Brian Hayes gives his thoughts and tips for day one of the Cheltenham Festival, via Bookmakers.com :
Hopefully Honeysuckle Does The Business!
It's of course all about Honeysuckle for Henry De Bromhead and Rachael Blackmore in the Champion Hurdle at 3.30pm on Day 1, Tuesday of the Cheltenham Festival.
It would be the perfect start to the week if the mare and Rachael can deliver again like they did last year but a lot of respect will have to be given to Appreciate It who takes her on for the Willie Mullins team. He won a Supreme Novices' Hurdle last year at Cheltenham in impressive style but despite that still looks to have it all to do giving the mare 7lbs here on his first run since then.
Honeysuckle is currently rated 165 and Appreciate It 160, so apart from already being 5lbs behind on the official ratings the further concession to Honeysuckle really makes her look the one to beat and let’s hope she will go and do the business once again.
Racing Set To Start On Perfect Ground
I had a run around the Cheltenham track there this afternoon and the ground is good, good to soft in places and should truly make for perfect racing conditions and perfect in general for the week. It’s set fair for the Festival to get underway and the sun is shining and I can see the big three of Willie Mullins, Gordon Elliott and Henry De Bromhead all in the winners enclosure on Day 1 with some great racing in store.
All Other Races On Day 1
Dysart Dynamo - 1:30 Supreme Novices' Hurdle
