Horse Racing Betting Centre

Sporting Life Tips

TUESDAY SELECTIONS:

CHELTENHAM: 1.30 Dunguib, 2.05 Sports Line, 2.40 The Package, 3.20 GO NATIVE (NAP), 4.00 L'Ami, 4.40 Quevega.

SEDGEFIELD: 1.45 Gwyre, 2.20 Neptune Equester, 2.55 Catch Bob, 3.35 Barron Watlass, 4.15 Quatre Huit, 4.55 Troodos Jet, 5.25 Mr Jay Dee.

SOUTHWELL: 1.20 Pipers Piping, 1.55 Castle Myth, 1.30 Excellent Vision, 3.05 Sea Land, 3.45 The Cuckoo, 4.25 Eseej, 5.05 Lean Burn.

DOUBLE: Go Native and Dunguib.

Go Native can secure a £1million bonus for connections by completing his hat-trick in an intriguing renewal of the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle.

The centrepiece of the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival, this year's Champion Hurdle is particularly interesting simply because it is so open.

It would be very dangerous to write off any of the first eight in the betting, but with doubts surrounding the likes of Binocular, Solwhit and Zaynar, the one with least questions to answer is Noel Meade's Go Native.

Last season's Supreme Novices' Hurdle hero appeared destined for mediocrity when beaten by Voler La Vedette at Down Royal in November but Meade was the first to admit he had under-cooked his charge that day.

A hugely impressive victory in the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle tends to give that theory plenty of weight and he proved that was no fluke when following up in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton.

Those two victories put him in line to claim the WBX.com Triple Crown bonus and Meade has kept his charge off the track since to purposely have him cherry-ripe for the final leg at the Festival.

The ground looks as though it will be in his favour and while you can expect to see Paul Carberry playing a waiting game up the hill, Go Native should have too much speed and class for his rivals.

Arguably the star attraction on day one is Dunguib, who is unopposable in the opening Spinal Research Supreme Novices' Hurdle.

Philip Fenton's pride and joy, a breathtaking winner of last season's Champion Bumper, has not come off the bridle in four starts over obstacles.

Admittedly he has has had his jumping issues but such is the engine he possesses, it has made little difference as he has swept away all challengers with contempt.

A quicker pace here could help his hurdling and Dunguib is expected to get punters off to a flying start.

This year's renewal of the Irish Independent Arkle Challenge Trophy is one of the hottest in recent memory and while Sports Line may not possess the top-class form of some of his rivals, the potential is there for all to see.

Willie Mullins' seven-year-old was campaigned at a fairly lowly level over timber but landed a few hefty bets on his chasing debut at Navan.

Stepped right up in class for the Irish Arkle next time, he raced far too close to a fierce gallop and eventually gave best to An Cathaoir Mor.

Sports Line still finished best of the rest and under more waiting tactics and on a surface that should suit, expect him to go close at generous odds.

The Package seems to have been lined up for the William Hill Trophy by David Pipe and must have outstanding claims of grabbing a place at least.

The seven-year-old let down favourite-backers on his first couple of outings over fences this season but then made the most of his light weight to win a competitive handicap a shade cosily at this track in December.

A 9lb hike in the weights has clearly led to connections keeping him fresh for this and if recent market reports are anything to go by, the Pipe team are clearly expecting The Package to deliver.

It is difficult to look beyond the Enda Bolger brigade in the cross-country chase but picking the winner is a far less straightforward task.

Garde Champetre is the standing dish having won this race for the last two years but he is forced to concede weight all round and preference is for his stablemate L'Ami.

Quevega was simply awesome in the David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle 12 months ago and it would take a brave man to bet against her repeating the dose.

The six-year-old may have been off the track since last May having suffered injury Auteuil, but Mullins has never been too concerned about the lengthy absence.

Connections seemed delighted with a workout after racing at Leopardstown in February and while Voler La Vedette will provide a sterner test than she faced last season, Quevega should be up the task.