Festival of racing at Cheltenham

THE Cheltenham Festival, regarded by many as the greatest horseracing meeting in the world, starts next week and the traditional roar which heralds the off of the first race, the Supreme Novices Hurdle, might be even bigger than usual next Tuesday afternoon.

Supreme Irish trainer-and-jockey combination Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh (pictured) and owner Rich Ricci will attempt to win the race together for the fourth time in succession.

American ex-banker Ricci, who was the CEO of Barclays Corporate and Investment Bank, bought the French-bred hurdler Min after he had lost both of his starts in France.

However, Min became a talking horse long before making his debut for Mullins at Punchestown on December 10 in a two mile and two furlong Maiden Hurdle.

He romped home by 14 lengths under Walsh, converting odds of 4/11 and was immediately chopped to 4/1 for the Supreme Novices.

In his next start on January 9 over two miles at Punchestown, in the Gr 2 Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle, he won unextended by 9,5 lengths at odds of 1/7.

He is currently a best priced 7/4 for the Supreme Novices.

The same connections’ Champagne Fever won the Supreme Novices at odds of 5/1 in 2013, Vautour was 7/2 joint favourite when winning in 2014 and Douvan won as the 2/1 favourite last year. Both Vautour and Douvan were also bought out of France.

However, experienced Cheltenham punters would always warn about the over hype which “meeting bankers” can attract.

Indeed, the previous three winners of the Supreme Novices, Menorah, Al Ferof and Cinders And Ashes, were 12/1, 10/1 and 10/1 shots respectively. Ricci himself has reportedly said his horse is too short in the betting.

The local hope who could upset him is the Nicky Hendersontrained Altior. The High Chaparral gelding is unbeaten in four starts over hurdles, including a Gr 2 over the two miles 110 yard course and distance of the Supreme Novices. He reportedly came up the gruelling Cheltenham finishing hill in impressive style that day and is fancied as the bet of the meeting at about 9/2 by tipster Danny Archer.

Considering the success of French-breds in this race the Henderson-trained Buveur D’air, unbeaten in two hurdle races to date, could also be a threat at best odds of 7/1.

Make sure to tune into Tellytrack to watch the four day feast of action starting on Tuesday next week.