UK Horse Racing Tips: Cheltenham

In recent times, Willie Mullins has dominated this prestigious opener to four days of the Cheltenham Festival. Indeed, Ireland's champion NH trainer has been responsible for five of the last 10 winners of this race and he again sends out a clear intention for the coming week by fielding a power-packed quartet, headed by the high-class FACILE VEGA, who has developed from winning the Champion Bumper here last year to being a leading light on the novice hurdle scene. The only blot on his record came when he finished lame in the Grade 1 Tattersalls Ireland Hurdle at Leopardstown last month. If forgiven that run, the son of Walk In The Park is a prime candidate to tighten Mullins' stranglehold on this contest. That's not to dismiss stablemate Il Etait Temps, who was a comfortable winner of that aforementioned Leopardstown contest, and he is key player in his own right. Michael O'Sullivan's unbeaten Marine Nationale also gives the Irish a strong chance of getting the first winner of the Festival on the board, while UK hopes appear to rest with the Paul Nicholls-trained Tahmuras, who ticks a key box for stats fans, as he arrives on the back of a ready win in the Grade 1 Tolworth Hurdle last time out.
Prediction : 1st Facile Vega 2nd Il Etait Temps 3rd Marine Nationale

Jonbon arrives with an unbeaten record over fences and bids to give his trainer a record eighth victory in the contest. His sole defeat over obstacles came at the hands of stable companion, and an unstoppable force, in Constitution Hill in the Supreme 12 months ago before showing a different side to him when showing real battling qualities against EL FABIOLO at Aintree. A smooth winner on both his chasing debut at Warwick and the Henry VIII at Sandown, the seven-year-old was given a fright by an inferior rival in the Kingmaker and although expected to be a lot sharper on this occasion, the rival he defeated at Aintree is taken to reverse the form. The effort produced over hurdles at Aintree was excellent, considering his lack of experience, and he comes here with the best piece of form over fences, having landed a strong running of the Irish Arkle at Leopardstown. The most impressive part of that effort was his ability to recover from a bad mistake at the fourth-last fence and with Dysart Dynamo, who finished fourth in that event, expected to make this a similar test, the six-year-old can maintain his unbeaten record over the larger obstacles. Saint Roi, who unseated behind the selection at the Dublin Racing Festival, will potentially be ridden to pick up the pieces and isn't one to discount lightly, especially with his past form at this meeting being a County Hurdle winner and having placed in last year's Champion Hurdle.
Prediction : 1st El Fabiolo 2nd Jonbon 3rd Saint Roi

Novices filled the first five places in last year's renewal, which brings progressive chasers such as Monbeg Genius and Oscar Elite into the equation, with both arriving in winning form. CORACH RAMBLER was the winner 12 months ago, doing well to overcome traffic from the rear and staying on strongly to get up near the finish. Lucinda Russell's inmate is now only 6lb higher than for that success, due to being dropped 1lb for a respectable fourth in the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury in November, and he is taken to successfully defend his crown. Nassalam is feared most after staying on into third over an extended 2m4f here on New Year's Day and he looks the type to relish this step up in trip over 3m1f. The Irish last won this race in 2006 with Dun Doire, with Death Duty of Gordon Elliott doing best of the Irish contingent when finishing sixth in last year's renewal. This year he has a sole representative in The Goffer, who was last seen winning an ultra-competitive event at Leopardstown last month, and the seven-year-old shouldn't be underestimated, despite still having to prove his stamina over this longer trip. Into Overdrive is another to note having won two premier handicaps at Wetherby this season and a 5lb rise for his latest success on Boxing Day shouldn't prevent him from being competitive, although the lack of course experience may count against the eight-year-old.
Prediction : 1st Corach Rambler 2nd Nassalam 3rd Into Overdrive

CONSTITUTION HILL remains unbeaten in five starts over hurdles, winning with aplomb on each occasion and the six-year-old is hard to oppose as he attempts to give trainer Nicky Henderson a ninth success in this race. The son of Blue Bresil arrives as the highest-rated runner, with facile successes in both the Fighting Fifth and Christmas Hurdle this season, and it will most likely take something special to prevent him from adding this showpiece to his ever-growing trophy cabinet. State Man appears the main threat and he's a versatile type who can either make all, as seen when beating Honeysuckle in the Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown last month, or held up in the rear, as when winning last season's Grade 3 County Hurdle here. Willie Mullins' inmate is thoroughly likable, with the sneaking suspicion that he has more under his bonnet, and he won't go down without a fight in his quest to land a fifth-consecutive Grade 1. His stablemate Vauban has finished behind him on both occasions he's raced this season, although last year's Triumph Hurdle winner may appreciate this stiffer test. I Like To Move It bolted up by 17 lengths in the Grade 2 Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton last month, but Nigel Twiston-Davies' charge will need to produce something outstanding to upset the main protagonists at the highest level.
Prediction : 1st Constitution Hill 2nd State Man 3rd Vauban

This is a top-class renewal of this contest and Honeysuckle goes to war possibly one final time after a rather underwhelming season to date. That said, she cannot be discounted in a race of this nature and merits respect. However, MARIE'S ROCK is the clear pick to strike for the Nicky Henderson yard, as the eight-year-old won this race last year. The selection has continued in fine form subsequently and had a great preparation for this when bolting up in the Relkeel last time, which suggests that she could prove very tough to beat once again. Another fascinating contender is Love Envoi, who has only suffered defeat once in her career so far. The latest of her victories came in a Listed contest at Sandown, where she pulled impressively clear between the last two flights to score, and she could have a say.
Prediction : 1st Maries Rock 2nd Honeysuckle 3rd Love Envoi

It is surprising that Willie Mullins is yet to win this contest, especially given his record with unexposed hurdlers at this meeting, but the Closutton maestro may have found the one to break his hoodoo in TEKAO. Third on his Irish debut behind a subsequent dual-Grade 2 winner in Comfort Zone at Navan, he improved to shed the maiden tag at Leopardstown over Christmas before running with plenty of credit behind Gala Marceau and Lossiemouth at the Dublin Racing Festival, having held a strong chance turning for home. The hood used last time is retained and a mark of 135 appears to be more than fair. Sir Allen won at Naas last month in a race that has thrown up the winner of this in three of the last four years. He commands plenty of respect along with Byker (third), who sports cheekpieces for the first time, and Metamorpheus (fifth), who were in behind on that occasion. Others worth noting are Punta Del Este, who shaped well on his UK debut at Haydock, and Perseus Way, who has mixed it with some of the better juveniles and may improve for this scenario, having won a big-field handicap on the Flat at Newbury in September.
Prediction : 1st Tekao 2nd Sir Allen 3rd Perseus Way

Gaillard Du Mesnil is likely to be a warm order for last year's winning combination of Willie and Patrick Mullins, as he proved his stamina for this trip when finishing third in the Irish Grand National last April. The gelding bolted up on his penultimate start at Leopardstown over 3m and it's hard to imagine he won't be involved in the finish. However, a chance can be taken on MAHLER MISSION, who won't mind if the conditions turn testing as he bolted up to brake his maiden over 3m when beating the reopposing Tenzing by 10 lengths. The seven-year-old followed that up by going down by just under a length to Churchstonewarrior. Therefore, this longer trip could unlock further improvement on only his fifth start over fences and he can lower the colours of the hot favourite. Mister Coffey is a solid contender and he wasn't beaten far into second in last year's Kim Muir.
Prediction : 1st Mahler Mission 2nd Gaillard Du Mesnil 3rd Mister Coffey