The sun is set to shine, up to 25,000 people a day are set to descend and close on a £1 million will be squabbled over on the track but one notable figure missing from the start of the Punchestown festival today will be Conor O'Dwyer.
The top jockey hurt his shoulder in a fall while riding work yesterday morning and misses out on a number of fancied rides today including Jeffell in the featured £60,000 BMW Chase.
O'Dwyer's race now is to be fit to ride Native Upmanship who was yesterday confirmed a runner in tomorrow's Heineken Gold Cup by trainer Arthur Moore and the top novice Youlneverwalkalone in the Stanley Cooker Champion Novice Hurdle.
However, O'Dwyer's agent John Shortt was upbeat about his chances and said: "The shoulder is bruised and Conor's getting physio but he'll definitely be back for Wednesday."
Jeffell is just one of three home runners who take on a strong cross-channel raiding party for the race. They include the top novice Cenkos, a Grade 1 winner at Liverpool, and Nicky Henderson's Get Real but the sun shining yesterday was all to the good of the reigning two mile champion Edredon Bleu and Tony McCoy.
Edredon Bleu's Cheltenham victory over Direct Route was a thriller and much the best form of anything in the race. The faster the ground, the better for him and even this sort of cut should not be a problem.
There is little disputing Edredon Bleu's claims to be a champion but considering there is £202,000 worth of prizemoney on offer, the overall turn out for the festival start is hardly earthshatteringly brilliant.
The five runner Bradstock Insurance Novice chase is a case in point with no overseas runner and one of the main fancies having won his last four races, but over the minimum two-mile trip. This is an extra half mile which could pose a problem and although Go Roger Go unseated his rider at the second in Cheltenham's Grand Annual, he does look the most suited to this task at this best.
His trainer and rider, Edward O'Grady and Norman Williamson, could have a good day as Nicholls Cross appears well enough handicapped on his return to hurdles in the Murphy Handicap Hurdle to at least go close.
The top rated home runner in the race, Afarad, is rated 124 over flights while Nicholls Cross comes here with a 120 chase rating and carrying 10.1. In a very competitive race that has to be a factor.
Sausalito Bay will always have a special place in Noel Meade's heart having given him his first Cheltenham victory in March and there is really no apparent reason why the unbeaten hurdler can't follow up in the Grade 1 Evening Herald Hurdle today.
On a line through the Liverpool winner Phardante Flyer, he has the clear beating of most of these and Minella Hotel got well found out by Ross Moff at Fairyhouse.
One to look out for in the bumper is Crimley Crumb who ran free early on in her Fairyhouse debut behind Native Endurance but still ran on to be fifth after being towards the rear on the turn in. The Rainbow Quest filly might just spring a surprise at a price.
Glory Days introduced himself as a smart early-season two-year-old when winning at Kempton yesterday. Trainer Richard Hannon has a high opinion of the son of Lahib whom he purchased at the Deauville Sales in France last year for the equivalent of £20,000. It looked money well spent as Glory Days, ridden by Richard Hughes put up a smooth performance in the Bonusfilm EBF Maiden.
Richard Mullen landed a 16 to 1 plus double in the first two races on Bonaguil and Blue Style. Mullen took no chances on Blue Style, who had looked unlucky when short of room at Epsom last week, yielding the outside to noone in the Tripleprint Handicap. The tactic paid off with Blue Style, who led two furlongs out before holding Forest Fire by a length. Bonaguil recorded a hattrick when beating Malleus by a neck in the Bonusprint Handicap.
