Cheltenham Betting 2009

Cheltenham Betting 2009

Binocular’s a much stronger horse than last year, the ground will be quicker, McCoy knows him much better and he’s in a different league to the rest. I firmly believe Binocular will win the 2009 Champion Hurdle. So that’s my first prediction…

Hopefully by the time of the feature on day one, McCoy will be looking for a double as my ante-post selection (advised at 12-1) Calgary Bay runs in the Arkle.

The champion jockey loves the horse and his high cruising speed and brilliant jumping should stand him in good stead in a below par renewal.

Ireland have won the last ten out of 17, six of the last eight, renewals of the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and hold a trump card again with Cousin Vinny. I have a feeling the Irish will back him down to a crazy prize on Tuesday and if he wins it will get the meeting off to a flyer and whip the Irish punters into a frenzy.

He’s probably the best horse in the race but the fact that his jockey Patrick Mullins has never ridden in a hurdle race round Cheltenham worries me and I prefer the chance and price of Micheal Flips, who would be much shorter in the betting if trained by a Mullins, Henderson or Nicholls.

Nicky Henderson has confirmed the participation of Ainama in Tuesday’s Cheltenham Festival opener, the williamhill.com Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.

The smart Flat performer made a real impact on his jumping debut at Kempton but was surprisingly beaten at the same track in the Dovecote Novices’ Hurdle when he was not particularly slick at the final two flights. “He runs,” said Henderson. “Barry Geraghty rode (Champion Hurdle candidate) Punjabi in work on Friday morning with Ainama. “They both worked well. It was the final piece of work for the Cheltenham horses and they all seem in good form. ”

We just know that Cheltenham Betting 2009 is going to be frantic