The Gold Cup

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Only 9 trainers have been brave enough to put their names In the hat to go up against Sprinter Sacre In The Queen Mother Champion Chase..

Sizing Europe

Finians Rainbow

Cue Card

Mail De Bievre

Sanctuaire

Somersby

Wishfull Thinking

Realt Dubh


Tataniano

Tizzard has already said Cue Card won't run If Sprinter Sacre so much as shows up on the day.... I expect Henderson and Nicholls to follow suit and withdraw nearer the day.

Sprinter Scare now 1/4 best price

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Now with the betting settled more or less, my Day 1 of the Festival Is looking like this:

The Supreme Novices' Hurdle

Dodging Bullets each way


The Arkle Challenge Trophy

Simonsig straight win
Simonsig and Captain Conan Straight Forecast
Captain Conan each way

The Festival Handicap Chase

Opening Batsman each way

The Champion Hurdle

Hurricane Fly straight win
Oscar Whiskey each way

The Cross Country Handicap Chase

Balthazar King each way

The Mares Hurdle

Quevega straight win

The Centenary Novice Chase

Carlito Brigante each way

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Day two and my betting looks like this:

The National Hunt Steeple Chase

Boston Bob straight win

The Neptune Investment Hurdle

The New One straight win

Taquin Du Seuil each way ( only because I've been advised to do so )

The RSA

Dynaste straight win
Dynaste and Unioniste r/v f/c

The Queen Mother Champion Chase

Absolutely no question Sprinter Sacre straight win
Sprinter Sacre and Mail De Bievre straight f/c

The Coral Cup

Son Of Flicka each way

The Fred Winter Handicap

Undecided on this one.

The Champion Bumper

Undecided

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It looks like my connections In Neighing Circles were right and the rumour has been confirmed today.

KAUTO STAR WILL LEAD THE GOLD CUP PARADE

FABULOUS !!!!

THE legendary Kauto Star will be the focus of attention yet again at the Cheltenham Festival – despite being retired from racing.
The two-time Gold Cup winner will lead the parade of runners in this year's £550,000 blue riband event at Prestbury Park on March 15.


Read more: Kauto is set to Star at one more Festival | This is Gloucestershire
Follow us: @thisisglos on Twitter | thisisgloucestershire on Facebook

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I have to laugh... so much talk, so much debate on which superstars will prevail at the Cheltenham Festival. Everything Is discussed, weight, form, distance, trainer, ground conditions, weather, Jockey etc etc and what have we been debating today ?

Has Sprinter Sacre got the biggest ears we've ever seen In horse racing ?

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The Fred Winter Handicap

Undecided on this one.

The Champion Bumper

Undecided

The Fred Winter.... Bordoni each way at 14/1

The Champion Bumper......Shield each way 25/1

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Imperial Commander Is out of the Gold Cup. Lung Infection however Twiston Davis Is confident he will be fit for The Grand National.

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Yep... pretty much as expected, Colin Tizzard has withdrawn Cue Card from The Queen Mother Champion Chase. He doesn't want him going up against Sprinter Sacre and I expect others to follow suit... could end up a 2 horse race, even a walk over.

Cue Card will Instead run The Rynair Chase where he's gone In as 4/1 favourite...

The only times I have ever seen trainers so In defeat of one horse was the reign Big Bucks held In the World Hurdle for 4 consecutive years. 63 entries due to him being out of the race Is astonishing.

Same with Sprinter It seems and I predict he'll be holding trainers to ransom for many a year. The horse who recently broke the track record at Newbury, never even off the bit.... that's bloody frightening.

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Short video of a man talking bollocks

Cheltenham 2013: Alastair Down's Festival Questions - Part 2 - YouTube

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Sort video of same man talking sense

Cheltenham 2013: Alastair Down's Festival Questions - 1 - YouTube