A wonderful Spring day for the start of Cheltenham Festival 2010 but it was the bookies that the sun was shining on as it wasn’t until the last race that a favourite came in ahead of the field. On top of that some of the beaten favourites including “Irish banker” Dunguib in the first were beaten.
I was a believer in Dunguib so was disappointed having hoped for not only a victory but a demonstration from a special horse. It wasn’t to be with Menorah winning and Dunguib managing only third. Some of the punters walking around like zombies after the race were muttering about the horse being given too much to do and the ground being too firm but the fact is he lost and that’s that. They’ll be other horses and other days…like tomorrow, Thursday and Friday!
The Arkle saw Sizing Europe win for Ireland at 6/1 making up for hi disappointment in the Champion Hurdle in 2008 when he started favourite and finished 14th of 15.
In the Champion Hurdle, the JP Festival blog selection Celestial Halo made the pace and gave us a great run but in the end finished one place out of the frame in 4th. Binocular was a dramatic winner having been practically ruled out of the race only a few weeks ago. Punters who stuck with him after last year’s defeat when he started favourite were quids in as he returned a winner at 9/1.
The William Hill Trophy Chase went to Chief Dan George, a 33/1 outsider and the Cross Country went to a 25/1 shot A New Story. Great tipping in the Racing Post by Pricewise who put this one up at 40/1.
After Quevega passed the post in front in the last punters rejoiced by throwing Racing Posts and anything they had with them in the air. There was so much rubbish flying around it was hard to see Ruby Walsh waving to the celebrating masses in the stands. Great that the day finished on a high note and now it’s on to tomorrow.
The JP Festival tip is Forpadydeplaster in the Queen Mother Champion Chase. Let’s hope AP McCoy can go at least one place better than Ruby on today’s selection. Bensalem didn’t run today so after Day 1 the JP Festival selections are showing a 4 point loss. All selections are to 1 point each way.
And finally…when walking back into town there was a group of young ladies handing out flyers for Boogie Lounge Night Club and they didn’t offer me one!! Did they think I am too old to go clubbing? Outrageous.
