Ouch!

Another one missing will be David Pipe's The Sliotar who had a number of entries at the Festival but has been found to be lame.

One of the main market movers this week would seem to have been the Paul Nicholls-trained Sanctuaire (Fred Winter Handicap Hurdle - Wednesday).

Now joint favourite with a number of bookmakers and as low as 7/1 having been gererally available at 10/1 at the beginning of the week. Hills 9/1 surely can't last much longer.

Is it just me that thinks Dunguib even at 4/5 is still good value.

For Any bigg-ish gambler, 500 quid on him, and you've got your betting money for the rest of the festival.

I just cannot see him losing.

Agree.

Tom Coopers horse has the beating of him on a line through Surfing - very good horse and Cooper had a hot favourite a few years ago in River Liane who burst and didn't handle the track. Well worth a good bet at 16's.

Not saying it won't win, but many a banker has gone down in the Supreme. I'll be backing something else anyway for my sins.

My ante post book has taken a few hits recently but fairly happy with where i'm at so far. Still a bit to go yet, so hoping my nags all make it now and go for the races i've got them in!

Nothing is ever a cert but after seeing what its done so far you can see why its such a hot fav not to mention last years Champion bumper the jockey didn't even move until it was going up the hill unreal.

Done Solwhit @ 5/1 for the Champion hurdle.

Tuesday is certainly gonna be a fascinating day and in the battle of punter v bookies could set the tone for the rest of the festival.

Dunguib will be many people's banker and rightly so IMO.

Captain Cee Bee will carry a lot of support from The Irish in the Arkle and I've strongly fancied him since he was cantering all over Sizing Europe before coming to grief at the last, course form is also a bonus.

William Hill Trophy I aint really looked at yet..

Champion Hurdle promises to be a cracker and is absolutely wide open with half a dozen or more having a very good chance.

I've seen a lot of very good judges tip Garde Champetre as their banker of the entire festival in the Cross Country Chase and could be another favourite on the opening day.

I really can't see past the top 2 in the betting for The David Nicholson Mares Hurdle either and the bookies could be crying into their satchels at the end of the first day.

If 3 or 4 of those strongly fancied horses do win on the opening day then the likes of Master Minded, Big Bucks and Kauto Star could shorten even further if the acca's start rolling onto them...

Captain Cee Bee, Big Bucks and Dunguib shape my week worked out its nearly £1,500 profit if them 3 win

Sublimity (lame) misses the Champion Hurdle.

Stan James non-runner, no bet on all Festival races from tomorrow morning.