Quevega and The Fly tipped in battle of Layer v Player
WHAT’S YOUR IRISH BANKER BET AT CHELTENHAM? Blanche: Quevega. This superstar mare is bidding for six wins in a row at the Festival and with Willie Mullins as her trainer, has everything in her favour. Kirwan: Hurricane Fly i n the Champion Hurdle. His big race record is incredible and on form, he sets the standard. I backed him at 12/1 at the start of the season to go unbeaten this term and I’m confident of collecting. WHAT’S YOUR IRISH BISMARCK? Blanche: Faugheen in t he ‘Neptune’ Hurdle on Wednesday. He might look impressive so far but has not really been tested. When the bullet is put to his head, what will he find? Kirwan: Vautour. Since I attended my first Festival in 1993, there have been a huge amount of much-hyped short-priced Irish runners for the opening Supreme Novices Hurdle. Very few have obliged; this could be another. WHAT WAS YOUR BEST DAY AT THE OFFICE AT CHELTENHAM? Blanche: A couple of years ago, I landed a juicy accumulator. It prompted raucous scenes in The Beehive Pub in Cheltenham that Thursday night which I will never forget. Kirwan: The day Sublimity won the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham in 2007. I was a big fan of the horse and had a nice antepost bet on him at 33/1. I was thrilled for owner Billy Hennessy. AND THE WORST? Blanche: Had a proper punt on Hurricane Fly when he lost his Champion Hurdle crown to Rock on Ruby in 2012. Went chasing for some payback for the rest of the card and learnt a valuable, and painful, lesson. Kirwan: I was heartbroken to see Limestone Lad out-battled on the run-in by Bacchanal in the Stayers Hurdle on St Patrick’s Day in 2000. No one deserved success that day more. HOW MANY IRISH-TRAINED WINNERS WILL THERE BE? Blanche: Ten. Kirwan: After last year’s record 14 wins, anything north of ten would be great. WHO IS A LIVELY OUTSIDER FOR IRISH STORYLINE OF THE WEEK? Blanche: If Western Boy can win the Supreme Novices, Pat Fahy will have the highlight of his training career. Kirwan: If he jumps like he did in the Hennessy Chase at Leopardstown, Philip Fenton’s Last Instalment has a big chance of winning the Gold Cup. Michael O’Leary got hooked on National Hunt racing when War of Attrition won the Gold Cup in 2006 and he has spent a lot of money in trying to repeat the feat. This could be the year that large investment pays off. WHAT RACE AT THE FESTIVAL GIVES YOU THE BIGGEST BUZZ? Blanche: The Champion Hurdle. It’s the best field in many years and I really hope ‘ The Fly’ can defend his crown. Kirwan: The atmosphere before the opening race, the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle is electric, but the Gold Cup is the best race of the entire year. IF YOU COULD CHANGE ONE THING AT THE FESTIVAL, TO MAKE IT BETTER, WHAT WOULD IT BE? Blanche: The phone signal. At the best of times, it’s still shocking. Kirwan: Move back to a top quality three-day Festival with eight races a day. WHAT WOULD DEFINE A SUCCESSFUL WEEK? Blanche: Having more i n my pocket at the end of the week than the start. Kirwan: To back a few winners and break even. The buzz before racing is the closest thing you can get to the feeling of anticipation you had as a child on Christmas Eve. WHAT WORDS/EXPRESSION DO YOU EXPECT TO HEAR MOST? Blanche: ‘Go on ya good thing’ and ‘If only he had met the last better, he would have won’. Kirwan: ‘He never got up the hill’, ‘I backed him ante-post for the wrong race’ and ‘Ruby Walsh is an unbelievable jockey.’ YOU OWN A HORSE AT CHELTENHAM, WHO WOULD YOU WANT IN THE SADDLE? Blanche: Ruby Walsh on a horse that travels and AP McCoy on a horse who needs encouragement. Kirwan: The greatest ever, Ruby Walsh. AND AS TRAINER? Blanche: Without question, Willie Mullins. Kirwan: Willie Mullins. OUTSIDE OF CHELTENHAM, WHAT SPORTING EVENT ARE YOU MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO IN 2014? Blanche: The World Cup finals, although without the Boys in Green it just won’t be the same. Kirwan: The Ryder Cup in Gleneagles and seeing the Dubs retain the All-Ireland in September!