Ultima Handicap Chase – 2.50pm – Noble Endeavor (7/1)
CAST YOUR MIND back 12 months and Noble Endeavor held every chance of making the frame in the National Hunt Chase at the Festival. He was being ridden two out when he fell, but the form of that race looks incredibly strong.
The winner Minella Rocco is now a decent each-way bet for the Gold Cup, while second placed Native River won the Hennessy, Welsh National and Denman Chase.
Even further back, Vieux Lion Rouge finished sixth that day and is favourite for the Aintree Grand National after winning a trial race at Haydock in February.
This season, Noble Endeavor was disappointing on his reappearance but needed the run and probably wanted further than two-and-a-half miles in Navan.
He ran well to finish fourth in the ultra-competitive Troytown at Navan in November and won the Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas.
Davy Russell takes the reigns again and has 17 Cheltenham Festival winners to his name already – so he’s certainly no stranger to the Prestbury Park winner’s enclosure.
4.10pm – Mares’ Hurdle – Limini (6/5)
Willie Mullins has dominated the Mares’ Hurdle like Ed Sheeran dominates the charts. Mullins has saddled the last eight winners of this race and six of them have gone off odds-on.
Step forward Limini – who aims to oblige for the top Irish trainer this year at 6/5 ( all prices correct at time of writing).
The race revolves around Limini, Apples Jade, and Mullins’ other star Vroum Vroum Mag. Mag won this race 12 months ago, but lost her unbeaten run under Mullins to Apples Jade at Fairyhouse in December.
This tale took another twist when Limini was a comfortable two-length winner over Apples Jade at Punchestown last month and top jockey Ruby Walsh has said he’ll ride Limini over Vroum Vroum Mag.
That’s a good enough sign for us and Limini can justify her favourite’s tag and do the business for punters.
4.50pm – National Hunt Chase – A Genie In Abottle (5/1)
Shrewder men than me have been whispering the name of A Genie In Abottle at preview nights up and down the country over the last fortnight, and he could give trainer Noel Meade a winner on the opening day of the Festival.
Edwulf is well fancied but has either fallen or unseated in three of his seven races over fences, and his best form has come on much softer ground than is likely at Cheltenham. Champers on Ice is also prone to a bad mistake.
A Genie In Abottle is a strong stayer and with top Irish amateur and two-time Festival winner Jamie Codd taking the ride, he has every chance.
At the time of writing a treble of Noble Endeavour, Limini and A Genie In Abottle pays out at 104/1
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