Tuesday 13th March - Preview

The highlight of the opening day of the Festival is the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle. Since the race was first run in 1927 there have been 13 horses who have won the race more than once with 8 winning twice and a further five winning three times. It is also worth noting that the Irish have an excellent record in this race, including winning six of the last eight runnings of the race. 31 favourites have won the race in 76 runnings. Only 11 horses have won at odds of greater than 10/1.

Two runners in this renewal are previous winners, last years winner Brave Inca who is trying for the double and the winner from both 2004 and 2005, Hardy Eustace, is attempting to win the race for the third time.

Hardy Eustace is now a ten year old but he is still in winning form, winning two of his four races this season. The first can be discounted as it was a prep race on the flat. In the two races he won he managed to beat some good horses, especially in his last race where he beat six of his Champion Hurdle Rivals including Brave Inca. It is also interesting to note that his one defeat over hurdles this year came at the hands (or should that be hoofs) of current Champion Hurdle favourite Detroit City. A word of caution - according to the stats his age is against him as only two other horses have won the race as a ten year old. However at 5/1 he may be worth a small each way investment.

Brave Incas attempt to win the race for the second time is an interesting one. He certainly won on merit last year but some are questioning if he is as good this season. He has won two of his five races this season, however the nagging doubt is that he has been beaten by several of his Champion Hurdle rivals in the three races he has lost. Frankly Brave Inca has too many question marks hanging over him to be a betting proposition.

I think the trophy could well be coming back to the UK this year. The choice isn't very original I'm afraid, but it is hard to look beyond the favourite Detroit City ... unbeaten this season, he has beaten most of his rivals in the Champion Hurdle. He has the advantage that he seems to be able to act on any going. Owned by Terry Warner, whose Rooster Booster won the race in 2003, I think Terry will be collecting the trophy around 3:30 on the Tuesday afternoon.

The race before the Champion Hurdle is the Irish Independent Arkle Challenge Chase, with the clear favourite being Fair Along, who has done nothing wrong in his last three races winning them all by huge margins. In one of those races he beat My Way De Solzen by 9 lengths. I think this is the chance for My Way De Solzen to turn the tables. Why ... well in the race where he was defeated My Way De Solzen was carrying 9lbs more weight than Fair Along, in this race they are carrying the same weight and I rate My Way to be 4lbs superior, so at level weights he is the better horse. However there is a big proviso with this one ... My Way De Solzen is entered in two races at the festival so there is no guarantee he will run in this one, if he doesn't then stick with Fair Along..

The most unusual race of the day is the Sporting Index Cross Country Handicap Chase, run over a twisting turning cross country course, this is a race for specialists and previous course winner Spot The Difference will be popular choice of many even at 11 years of age, however I think he will have to play second fiddle to stablemate Heads On The Ground.

In the opener Amaretto Rose was going to be my lay of the day but with the recent terrible weather the ground is going to be absolutely perfect for her, whilst at the same time it will find out most of her rivals. The exception being Osana (who has multiple entries) who if he runs in this race will be a good each way investment.

Tuesday Review

A strange opening day to the 2007 Festival with three fancied winners and three outsiders taking the honours. First shock of the day was 40/1 shot Ebaziyan, giving the Irish an opening win. Trained by Willie Mullins this was only the horses third run and he beat fancied runners Granit Jack (15/2) and Ameretto Rose (2/1 fav) by three lengths and a neck.

My Way De Solzen (7/2) had little trouble reversing Sandown form with 100/30 favourite Fair Along, looking the winner from a long way out and winning by an easy 5 lengths. Early leader Jack The Giant at 14/1 was third.

The next shock was in the big race when 16/1 shot Sublimity, ridden by Phil Carberry, won the Champion Hurdle beating last years winner Brave Inca (a drifting 11/2) and 28/1 outsider Afsoun. Coming out of the turn, two time previous winner Hardy Eustace looked as though he may be about to pull off a fairytale victory but he soon faded. Disappointment of the race was the heavily backed 6/4 favourite Detroit City who just wasn't at the races, he was being niggled along from the very start of the race and although he flattered to deceive at the halfway point, as soon as he started the downhill run he quickly lost touch ... his run was so bad there must have been something amiss,

The biggest shock and closest finish of the day was saved for the William Hill Trophy where three runners went off 7/1 co-favourites, however it was left to 50/1 outsider Joes Edge to win a closely fought finish in a three way photograph with two of the co-favourites Juveigneur and Distant Thunder, with 16/1 shot Mon Mone finishing eight lengths behind in fourth.

The Irish once again took the Cross Country Race, not to be outdone by brother Phillips victory in the big race, Nina Carberry rode 5/2 favourite Heads Onthe Ground to a very popular victory. She rode a confident race keeping the horse mid-field until making her challenge before the second last to finish 3 1/2 lengths ahead of 14/1 shot Silver Birch. Third was Le Duc at 8/1 and previous winner Spot The Difference finished a creditable fourth at 6/1.

The final race of the day went to the brave filly and favourite Gaspara who picked up a £75,000 bonus for winning today in addition to last Saturdays Imperial Cup at Sandown. 5lb claiming Andrew Glassonbury was over the moon with the victory, which was in complete contrast to Saturdays victory. On Saturday AP McCoy kept her handy until the last fence, today she led for most of the race and quite frankly ran her opponents into the ground. For the record Altihar was second at 12/1, Laustra Bad 3rd at 16/1 and Zilcash fourth at 50/1.

Recommendations (Points on a scale of confidence from 1 - 10)

2:00 Amaretto Rose 3 pts Win 3rd

2:00 Osana 2 pts E/W NON RUNNER

2:35 My Way De Solzen 3pts E/W Won 7/2

3:15 Detroit City 4pts Win Lost

3:15 Detroit City & Hardy Eustace 1pt Forecast Lost

4:40 Heads On The Ground 1pt win Won 5/2

Other Races

4:00 New Alco E/W Lost