RUBY’S A BIG FAN OF D’ESTRUVAL

HIS big outsider to watch today is 25-1 shot FANION D’ESTRUVAL (right) in the Festival handicap Chase at 2.50 and he cannot see beyond the mighty CONSTITUTION HILL in the Champion hurdle. HONEYSUCKLE is the star attraction in the Mares hurdle at 4.10, but Ruby likes the look of BRANDY LOVE (5-1) and SHEWEARSITWELL (16-1). Finally, he is picking the 10-3 favourite TEKAO in the Juvenile hurdle and Evens frontrunner GAILLARD DU MESNIL in the final race of the day. Now it would be remiss of us not to mention the Prestbury Cup in this opening column of the week. irish-trained horses have made a habit of battering their British rivals at Cheltenham in recent years and i am ready to cheer on more of the same this week. Sorry if i’m sounding a little biased here, but let us call this as it is! Things could be tight on this opening day and Paddy Power are offering 11-8 on ireland leading their old friends and foes four wins to three as dusk falls and foggy heads try to work out where they are this evening. ireland leading five wins to two at the end of today is a 5-2 shot, with a narrow 4-3 lead for the British horses on offer at 2-1. You can have 10-1 on six or more irish-trained winners at Cheltenham today and if that happens, the Guinness village may just run dry of the black stuff. Of course, the joy of Cheltenham is we are all experts for the week and there are plenty of goodies on offer for Paddy Power customers over the next few days. So make sure you check out Paddy Power News each day of the Festival for all the latest tips and tempters as we settle in for the best week of the

year.