subject: Five Cheltenham Festival Betting Tips [print this page] Five Cheltenham Festival Betting Tips Five Cheltenham Festival Betting Tips
Today is the day we finally get to seeHurricane Fly (3:20) in action at the Cheltenham Festival, having missed the past two through injury, and Willie Mullins' seven-year-old is fancied to land this afternoon's Stan James Champion Hurdle.
The seven-year-old has won seven Grade 1's and promises to be even better now he faces a truly run race for the first time in a while over timber.
Getting up the hill shouldn't be an issue, as he has won over 2m4f earlier in the season and he can end the long losing run of Montjeu's at the Festival.
His stable-companionQuevega (4:40) ought to be very hard to beat in her bid to land her third successive David Nicholson, despite the fact she hasn't been sighted since the Punchestown Festival last April.
The seven-year-old won the contest on her first start of the campaign last year and she should follow up to give Mullins and Ruby Walsh a memorable opening day.
In the curtain-raiserCue Card (1:30) should be too strong for the opposition, judged on his three starts over timber to date.
Last year's Champion Bumper winner was impressive here in November and ran a blinder when just over 4 lengths off Champion Hurdle favourite, Menorah, in the International Hurdle here the following month.
A bigger field means he is likely to get a lead for longer and that will suit Colin Tizzard's five-year-old and the stable have hit top form at just the right time.
This year's Arkle doesn't look the strongest renewal andMedermit (2:05)is fancied to score for Alan King and Robert Thornton, who were responsible for recent winners Voy Por Ustedes (2006) and My Way De Solzen (2007).
A high-class hurdler, who was seventh in last year's Champion and runner-up in the 2009 Supreme, the grey has warmed to chasing and, judged on his last performance when winning the Scilly Isles at Sandown, he looks the one to beat.
The drop back in trip should suit, he will relish the strong pace and the fact that he has won over further will aid his cause in the closing stages.
A bold showing from Medermit will point to a big run fromTullamore Dew (5:15) in the closing event, the Centenary Novices' Handicap Chase.
Nick Gifford's nine-year-old finished runner-up in the Coral Cup off 4lb lower last year and has taken well to fences this term, winning twice from four starts.
Just over 3 lengths second to Medermit at Plumpton on his second chase start, the drying ground will suit and he looks poised to run a big race off a mark of 139.
Bensalem returns to chasing in The Stewart Family Spinal Research Handicap Chase (2:40) off the same mark from which he would have won last year's renewal, had he not come down two out, so he is of obvious interest.
However, this looks a hotter race than 12 months ago and I think Great Endeavour and his old advisory Sunnyhillboy are sure to run well (particularly the former who should relish the step up in trip on drying ground) and novice Reve De Sivola could be chucked in off 140.
Nick William's dual Grade 1 winning hurdler was runner-up to Peddlers Cross here 12 months ago, but has failed to jump with any great fluency to date. The step up to 3m on drying ground could bring about significant improvement, but the fancy prices (was 16/1 just a few days ago) have been snaffled up.
Tuesday's selections:
1:30: Cue Card
2:05: Medermit
3:20: Hurricane Fly
4:40: Quevega
5:15: Tullamore Dew
Paul Ferguson'sJumpers To Follow 2010-11 is available hot off the press from the 1st October for just 9.99
Send a cheque payable to "The Racing Insider" to The Racing Insider, PO Box 98, Liverpool L9 1WY. Please include a note of your name and address and telephone number or email address.
Last year's selections included:
Hurricane Fly: 3/1 winner of the G1 Rabobank Champion Hurdle
Copper Bleu: 12/1 winner of the Jewson at Cheltenham
Great Endeavour: 18/1 winner of the Festival Plate
Tranguil Sea: 11/2 winner of the Paddy Power Gold Cup
