Reigning champion Katchit and Sizing Europe look the each-way alternatives in Champion

DAY ONE
IT’S that time of year again already folks as Cheltenham 2009 gets under way this Tuesday.
It’s quite simply the World Cup of National Hunt racing and the four-day festival will see aN influx of thousands of Irish punters who descend on Cheltenham every year.
We will preview the Tuesday/Wednesday this week and review the final two days, Thursday/Friday, in next week’s Punters Guide.
We start with the big race on Tuesday, the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy, and many people’s banker of the meeting Binocular who trades around the 6/4 mark – but is he beatable?
He reminds me of the legend that is Istabraq, runs in the same silks worn by the three-times champion, and if he is half the horse then he will take some stopping – we’ll not know how good this horse really is until next Tuesday.
A stat that is against him is that 16 of the last 20 winners had won at Cheltenham before – which is something Binocular has yet to achieve.
I have two outside bets for this one and only a fool would rule out last year’s 10/1 winner KATCHIT.
He has failed to sparkle in his two runs this season but Alan King reports the horse is in good fettle and ready to defend his crown – he’s as big as 14/1 in places.
Last year Sizing Europe went off at 2/1 and he went wrong during the race – he is available at 20s this time round and he’s another horse who hasn’t sparked this year but goes to the festival a fresh horse and for me he looks a cracking each-way alternative to backing the jolly at 6/4.
The opening race of the festival is as wide open as they come and we still don’t know if Willie Mullins will run 3/1 ante-post favourite Cousin Vinny in the race. He should make a decision over the weekend, but does run live outsider KEMPES with Ruby Walsh booked for the 14/1 shot.
I like the look of the Alan King-trained KARABAK who looked half-decent when sluicing home over course and distance in December and the 14/1 could get us off to a great start.
On to the Arkle Chase and we like the look of the Paul Nicholls-trained I'MSINGINGTHEBLUES in this one. He has a course and distance win here and he gets a 7/1 price for the race. Of the outsiders I would love to see the Irish trained FORPADYDEPLASTERER run a big race and he’s our each-way selection at 14/1.
On to the William Hill Trophy Handicap Chase and the money has come for the Johnjo O’Neil-trained Wichita Lineman who knows how to win round here. He looks a big player and gets a generous 8/1 quote with Sean Graham.
Another big player could be the Paul Nicholls-trained Star De Mohaison who once was touted for Gold Cup glory. He’s been blighted by injuries but could pop up on Tuesday and gets a 12/1 quote – rule him out at your peril.
The Cross Country Chase is run over a marathon 3 miles 7 furlongs and Edna Bolger has a great record in this race and looks to hold the aces over last year’s winner GARDE CHAMPETRE and LAMI who are disputing favouritism, but word has it that Lami is the one to beat.
Butlers Cabin could line up in this one and the 25/1 on offer with Sean Graham looks a smashing each-way bet in the race.
Hopefully, we be up a few pounds going into the finale on Day One.
The David Nicholson Mares Hurdle is run over two and a half miles and I have had UNITED from the Lucy Wadham yard in my head for this race since his seasonal debut at Haydock. He won well that day and then won with a bit in hand at Ascot.
We tipped this horse up each-way in the World Hurdle last year and he ran into a 4th place behind Inglis Drever and if he reproduces that form then it’s like this – he wins on Tuesday! And the 4/1 looks a solid bet.
Off the each-way bets in the race, SILK AFFAIR is in great heart and the 33/1 looks a tempting bet to complete the four-timer.
We have opted for champion Tony McCoy at 7/2 to be the top jockey at the Festival this year – he looks better value than Ruby Walsh who gets a 6/5 quote. Robert Thornton is as big as 7/1 and is always worth a quid or two. Day 2 on page 86.