Cheltenham Festival advice: Simon Rowlands chooses two two-way fantasies on day one of four-day meeting | Race News

High tipster Simon Rowlands has two fantasies backwards and forwards on the opening day of the 2023 Cheltenham Competition with horses dominating and trailing the first-class card.

The opening day of the Cheltenham Competition is all the time particular within the racing calendar, however this yr extra so than most. Now we have a Unibet Hurdle Champion (3.30) for the ages as a result of presence of towering expertise within the Structure Hill division, and he has two or three decidedly stylish rivals in opposition to him in a subject of seven.

Structure Hill is undefeated in 5 hurdle begins, the final 4 of them being freshmen, all by a dozen or extra lengths. His victory within the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle right here 12 months in the past might effectively have been one of many biggest hurdle performances of all time, as he slammed Jonbon and different fantastic horses of twenty-two+ lengths.

Within the course of, he ran an extremely quick time, within the area of 25 lengths sooner than Honeysuckle managed to win the Champion Hurdle himself on the identical map, and considerably sooner than this later mare as effectively. Let that sink in for a second.

This season, his first in open firm, Structure Hill has twice overwhelmed a former Champion Hurdler at Splinter: within the Combating Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle and the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton, accelerating each instances with out critical stress. Neither Splinter nor Honeysuckle are nearly as good as they as soon as have been, however come on!

If he wins the Champion Hurdle, Structure Hill could be the most affordable such horse within the race’s practically 100-year historical past. Sir Ken at 2/5 within the second of his three successive Champion Hurdle wins in 1953 holds that honor. Structure Hill is even shorter on the time of writing.

It appears to be like unmatched, particularly on terrain that guarantees to be softer than many anticipated till lately, however racing is a enjoyable previous sport. There’s additionally the not-so-small query of Irish champion Hurdler State Man – winner of his final six – to take care of.

State Man has proven ok kind to win a mean Champion Hurdle, and if Structure Hill does not shoot, he simply would possibly. However there’s additionally an opportunity he’ll be drawn right into a battle with a one-of-a-kind expertise prematurely and undergo consequently.

Vauban, winner of the Triumph Hurdle final yr however twice behind State Man this season, would possibly simply choose up a number of items, if that’s the case.

I like to maneuver It was extraordinarily spectacular to win the Kingwell Hurdle in Wincanton in document time, however it’s nonetheless a number of ranges larger, and the latest rain might not have helped it.

Structure Hill deserves the form of prize it’s, and it could find yourself being a matter of “how far?”. I might go for one thing like seven lengths, and something greater than that might simply make him the very best rated hurdler in historical past. It is a race that I can watch – transfixed, I feel – with out having a monetary stake.

Quick and Livid Supreme could also be appropriate for Il Etait Temps

This yr Sky Guess Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (1.30) certainly cannot compete with final yr’s, however let’s have a look at. There is a horse in there that we talked about in whispers, in Straightforward Vega, however he did poorly in a primary yr on the Dublin Racing Competition final time.

There have been extenuating circumstances that day when it comes to too robust an early tempo (set by him and erratic Excessive Definition) and post-race soreness, however he misplaced a few of his aura.

The defeat of Facile Vega quite eclipsed the victory that day of his stablemate IT WAS TIME, who stormed to win by 9 and a half lengths from Inthepocket. It Was Time was helpful for some time, ending fifth within the Triumph Hurdle right here 12 months in the past, however it was even higher.

Il Etait Temps tends to go free and the prospect of tempo in a 14-rider subject right here ought to see it come off effectively. His odds make him a one-sided guess in my e-book.

Uncommon Version appears to be like greatest to an general weak British contingent (though actually tender floor can be an unknown because it wasn’t that when he received at Kempton regardless of what you may learn in locations), whereas the Navy Unbeaten Nationwide achieved lower than the Mullins-formed pair within the pre-Christmas Royal Bond win when final seen.

If these two races aren’t sufficient, we have now a captivating Sporting Life Arkle Chase (2.10)in which there’s nothing within the guess between the satisfaction of Eire, El Fabiolo, and the satisfaction of Nice Britain, Jonbon.

I used to be initially within the aspect of Jonbon, who pulled off enormous late gaps of their pre-Christmas Sandown win, however did not impress beating their solely rival at Warwick final day trip. Both approach, El Fabiolo put in a good higher efficiency, together with in opposition to the clock, final day trip profitable the Irish Arkle at Leopardstown regardless of a serious mistake.

There can be little margin for error right here, in a race that entails two extra boundaries however a complete distance that’s over a yard shorter than Leopardstown. This brings the free and daring Dysart Dynamo into play – fourth at Leopardstown however nonetheless current till the beginning of the break-in.

The issue is that quite a lot of “good” cash has are available in for Dysart Dynamo these days, and he is not as engaging a betting proposition as he was. This ought to be an thrilling contest, however the advice is “no betting” on this case.

This additionally applies to Ultima Handicap Chase (2.50)by which final yr’s winner, Corach Rambler, tops my numbers, however in a race by which arguably nothing deserves to be shorter than about 8/1, and the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Impediment (4.50)though I feel Tekao is the nice favourite on this regard.

I’ll keep out of Shut Mares Brothers Impediment (4.10)too, however it ended up being one of many reunion races, that includes the aforementioned former Hurdlers champions Honeysuckle and Epatante, in addition to smarts Marie’s Rock and Echoes In Rain.

There’s little useful there, however I might have just about most popular Honeysuckle for a run by which she knocked Benie Des Dieux down three years in the past. That apart, it might be nice to see the mare retire with a win on this space.

Mahler Mission ought to relish the Nationwide Hunt take a look at

I need one within the conclusion Wellchild Nationwide Hunt (5.30), Nonetheless. Gaillard Du Mesnil is a reliable favourite however has solely received as soon as out of eight chase begins, and I am not satisfied he is 100% simple.

MAHLER-MISSION appears to be, and it is clearly the second greatest in my e-book. He beat The Actual Whacker, no much less, over hurdles and cleared taller hurdles very effectively after a heavy blow on his searching debut, beating Tenzing by 10 lengths at Navan in January. Tenzing ought to at the very least go up the hill.

Mahler Mission was narrowly overwhelmed once more in Navan final day trip, however in a race the place he ran with out going quick sufficient to take advantage of his stamina, leaping effectively and coming again to the road.

About three extra quarter miles ought to go well with him, and he has likelihood of being positioned, and really seemingly of profitable.

So simply the 2 suggestions on the opening day of this yr’s Cheltenham Competition. We are going to know extra about the actual state of the sector by Tuesday on the finish of the day, and selectivity is a power, anyway, in a gathering which is unfold over 4 days and 28 races. Good luck and revel in!