in Cubomania and they are getting some kick out of the grey, who could run well under Davy Russell.
Quamino is worth a shot here. As a six-year-old, he is relatively young for this, but A Plus Tard is younger again. He did really well to win at Leopardstown and will be better over this trip, but he would not want much rain.
JP McManus has three intriguing if not exactly convincing runners in Movewiththetimes, who has been a shambles over fences, Shady Operator, who was hammered at Naas last time and Tower Bridge, a flukey Grade 1 winner over hurdles who is gradually getting there chasing.
Ben Dundee is not a bad ride to get for Keith Donoghue, though his jumping is hardly convincing. Riders Onthe Storm is certainly interesting but does not convince he will relish the hill.
Selection: Quamino 20-1
4.50 JT McNamara National Hunt Chase
A cracker of a race with Ok Corral such a strong fancy for many for so long. However, he will surely test the brilliance of Derek O’Connor, as the way he races does not exactly suggest he wants four miles – even if pedigree is considerably more encouraging.
On the other hand, Ballyward is crying out for this distance, more so – in my view – than Ok Corral, who is clearly a massive danger if he gets the trip. Ballyward is an old-fashioned staying chaser who jumps brilliantly into the bargain but he is not as slow as he may seem and his Naas victory last time rates serious form.
On that form, he clearly holds Discorama, but the last-named could run into the frame. Ballyward is one of my bankers of the festival under Patrick Mullins and ground conditions make no difference here.
Selection: Ballyward 3-1
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