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.

Revealed yesterday that they'll be watering the course all week, aiming to keep the current going of Good to Soft, Good in places.

Anyone heading to the Festival then?

Think i'm going to try and get to Tuesday, could be the best day IMO.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO



Very unlucky for Solwhit backers.

Its NRNB THANKFUCK

Very very disappointed by this (if true). Plenty of rumours about over this one though

TBH - I can see him being ran even if not 100%, from what I can gather Byrne doesn't really have any interest in the Aintree meeting and seems to think its this or nothing.

Even so - I think he'll run but his odds will take a beating and I'd back him to place.

Why wouldn't he take it to Aintree? if it aint 100% they may as well wait for Aintree as it won't be beating Go Native or Zaynar if its not 100%

I've just got the impression he's placed all his eggs in the Cheltenham basket, I hope he runs at Aintree as i'll be there but doubt it.

Saturdays Kelso winner Bedlam Boy will now bypass Cheltenham in favour of Aintree. Ferdy Murphy's 9-y-o will now go for the Maghull Novice Chase (won last year by stablemate Kalahari King).