David Mullins believes his uncle Willie will start the Cheltenham Festival with a winner in the Supreme.
The Carlow trainer runs four in the race he has won seven times, but former jockey David believes Facile Vega could be the one to come home in front with conditions to suit at Prestbury Park.
You can read David's tips in full for the opening day below:
1.30pm Supreme Novices’ Hurdle – Facile Vega
For the Supreme I’ll be sticking with Facile Vega. I think the ground might be gone for Marine Nationale who would be a big chance, but the trainer, and owner, Barry Connell has said before that soft ground could be an issue for him. For that reason I’ll stick with the favourite to get Willie Mullins and Paul Townend off to a flyer with conditions sure to suit.
2.10pm Arkle Novices’ Chase - Jonbon
I think the tactics could be interesting here for the Arkle. I don’t know if Danny Mullins will be as willing to go as hard on Dysart Dynamo as he was at the Dublin Racing Festival and it will be interesting how they line up and start in this race. I don’t know if Jonbon will take him on with the soft ground too likely to help the Willie Mullins runners big time including El Fabiolo. I’d still be with the Jonbon camp if they take their time on him rather than get involved too early with the fierce pace.
2.50pm Ultima Handicap Chase – The Big Breakaway
This is a very open race, super competitive and last years winner is in here Corach Rambler, who got a very good ride last year to score. It’s clearly very hard to pick one but I think The Big Breakaway deserves a good pot and I know he has a lot of weight but I think he might have the ability to cope with it. For that reason I am chancing him to have his big day tomorrow for Colin Tizzard and Brendan Powell, who both have a good record in the race.
3.30pm – Champion Hurdle – Constitution Hill
I don’t think anything can beat Constitution Hill in the Champion Hurdle and I know the best betting sites out there obviously agree. The main rival is Willie Mullins’ State Man and both he and Constitution Hill will be fine on the softer ground they will get for the big race on Tuesday but for me that just means Constitution Hill will win by further. There isn’t any reason to oppose Nicky Henderson’s horse here.
4.10pm – Mares’ Hurdle – Honeysuckle
Marie’s Rock connections have probably opted for the right race in the Mares’ Hurdle, she will get her ground and it’s probably the right trip rather than the tougher stamina test in the Stayers Hurdle. She must go well but for me I think Honeysuckle’s form, albeit in defeat this season, is still stronger and I’ll be sticking with her to get a fourth win at the Cheltenham Festival. I’d be very worried too about Echoes In Rain if she jumps as well as she did the last day, she looked to show some maturity there and she could still be on the improve.
4.50 Boodles Hurdle – Byker
I think Charles Byrnes’ Byker is the one for the Boodles Handicap Hurdle. Tekao looks to have been set up for the race too by Willie Mullins but I think Byker is the one to beat here. It’s very competitive of course and lots of horses we don’t know everything about just yet. Philip Byrnes is back on Byker to take 5lbs off with his claim and they choose to add first time pieces here as well, which might improve him again.
5.30pm – National Hunt Chase – Gaillard Du Mesnil
This could be the best bet of the week in the final race on Tuesday where Gaillard Du Mesnil takes on lower rated horses in the stamina test over 3m6f. He is already a three time Grade 1 winner, once over fences and twice over hurdles and I don’t think any other horse in this race has that ability. He has two years chasing under his belt and I’d be shocked if he got beat for Willie and Patrick Mullins.
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