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Tipping Point

The42's Winning Post: Everything you need to enjoy day one of Cheltenham — and pick a winner

It’s the most wonderful (horse racing) time of the year again.

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Three big talking points

1. Ruby’s choice: The unbeaten Faugheen (11/10) has only been seen twice this season but was very impressive when beating Purple Bay by eight lengths at Kempton over Christmas so is justifiably favourite for Tuesday’s feature event the Champion Hurdle.

Tellingly, Ruby Walsh has decided the seven-year old offers him a better chance of adding to his impressive tally of Cheltenham winners than the record-setting Hurricane Fly (8/1) who will be piloted by Paul Townend instead.

This may be one race too many for the 11-year old but he has beaten Jezki (9/2) three times already this term so Jessica Harrington’s charge will have to do a lot to repeat last year’s success. The New One (7/2) — so unlucky to be hampered by a faller in 2014 — will hope to best them all.

2. Annie are you okay? Having been won by Quevega every year since 2009, Willie Mullins looks set to claim yet another Mares’ Hurdle with Annie Power (4/7). Many punters, however, will be disappointed to see the seven-year old in this race and not attempt to avenge her second place in last year’s World Hurdle.

Glens Melody (4/1) and Polly Peachum (8/1) look the best of the rest.

3. Un de Money: If you were given the chance to design the perfect chaser you’d want something with a smart turn of pace, solid jumping and a calm temperament. Un de Sceaux (4/7) has two of those things and really the only way Ruby Walsh’s mount does not win the Arkle is if he spooks himself on the way down to the start.

Nap of the Day

There’s very little value to be had from any of Walsh/Mullins rides on Tuesday but in Douvan (7/4) the pair look to have their hands on another potential superstar. Indeed, the five-year old is possibly even better than Vautour who won this race last year for the combination.

An each-way fancy

Stellar Notion is generally available at 14/1 for the last race of the day, the Novices’ Handicap Chase and beat the — at time of writing — favourite Generous Ransom (7/1) over Christmas. Worth €2 of your hard earned cash.

Accumulator

It’s not a great day for piecing together an accumulator but if you fancy Ruby can get the job done on three of his four favourites, then Annie Power, Un de Sceaux and Douvan along with Hurricane Fly — for old times’ sake – in the Champion Hurdle will return €81 per €1 stake. Or see you lose €1.

Originally published at 8.30pm on 9 March.

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