Our Hollywoodbets sponsored jockey, Dan Muscutt, shares his thoughts about Day 1 of the Cheltenham Festival.
Race 1: Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle:
Cheltenham is finally here. What a way to kick off the meeting with Hollywoodbets having their first Cheltenham runner, Il Etait Temps, flying the flag for us and hopefully he can continue his progressive profile for us, him and Willie Mullins other horse Facile Vega holding him scissors, each winning a piece when they have met. Hopefully Il Etait will come out on top.
Race 2: Sporting Life Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices’ Chase
The Arkle will be a very exciting race, not a huge field, but JonBon and El Fabiolo will do serious damage and my preference is on JonBon I think, they have him in super nick, Nicky Henderson, he has a good course record and he run at Warrick last time. Bound to be quiet soft today and he seemed to love that. He swings it for me.
Race 4: Unibet Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy
Champions hurdles is all about one horse, without a doubt Constitution hill is one of the bankers of the meeting, on his form he is impressive and hasn’t stopped improving yet. Not a massive field, he has probably scared off quiet a lot of the opposition, especially likes the Epatante going for the mares race instead of this. Be great to see Michael Buckley another Cheltenham Festival.
Race 5: Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle
The Mares race is one of the most competitive of the meeting, I think, some very very good mares lining up this year and Marie’s Rock, the one I would go with, since she has her wind surgery she has been faultless, still going to take a lot of winning with Honeysuckle, Brandy Love and Epatante.
Race 7: Wellchild National Hunt Challenge Cup Amateur Jockeys’ Novice chase
The Challenge Cup today for the amateur is a pretty exciting race. Obviously have some classy back form, for that reason I think Mister Coffey has a great chance and I think it is notable that Donagh O’Connor last time in the Britain, he is based in Ireland he came over to race this horse for Nicky and ran a good race and finished second. Nicky Henderson a great, great plotter and hopefully he has lined this up to win.
