Selected Irish runners: Day-by-day guide

TUESDAY

1.30- William Hill Supreme Novices Hurdle:

Champagne Fever (W Mullins)14-1

Jezki (J Harrington)7-2

Mozoltov (W Mullins)………16-1

Pique Sous (W Mullins)……14-1

Un Atout (W Mullins)……6-1

Many cross-channel experts won’t hear of defeat for My Tent Or Yours who is well clear on handicap figures following a brilliant Betfair Hurdle success. He is Tony McCoy’s pick over JP McManus’s other hope , Jezki, who looks best of the Irish. Un Atout is unbeaten and unexposed. He might be unbeaten after this too, but that will mean having to expose all he has.

2.05- Racing Post Arkle Trophy:

Arvika Ligeonniere (W Mullins)….8-1

Baily Green (M Morris)…………50-1

Beneficient (T Martin)………..25-1

Simonsig is the cross-channel hotpot here. Last year’s Neptune winner is already earning comparisons with Sprinter Sacre. If they’re true, everyone else is playing for second. Arvika Ligeonniere was brilliant in the Drinmore and hasn’t been as good since. The Drinmore was two and a half and he also looks like he needs some cut in the ground, which he might just get.

2.40- JLT Speciality Handicap Chase:

Muirhead (N Meade)…..33-1

Usually a fiercely competitive handicap but this looks one for the home team with no guaranteed Irish runner.

3.20- Stan James Champion Hurdle:

Hurricane Fly (W Mullins)……2-1

Just one horse has ever regained the Champion Hurdle crown – Comedy Of Errors in 1973 1975 – so Hurricane Fly is trying to buck the trends. He has however looked as good this season as during this perfect 2011 campaign. If the going dries out substantially, Grandouet could be the most s uited. But that doesn’t look like happening by Tuesday.

4.40- OLBG Mares Hurdle:

Quevega (W Mullins)…….1-2

Shadow Eile (A Love)……33-1

Mae’s Choice (G Elliott)….50-1

Tarla (W Mullins)…………14-1

It might be a Grade Two but Quevega is again the Grade One Irish banker of the week. The top-class mare is chasing a festival five-in-a-row, a feat no horse has managed since the legendary Golden Miller in the Gold Cup. Yet again she hasn’t been seen in action for almost a year and the reports of her homework have been encouraging.

WEDNESDAY

1.30- John Oaksey National Hunt Chase:

Back In Focus (W Mullins)…….5-1

Sea Of Thunder (C Byrnes)…….33-1

Drawn N Drank (E Bolger)…….50-1

Terminal (W Mullins)…………12-1

Vesper Bell (W Mullins)……..8-1

Tofino Bay (D Hughes)……….16-1

The complexion of this race has changed with exposed Grade One performers now allowed tackle the four -mile stamina test. Back In Focus is reliant on soft ground conditions but has proven class. The Mullins team though may have another contender in Vesper Bell, pitched into handicap class last time, but a dour stayer who could relish this race.

2.05- Neptune Investment Novice Hurdle:

Minsk (D Hughes)…….33-1

Pont Alexandre (W Mullins)….7-4

Rule The World (M Morris)…..7-1

Unbeaten in three career starts, Pont Alexandre is rated a prime Irish hope. Willie Mullins broke the habits of a lifetime and pitched him straight into Grade One class on his Irish debut and the ex-French star impressed. Ruby Walsh was hugely impressed with his subsequent win at Leopardstown. Rule The World was impressive in the Slaney Hurdle in January but it could be dangerous to read into that performance too literally.

2.40- RSA Chase:

Boston Bob (W Mullins)…….11-2

Lyreen Legend (D Hughes)…..14-1

Lord Windermere (J Culloty)….14-1

Huge expectations have surrounded Boston Bob throughout his career. He failed to live up to them over hurdles at last year’s festival and won his warm-up this time by just a nose in the Moriarty. Lyreen Legend is a dour stayer while Lord Windermere has scope to improve. Dynaste however will be hard to beat if running here.

3.20- Sportingbet Queen Mother Champion Chase:

Sizing Europe (H De Bromhead)…..5-1

The winner in 2011, and an unlucky runner-up last year, Sizing Europe could run here instead of the Ryanair despite the presence of the huge favourite Sprinter Sacre. If the 11 year old can beat him , it will be a career-high.

4.00: Coral Cup:

Cause Of Causes (G Elliott)….25-1

Fiveforthree (W Mullins)…..20-1

Tennis Cap (W Mullins)…..10-1

Edeymi (G Elliott)………12-1

Inish Island (W Mullins)….10-1

Hugely competitive heat that sometimes throws up a clear-cut winner a la Carlito Brigante and Sky’s The Limit. There doesn’t appear to be one of those in store this time but Fiveforthree does boast an unusual profile having not run for two years. A former Neptune winner, his inclusion in this could be significant as he can run well off a layoff. Tennis Cap is progressive but looks to dominate and this is a tough place to lead.

5.15- Weatherbys Champion Bumper:

Blackmail (T Martin)……16-1

Golantilla (T Martin)………5-1

Le Vent D’Antan (L Doyle)……8-1

Union Dues (W Mullins)…….10-1

Shield (A O’Brien)…………14-1

Briar Hill (W Mullins)………20-1

Sizing Tennessee (W Mullins)..20-1

Willie Mullins is chasing an eighth win in this but Clondaw Court, reportedly his best hope, misses out through injury. Union Dues isn’t flash but keeps winning while Golantilla boasts a huge price tag and Le Vent D’Antan a huge reputation. This isn’t the Irish benefit it used to be and there are some strong English hopes. Even the return of Aidan O’Brien with Shield may not be enough.

THURSDAY

1.30- Jewson Novices Chase:

Argocat (T Taaffe)……..10-1

Aupcharlie (W Mullins)….4-1

Marito (W Mullins)……20-1

Aupcharlie looked all over a Grade One winner at three miles over Christmas but got run out of it, something that happened again in a three-mile Grade Two at Naas. This two mile-five trip should be ideal. He boasts better overall form than Argocat to date but Tom Taaffe knows what it takes to win at the festival and likes his chances.

2.05- Pertemps Final:

Si C’Etait Vrai (D Hughes)……16-1

Catch Me (E O’Grady)…….33-1

Berties Dream (H De Bromhead)..40-1

Jetson (J Harrington)……10-1

A three-mile heat that often throws up a shock like the 50-1 Kadoun in 2007. Jetson needs better ground than he’s been getting to show his best and could be one to follow – if he gets into the race, and the going improves by Day Three. Berties Dream is a former Albert Bartlett winner but is returning from chasing. Catch Me is another Grade One winner but looks past his very best.

2.40- Ryanair Chase

First Lieutenant (M Morris)….7-2

Mouse Morris is keen to run his 2011 festival winner First Lieutenant in the Gold Cup and fears two miles-five could be too sharp for his star chaser. Plenty believe it is a more realistic option, especially since the home No. 1 Cue Card looks vulnerable.

3.20 Ladbrokes World Hurdle

Bog Warrior (T Martin)……10-1

Quevega (W Mullins)…..7-2

Solwhit (C Byrnes)…….10-1

Zaidpour (W Mullins)…..16-1

The staying crown is up for grabs with Big Buck’s absent and Oscar Whiskey could be the heir-apparent considering he proved his stamina for three miles when beaten by Reve Di Sivola last time out. Quevega may only run here if enduring some mishap on Tuesday. Bog Warrior looks like he might get his preferred soft ground.

FRIDAY

1.30- JCB Triumph Hurdle:

Blood Cotil (W Mullins)…….25-1.

Diakali (W Mullins)……….14-1

Our Conor (D Hughes)…..7-2

Stocktons Wing (C O’Brien)….20-1

Our Conor is three-from-three over flights and boasts a profile that’s hard to quibble with. He jumps particularly well, travels through a race well and can stay. Would faster ground be an issue? Diakali was a five-length runner-up to Our Conor at Leopardstown but looks a type that will also travel well through the race. Whether any of them will travel better than Far West is debatable.

2.40- Albert Bartlett Hurdle:

Ballycasey (W Mullins)……4-1

Busty Brown (N Meade)….12-1

Morning Assembly (P Fahy)…20-1

Our Vinnie (C Byrnes)……16-1

Road To Riches (N Meade)….14-1

Sizing Gold (H De Bromhead)….20-1

Ballycasey is big on reputation but comparatively short on accomplishment. Road To Riches is another with a big home reputation while Our Vinnie’s stamina means he will be plugging on long after others have folded. Sizing Gold’s reputation is confined to trainer Henry De Bromhead’s regard but that is considerable and a step up to three miles could significantly help him.

3.20- Betfred Gold Cup:

Sir Des Champs (W Mullins)….7-2.

First Lieutenant (M Morris)…..12-1

Just two wins in 16 years in steeplechasing’s blue-riband shows the scale of the task Sir Des Champs has in bringing the Gold Cup back to Ireland. In his favour is a two-from-two record at Cheltenham and a progressive profile in three starts so far this season. Willie Mullins reckons he could be his best Gold Cup chance so far. Against him is a squad of home defenders led by another course specialist in Bob’s Worth and a suspicion that beating Flemenstar in the Hennessy might be suspect form.

4.00- CGA Foxhunters:

Backstage (G Elliott)……7-1

Salsify (R Sweeney)…..9-4

Salsify won last year under a superb Colman Sweeney ride. He looks to be peaking again at the right time. Backstage has been point to pointing and doing it successfully. But Salsify is at a career-peak and can complete three-in-a-row for Ireland in this race.

5.15- Johnny Henderson Grand Annual:

Alderwood (T Mullins)…….6-1

Absolutlyfantastic (H De Bromhead)….20-1

Fota Island (2005) and Tiger Cry (2008) have shown how Irish horses can be rewarded in the finale and Alderwood looks to bring strong claims. Last year’s County Hurdle winner graduated to Grade One success over flights and has done well over fences in his novice season, while suggesting he will do even better on better ground. Absolutlyfantastic would also like drier conditions and has been running on the all-weather at Dundalk.