The "greatest show on turf” has arrived

The time for talking comes to a halt this week as the Cheltenham Festival comes under starter's orders tomorrow.

The great roar that greets the tapes going up for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle as the show opener is the start of four days of drama with 27 highly competitive races to savour.

Hopes in the Supreme for the home brigade very much rest on Cue Card, brilliant, if unexpected, winner of the Champion Bumper 12 months ago.

Two from three since going over obstacles, he remains the apple of Colin Tizzard's eye and few would begrudge him a follow-up success.

Indeed, among those will be fans of Champion Hurdle hope Menorah, conqueror of Cue Card at Cheltenham when they were last seen in December.

This is a vintage Champion, in spite of reigning champion Binocular's unexpected absence. Peddlers Cross is still unbeaten, whilst the Irish will have a major say, too, courtesy of Hurricane Fly and Dunguib, the latter having carried the hopes of a nation in the Supreme last year only to finish third - behind Menorah.

On Wednesday we have the Queen Mother Champion Chase and will discover if Master Minded can regain his winning touch.

The Paul Nicholls-trained superstar is twice a winner of this coveted prize, but lost his crown last year as Big Zeb came out best for Colm Murphy.

Master Minded has looked a different horse again this season, showing the benefit of a wind operation.

The second afternoon sees another of the week's 'bankers' as Time For Rupert - who could have been in the Gold Cup had he not missed a big trial in January - is rightly set to be all the rage in the RSA Chase.

A few weeks ago a third straight World Hurdle on Thursday appeared a formality for Big Buck's, but the emergence of Grands Crus and dark horses Fiveforthree and Mourad makes it an entirely different proposition.

And so to Friday and the jewel in the crown, the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Will it be the old guard of Denman, Kauto Star and Imperial Commander again? Or will the young guns (minus the injured Diamond Harry) hold sway?

Form students will point to Denman's tremendous weight-carrying effort in the Hennessy Gold Cup as evidence his powers have not unduly diminished, but Kauto Star was put in his place by Long Run at Kempton and we have not seen Imperial Commander since the Betfair Chase in November.

So with Long Run on the up, and Irish aces Kempes and Pandorama lurking, not to mention emerging course specialist Midnight Chase, it is all to play for on March 18.

A full schedule of this weeks' races are detailed below, along with some free Cheltenham Festival bets offers from the leading online bookmakers.
We are now heading down to Cheltenham and wish you all the best of luck, however many bets you place!

THE FESTIVAL 2011

CENTENARY DAY - Tuesday, March 15, 2011 (Old Course)

Time/Race/Distance/Prize Money/TV/Max Decs

1.30 Stan James Supreme Novices Hurdle (Grade One) 2m 110y £100,000 C4/RUK 24

2.05 The Irish Independent Arkle Chase (Grade One) 2m £130,000 C4/RUK 20

2.40 Stewart Family Spinal Research Handicap Chase (Grade Three) 3m 110y £75,000 C4/RUK 24

3.20 Stan James Champion Hurdle (Grade One) 2m 110y £370,000 C4/RUK 28

4.00 Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase (Handicap) 3m 7f £40,000 C4/RUK 16

4.40 David Nicholson Mares Hurdle (Grade Two) 2m 4f £70,000 RUK 24

5.15 Centenary Novices Handicap Chase (Listed) 2m 4f 110y £50,000 RUK 20

Total prize-money £835,000

Will Hill £25 free bet | Bet365 £200 free bet | Skybet £35 free bet | 888sport £25 free bet Victor Chandler £25 free bet | Stan James £25 free bet | Paddy Power £50 free bet Sportingbet £50 free bet | Ladbrokes £25 free bet | totesport £10 free bet

LADIES DAY - Wednesday, March 16, 2011 (Old Course)

Time/Race/Distance/Prize Money/TV/Max Decs

1.30 141st Year Of The National Hunt Chase (Amateurs) 4m £75,000 C4/RUK 20

2.05 Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle (Grade One) 2m 5f £100,000 C4/RUK 24

2.40 RSA Chase (Grade One) 3m 110y £130,000 C4/RUK 20

3.20 sportingbet.com Queen Mother Champion Chase (Grade One) 2m £320,000 C4/RUK 24

4.00 Coral Cup (Handicap Hurdle) (Grade Three) 2m 5f £70,000 C4/RUK 28

4.40 Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (Grade Three) 2m 110y £60,000 RUK 24

5.15 Weatherbys Champion Bumper (Grade One) 2m 110y £55,000 RUK 24

Total prize-money £810,000

Will Hill £25 free bet | Bet365 £200 free bet | Skybet £35 free bet | 888sport £25 free bet Victor Chandler £25 free bet | Stan James £25 free bet | Paddy Power £50 free bet Sportingbet £50 free bet | Ladbrokes £25 free bet | totesport £10 free bet

ST PATRICK'S DAY - Thursday, March 17, 2011 (New Course)

Time/Race/Distance/Prize Money/TV/Max Decs

1.30 Jewson Novices’ Chase (Grade Two) 2m 4f £90,000 C4/RUK 20

2.05 Pertemps Final (Handicap Hurdle) (Listed) 3m £70,000 C4/RUK 24

2.40 Ryanair Chase (Grade One) 2m 5f £260,000 C4/RUK 24

3.20 Ladbrokes World Hurdle (Grade One) 3m £260,000 C4/RUK 24

4.00 Byrne Group Plate (Handicap Chase) (Grade Three) 2m 5f £75,000 C4/RUK 24

4.40 Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Handicap Chase (Amateurs) 3m 1f 110y £50,000 RUK 24

5.15 St Patrick's Day Derby (Charity Race) 1m 5f - RUK

Total prize-money £805,000

Will Hill £25 free bet | Bet365 £200 free bet | Skybet £35 free bet | 888sport £25 free bet Victor Chandler £25 free bet | Stan James £25 free bet | Paddy Power £50 free bet Sportingbet £50 free bet | Ladbrokes £25 free bet | totesport £10 free bet

GOLD CUP DAY - Friday, March 18, 2011 (New Course)

Time/Race/Distance/Prize Money/TV/Max Decs

1.30 JCB Triumph Hurdle (Grade One) 2m 1f £100,000 C4/RUK 24

2.05 Vincent O’Brien County Handicap Hurdle (Grade Three) 2m 1f £70,000 C4/RUK 28

2.40 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle (Grade One) 3m £100,000 C4/RUK 20

3.20 totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup (Chase) (Grade One) 3m 2f 110y £500,000 C4/RUK 24

4.00 Christie’s Foxhunter Chase Challenge Cup (Amateurs) 3m 2f 110y £35,000 C4/RUK 24

4.40 Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle 2m 4f 110y £45,000 RUK 24

5.15 Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase (Handicap) (Grade Three) 2m 110y £75,000 RUK 24

Total prize-money £925,000

TOTAL 2011 FESTIVAL PRIZE MONEY £3,375,000 (Average of £125,000 per race)

For all the latest bookmakers free bets & Cheltenham Festival special offers click here.

Prestbury Park will play host to over 500 horses and 200,000 race fans this week

Geraghty to ride Spirit Son in Supreme

Barry Geraghty has opted to ride Spirit Son instead of his Nicky Henderson-trained stablemate Sprinter Sacre in Tuesday's Supreme Novices' Hurdle, the opening race of the Cheltenham Festival.

A best-price 6/1 (William Hill) shot for the Supreme, Spirit Son is unbeaten in three starts over hurdles, while Sprinter Sacre - available at best price 10/1 (also with William Hill) - will be partnered by champion jockey Tony McCoy.

"I spoke to AP [McCoy] before Barry made his call and he was happy for Barry to make the choice because whatever he decided not to ride can hardly be deemed as a discard," said.

Gibb River, best-price 20/1 (William Hill) for the Supreme, completes Henderson's team for the race and will be ridden by Andrew Tinkler.

For all the latest bookmakers free bets & Cheltenham Festival special offers click here.

Binocular out of Champion Hurdle

Nicky Henderson has been dealt a hammer blow with the news that Binocular will miss Tuesday's stanjames.com Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham.

The current champion had been heading the ante-post market at around the 7/2 mark just hours before today's declaration time.

The JP McManus-owned gelding was treated for an allergy two weeks ago and did not respond to initial medication and required further treatment.

Unfortunately Binocular then tested positive for a substance and on the British Horseracing Authority's advice, Henderson was forced to withdraw the horse.

In a statement Henderson said: "We have very regretfully had to decide not to declare Binocular for Tuesday's Champion Hurdle.

"He had an allergy two weeks ago that did not respond to initial medication and on veterinary advice and well within normal parameters he required a further treatment the following day.

"As we were getting close to the most important race of the year and also because since that administration to Binocular, another horse had tested positive for the same substance, I thought it prudent to take a precautionary test which not only surprisingly, let alone devastatingly, has also shown to be positive.

"We have therefore reluctantly had to take the BHA's advice this morning that the only reasonable course in everybody's interest is not to confirm the entry and he has consequently been withdrawn from the Champion Hurdle.

"We are all obviously shattered but I am particularly upset for JP (McManus) who has been incredibly understanding as I know how much this horse means to him."

Leading fancies Menorah, Peddlers Cross and Hurricane Fly all stand their ground, with confirmation that Ruby Walsh will ride the last-named.

Paul Towned will ride Willie Mullins' other runner Thousand Stars, whilst Henderson will rely solely on Oscar Whisky.

Last-year's runner-up Khyber Kim and Mille Chief will run, whilst the rest of the field consists of Bygones Of Brid, Clerk's Choice, Dunguib and Overturn.

Menorah has been installed as the new Champion Hurdle favourite after Binocular's shock withdrawal and can currently be backed at best-price 10/3 (Bet365).

Champion Hurdle best-price odds:


To claim a free bet from any of these bookmakers click the links below:

Will Hill £25 free bet | Bet365 £200 free bet | Skybet £35 free bet | 888sport £25 free bet Victor Chandler £25 free bet | Stan James £25 free bet | Paddy Power £50 free bet Sportingbet £50 free bet | Ladbrokes £25 free bet | totesport £10 free bet

BHA spokesman Paul Struthers responded to criticism that the regulatory body did not inform punters about the Binocular situation earlier, despite being fully involved in the testing of the horse. He said the earliest the Authority could have released a statement was two days ago.

"There was a lot of information to gather so the earliest we could have said anthing was Friday afternoon. Secondly, there was a genuine expectation that the levels of the substance would come down as testing went on but it didn't. A key factor was the fact that every bookie was by then NRNB on all Cheltenham races," he said earlier today.

Several firms have offered refunds on ante-post bets placed on Binocular. William Hill, Stan James, Bet365 and Paddy Power have offered full refunds and several others, including Ladbrokes, had been offering non-runner no bet on the race for several months.

Kauto Star trimmed for Gold glory

Kauto Star was yesterday backed for his fifth attempt at the Cheltenham Gold Cup as dry weather forecasts suggested he would get his ideal good ground.

Kauto has been cut to best-price 6/1 (Victor Chandler) whilst his stablemate Denman has been pushed out half a point to best-price 13/2 (William Hill) as the ground continues to dry out at Prestbury Park.

The two-time Gold Cup winner, who was as big as 12/1 for the race after finishing third in the King George VI Chase in January, has been edging towards the top of the Gold Cup market ever since connections revealed he had been less than 100 per cent at Kempton.

And with the increasing chance conditions will suit him ideally come Friday, he is now on the cusp of usurping Long Run as second-favourite with some bookmakers.

Other moves in the Gold Cup market came for Kempes, now as short as 9/1 but still available at 12/1 with William Hill and What A Friend, whose price was cut to best-price 40/1 (from 50), also with William Hill.

The Morris Mouse-trained China Rock was also the subject of price changes with several bookmakers on the day his trainer said he was hopeful the eight-year-old would make the frame.

He said: "He has been fourth on his two previous appearances at Cheltenham, so we know that he acts round the track. He will be two stone better on a faster surface and realistically I am hoping that he can be placed."

China Rock was one of our Cheltenham Festival ante-post picks at 100/1 and is now available at best-price 33/1 with William Hill.

The major price news yesterday was that Alarazi's wide-margin victory in the Paddy Power Imperial Cup at Sandown resulted in big cuts for the Vincent O'Brien County Hurdle and the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Hurdle.

Victor Chandler offer best-price 8/1 (from 25) for the County Hurdle, which trainer Lucy Wadham said remained the preferred target.

With a maximum field of 28 in the County, it could be touch and go making the cut but a 5lb penalty makes Alarazi look well treated for one of the most competitive Festival handicaps.

For all the latest bookmakers free bets & Cheltenham Festival special offers click here.

Cheltenham Festival 'specials' bets

With less than 3 days to go, the 2011 Cheltenham Festival is within touching distance and as the excitement mounts for 4 fabulous days next week, we've been taking a look at some of the specials bets on offer from William Hill.

As if 27 races isn't enough to bet on, we'll be having an interest is some of the following - just to give the week a little extra spice.

To claim a free £25 bet from William Hill visit their website here and use promo code: F25. Then go to Horse Racing > Special Markets > Cheltenham Festival Specials:

Who will train more winners at the Cheltenham Festival: Paul Nicholls or Nicky Henderson

Paul Nicholls 10/11
Nicky Henderson 13/8
Tie 4/1

Previous totals:

2010: PN 2 NH 3
2009: PN 5 NH 3
2008: PN 3 NH 0
2007: PN 4 NH 0
2006: PN 3 NH 3

Number Of Irish trained winners at the Cheltenham Festival

Seven 3/1
Six 10/3
Eight 4/1
Five 9/2
Four Or Less 11/2
Nine Or More 6/1

Previous Totals:

2010: 7 Irish trained winners (26 races)
2009: 9 Irish trained winners (26 races)
2008: 7 Irish trained winners (25 races)
2007: 5 Irish trained winners (24 races)
2006: 10* Irish trained winners (24 races)
2005: 9 Irish trained winners (24 races)

(in 2011 there will be 27 races)

Cheltenham Festival total winning favourites (all 4 days)

(25 points if favourite wins, 10 points if favourite is 2nd, 5 points if favourite is 3rd. Thus, if 5 favourites win, 4 finish 2nd and 3 finish third, total points = 125 + 40 + 15 = 180).

Under 190 points 13/8
190 to 225 points 13/8
Over 225 points 7/4

Previous winning Cheltenham Festival favourites:

2010 - 4 (26 races)
2009 - 6 (26 races)
2008 - 2 (25 races)
2007 - 6 (24 races)
2006 - 7 (24 races)
2005 - 5 (24 races)

(in 2011 there will be 27 races)

Cheltenham Festival total distances (all 4 days)

90 to 115 lengths 6/4
under 90 lengths 13/8
over 115 lengths 15/8

World Hurdle match bet

Big Bucks 1/2
Grands Crus 6/4

How many pints of Guinness will be sold at Cheltenham Festival

223,001 or more 6/4
217,001 to 223,000 inclusive 13/8
less than 217,000 2/1

Previous Totals:

2010: 222,000 pints sold
2009: 214,000 pints sold

Cheltenham top jockey

Ruby Walsh 7/4
Barry Geraghty 11/4
Tony McCoy 6/1
Robert Thornton 10/1
Paul Townend 16/1
Richard Johnson 16/1
Tom Scudamore 25/1
Daryl Jacob 33/1
Davy Russell 33/1
Jason Maguire 33/1
Paddy Brennan 33/1
Paul Carberry 33/1
Timmy Murphy 33/1
Dougie Costello 50/1
Graham Lee 50/1
Nick Scholfield 50/1
Paul Maloney 50/1
Sam Thomas 50/1
Sam Twiston-Davies 50/1
Aidan Coleman 66/1

Previous totals (leading two jockeys):

2010: Ruby Walsh 3, Barry Geraghty 3
2009: Ruby Walsh 7, Barry Geraghty 3
2008: Ruby Walsh 3, Robert Thornton 3
2007: Robert Thornton 4, Ruby Walsh 3
2006: Ruby Walsh 3, Tony McCoy 3
2005: Graham Lee 3, Ruby Walsh 2

Cheltenham top trainer

Paul Nicholls 13/8
Nicky Henderson 2/1
Willie Mullins 5/1
Nigel Twiston-Davies 14/1
Philip Hobbs 14/1
Alan King 16/1
David Pipe 16/1
Donald McCain 33/1
Ferdy Murphy 40/1
Jonjo O'Neill 40/1

Previous totals (leading trainer):

2010: Nicky Henderson 3
2009: Paul Nicholls 5
2008: Paul Nicholls 3
2007: Paul Nicholls 4
2006: Paul Nicholls 3
2005: Howard Johnson 3

To claim a free £25 bet from William Hill visit their website here and use promo code: F25. Then go to Horse Racing > Special Markets > Cheltenham Festival Specials.

Voy Por added to Ryanair Chase field

Voy Por Ustedes is a fascinating supplementary entry for the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham on Thursday.

The Sir Robert Ogden-owned 10-year-old is a dual Festival winner, having enjoyed previous success in the Arkle Trophy and the Champion Chase, and was second to Imperial Commander in this race two years ago.

Voy Por Ustedes was fifth in last year's renewal and has since moved to Nicky Henderson from Alan King, but he has not yet seen a racecourse this season. He is now as short as 10/1 with Ladbrokes and totesport for the Ryanair, although he can currently be backed at a standout best-price of 16/1 with Stan James.

Ante-post favourite Poquelin is also among the 16 confirmations. Paul Nicholls' eight-year-old has won four times at Prestbury Park and was runner-up to Albertas Run in the Grade One contest 12 months ago.

The latter could reoppose, but has been disappointing this season and also has the Cheltenham Gold Cup as a Festival alternative.

Regular partner Tony McCoy said: "If he's 10/1 for the Ryanair, he's definitely good value. But he's still in the Gold Cup and if he runs in that, I probably won't be riding him.

"The Ryanair looks a very open race and there are reasons to believe that if he did run there, he could take a bit of beating."

Following the unveiling of the Grade 1 contest's six-day confirmations, Poquelin hardened as favourite for an event that most observers have suggested appears to be slightly substandard.

A major handicap winner over the course and distance in December, last season's Ryanair runner-up was cut to best-price 5/2 favourite from 3/1 by William Hill.

However, Albertas Run was also popular with punters after the positive comments from Tony McCoy, encouraging the 2010 winner's supporters to pile in and triggering a reduction in his odds to best-price 7/1 (Victor Chandler).

A six-strong Irish entry includes Captain Cee Bee, Golden Silver and J'y Vole. However, Tranquil Sea has been ruled out following an unsatisfactory scope. The nine-year-old, who is unbeaten this season, was a genuine contender for the two-mile five-furlong race. Trainer Edward O'Grady admitted the news was a major blow.

"It's hugely disappointing but we're just not happy with the scope," he said. "He hadn't just been working well, he'd been working brilliantly - his recent work has been better than anything he's ever done."

Ferdy Murphy's Kalahari King is another big challenger and while Somersby remains in the mix, his trainer Henrietta Knight insists the Champion Chase is now his definite target.

Other possible runners include Tartak and Breedsbreeze.

Weird Al to run in Cheltenham Gold Cup

Weird Al, who suffered his first defeat over fences when disappointing in the Hennessy Gold Cup, will have his chance to put that run behind him in the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup after connections chose the Festival showpiece contest over the Ryanair Chase.

Jason Maguire will ride the Ian Williams-trained horse, who has undergone a wind operation since finishing a well-beaten eighth at Newbury.

"We had a team meeting and felt the Gold Cup was the opportunity we would like to take, particularly with the likelihood of getting better ground on Friday," said Williams today.

Weird Al, currently a best-priced 33/1 (William Hill) for the Gold Cup, was one of last season's leading novice chasers and prime contender for the RSA Chase until ruled out by injury.

He returned to action this season to dead-heat with subsequent Paddy Power Gold Cup winner Little Josh at Carlisle. Weird Al then started second favourite for the Hennessy but later underwent surgery to correct partial paralysis of his larynx.

"We thought he had a decent chance in the Hennessy and he was disappointing that day for reasons that have been well documented since," said Williams. "We'd like to have run him in the build up but we haven't been in a position to.

"He's run very well fresh before. He will need to up his game enormously, but he was very progressive last season. His first race of the season was very good.

"We didn't get the run we expected when we really wanted to test his ability. He's had a wind op since then. It's not been ideal that we haven't been able to run him but having weighed up the pros and cons we decided we'd like have a go at the Gold Cup."

Somersby confirmed for Champion Chase

Somersby will definitely run in the sportingbet.com Queen Mother Champion Chase next Wednesday, rather than the Ryanair Chase a day later.

Henrietta Knight's seven-year-old will take his chance over two miles at the Cheltenham Festival as his owner, Camilla Radford, is to have chemotherapy on the day of the Ryanair.

Knight said: "The fact is that Mrs Radford is ill at the moment and is having chemotherapy on Thursday next week, so he will run on Wednesday so that she can come and see him. He goes to the race whatever the weather, whether it is raining or snowing or whatever it is."

The handler went on: "It may not be perfect, but it's not influenced by anything other than family misfortunes. I had thought the treatment could be changed if necessary but it has to be booked two or three weeks ahead in London. It's all done very scientifically and it can't be changed.

"If they water the course and then it rains on top, that would certainly suit him as he likes the ground soft."

Meanwhile, William Hill are reporting support for the Irish contingent ahead of the Cheltenham Festival, with Willie Mullins trimmed to 5/1 from 13/2 to take the Thomas Pink Leading Trainer Award, and Paul Townend cut to 16/1 from 25/1 for the Leading Jockey Title.

In comparison, Paul Nicholls has been pushed out to 13/8 from 11/8, whilst Ruby Walsh has also been weak in the market, now 11/8 from 6/5.

Lucy Rhodes, spokeswoman for William Hill, explained: "With Willie Mullins boasting such a strong team, the punters have spied some value away from the market principles Nicholls and Henderson, so we’ve cut him to 11/2 from 13/2 for the title. And with Paul Townend teaming up with the Irish Champion trainer for several top rides, some clearly thought he was overpriced at 25s".

For a free £25 bet with William Hill click here and use promo code: F25

Our Girl Salley out of Mares Hurdle

Our Girl Salley, third favourite for the David Nicholson Mares Hurdle, has been ruled out of Tuesday's Cheltenham event by trainer Prunella Dobbs.

Speaking this morning, Dobbs said: "Unfortunately, Our Girl Salley won't be going to Cheltenham. She scoped wrong yesterday and we've had to scratch her from the race. It's a shame as we were looking forward to running her.

"You have to have a horse 101 per cent to run at the Festival, so we will just have to give her time to recover and, hopefully, she will be right to run in a mares race at the Fairyhouse Easter meeting."

Our Girl Salley, the winner of three bumpers, is unbeaten over hurdles having won all of her three starts this season.

Another horse that looks set to miss next weeks' Festival is Planet Of Sound, who was as short as 28/1 for the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

The nine-year-old, who won the Grade 1 Punchestown Guinness Gold Cup last season, is suffering with an infection in a hind leg that trainer Philip Hobbs expects to rule him out of his intended run at the Cheltenham Festival.

Hobbs said yesterday: "He is pretty unlikely to get to Cheltenham. There is a tiny hope it can be treated in time for the race but it is very unlikely.

"Yesterday he could hardly put his foot on the ground. Today he could put a bit of weight on it, but you have to get the infection out of it and hope the whole thing doesn't burst and the change of antibiotics works. I am 95 per cent certain he won't get there."

Diamond Harry, this season's Hennessy Gold Cup winner, was officially scratched from the Gold Cup yesterday.

Meanwhile, Bothy, runner-up to Recession Proof in the Totesport Trophy and second favourite for the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle, will contest the Coral Cup at Cheltenham next Wednesday.

Trainer Brian Ellison had made three entries at the meeting for Bothy, also giving the five-year-old an option in the Vincent O'Brien County Hurdle, but has opted for the longer distance of the 2m5f Coral Cup, for which the horse is currently best-price 20/1 (William Hill).

"Bothy goes for the Coral, that's definite," he said. "I honestly don't know if he will get the trip but when he ran in the Fred Winter last year it was too quick for him. I think the step up in distance will help."

Bothy finished seventh in the Fred Winter last year behind Sanctuaire, and ran well on his other start at the course last September when second to Menorah in the Greatwood Hurdle.

Solwhit ruled out of World Hurdle

Solwhit will not run in next Thursday’s World Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

The six-time Grade One winner, who had been as short as 10/1 for the stayers' hurdle championship, will miss the race and the remainder of the season ahead of an anticipated step up to chasing in the autumn.

Charles Byrnes's seven-year-old, runner-up to Hurricane Fly in his last three starts, all Grade Ones, was due to step up to three miles for the first time in the feature race on day three of the Festival meeting.

"He just wasn't firing on all cylinders so there is no point in going," Byrnes said. "It's disappointing, but it was something of an after thought anyway. We gave him two pieces of work and they weren't satisfactory. It would have been interesting to see how he got on over the trip. It's doubtful he'll run again this season and I think we'll go chasing with him next season."

In other World Hurdle news, connections of Zaynar have decided to aim the six-year-old at the 3 mile race rather than the Stan James Champion Hurdle over a mile shorter.

Part-owner Victor Chandler revealed discussions about which festival race the grey will go for had reached a conclusion today.

Charlie McCann, the bookmaker's spokesman, said: "I spoke to Victor earlier this afternoon and he said, after much discussion, it has been agreed to go for the World Hurdle rather than the Champion.

"Although his stamina must be taken on trust, Victor suggested that both Barry [Geraghty] and Nicky [Henderson] were optimistic that he would get the three miles and as he goes very well fresh, they were looking for a very good run.

"He had a wind operation eight weeks ago."

The market for the World Hurdle (see below) suggests that it's a two-horse race, with Grands Crus set to test Festival hotpot Big Buck's.

However, Grands Crus' trainer, David Pipe, has dismissed the perception that the Grade 1 stayers' hurdle feature was a straight match between the two big guns.

Look what happened in the Gold Cup last year when it was meant to be Kauto Star versus Denman," said Pipe. "It's not a two-horse race with Mourad and Fiveforthree in there."

Pipe admitted to rising excitement after what he described as "a pretty staggering performance" at Cheltenham last time.

He added: "He put the race to bed in a matter of strides and everyone got very excited after that. He has had a good preparation after a break and everything is going well for next Thursday.

"Big Buck's is still the one to beat and we have got to improve again but Grands Crus is young and only had eight races in his life - I think there is a fair bit of improvement in him."

Meanwhile, Nicky Henderson, the favourite with several bookmakers to be the top trainer at the Cheltenham Festival, could saddle the first four horses in the betting for the Imperial Cup Handicap Hurdle at Sandown on Saturday. Victory in the race would set up a chance to chase a £75,000 bonus offered by Saturday's sponsor, Paddy Power, for any horse that can double up in the Imperial Cup and a race at the Festival.

Aegean Dawn, unbeaten in four starts over hurdles, is the general favourite at around 5/1 for Saturday's handicap, for which there are 40 entries. Henderson, who won the race in 2009 with Dave's Dream, is also represented by Eradicate, Giorgio Quercus and Owen Glendower.

Aegean Dawn holds entries in both the Coral Cup and the County Hurdle at next week's Festival, though as yet the only trainers to land the long-running bonus are Martin Pipe – in 1993 and 1998 – and his son, David, in 2007. Pipe has two entries in the Imperial Cup, Arrayan – the second-favourite with some bookies at around 12/1 – and Ronaldo Des Mottes.

For all the latest bookmakers free bets & Cheltenham Festival special offers click here.

William Hill offer Festival Guinness odds

William Hill have opened betting on how many pints of Guinness will be sold at this year’s Cheltenham Festival.

Last year 222,000 pints of the "black stuff" were sold at Prestbury Park – and Hills believe that total could be surpassed.

223,001 pints or more is the 6/4 favourite with William Hill who also offer odds of 13/8 for 217,001-223,000 pints and 2/1 for 217,000 pints or less.

"There's no better way to celebrate backing a winner at Cheltenham than downing a pint of the black stuff." said Hills spokesman Tony Kenny, "Last year 222,000 pints of Guinness were sold at Prestbury park and we're predicting another busy year for the boys behind the bars at Cheltenham."

Previous Totals:

2010: 222,000 pints sold at Cheltenham
2009: 214,000 pints sold at Cheltenham

To claim a free £25 bet from William Hill click here (use promo code F25). To find the market go to Horse Racing > Special Markets and scroll down to "Cheltenham Festival Specials".

Hills are also offering odds on the number of Irish trained winners at the Festival. Current prices are as follows:

7/1 Four (or less)
9/2 Five
10/3 Six
3/1 Seven
4/1 Eight
5/1 Nine (or more)

Previous Totals:

2010: 7 Irish trained winners (26 races)
2009: 9 Irish trained winners (26 races)
2008: 7 Irish trained winners (25 races)
2007: 5 Irish trained winners (24 races)
2006: 10* Irish trained winners (24 races)
2005: 9 Irish trained winners (24 races)
2004: 4 Irish trained winners (20 races)
2003: 6 Irish trained winners (20 races)
2002: 5 Irish trained winners (20 races)

* Record, although the Festival was previously three days up until 2005. Prior to The Festival’s extension to four days in 2005, the previous record was eight wins in 1958 (when 18 races were run). In 2011 there will be 27 races.

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Riverside out of Ryanair Chase

Riverside Theatre has today been ruled out of the Ryanair Chase with a hairline fracture to his pelvis.

Owned by the Jimmy Nesbitt Partnership, which includes actor James Nesbitt, the seven-year-old was the general second favourite for the Cheltenham Festival showpiece after winning the Betfair Ascot Chase last month.

He also finished second to stablemate Long Run in the rescheduled King George VI Chase at Kempton in January.

Trainer Nicky Henderson nonetheless remains confident Riverside Theatre will make a complete recovery. He said: "Riverside was lame after exercise on Friday and, as a result, we found he had suffered a hairline fracture to his pelvis.

"Although we hoped the problem was muscular, a scan revealed that to be not the case. He's lucky this has been revealed, rather than anything more serious, as the consequences would have been bad.

"I have spoken to the vets and we are confident he'll be perfectly fine for next season. It's still an enormous shame as he was having a most promising season. He's still young, though, and will hopefully have a huge career."

Poquelin is now best price 7/2 favourite for the Ryanair which takes place on Thursday 17th.

Diamond Harry to miss Gold Cup

Painful news for those with ante-post bets on Diamond Harry for the Cheltenham Gold Cup as the eight-year-old has been ruled out of steeplechasing's blue riband event.

Winner of the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury in November, when he had Denman behind him, the Nick Williams-trained eight-year-old had been as short as 8/1.

Owner Paul Duffy said: "He's got a suspensory ligament problem as I understand it from Nick. It was diagnosed today by the vet, so unfortunately he is out of the Gold Cup and that will be it for the season.

"Nick reckons he will need to rest for around four months given the nature of his situation. It's not as serious as a tendon injury thankfully, but that's the ups and downs of racing I'm afraid.

"We were very hopeful for him in the Gold Cup. He goes well fresh and we felt it was the right thing to do not to run again after the Hennessy."

Meanwhile, Graham Wylie hopes Tidal Bay can be placed in the Gold Cup. The owner was at Doncaster yesterday to see his enigmatic performer work with stablemate Arcalis after racing.

Tidal Bay produced a typically quirky display to finish second in the Argento Chase at Cheltenham last time and the owner said: "I think he has got a good chance of being placed in the Gold Cup, it depends what Tidal Bay turns up.

"He could go off the pace from the back of the pack and run up the hill like a sprinter. It depends how close Brian (Hughes) can get him at the second-last. He's a frustrating horse, but I'm sure he will give us a good day out."

Carruthers is another on course for another crack at the Gold Cup following a pleasing workout. The eight-year-old, bred and part-owned by Lord Oaksey, was fourth in the race last March and is reported to be in tip-top shape by trainer Mark Bradstock.

"He worked on Friday morning and we were really pleased with him," said Bradstock.

"Hopefully, you will see him in the Gold Cup. He ran a great race in it as year. It's drying up very quickly which would not be to our advantage, but we will see how we get on."

Carruthers, who was fourth to Silver By Nature in the Grand National Trial at Haydock on his latest start, is currently as big as 80/1 to upset the big guns on March 18.

Cue Card - Supreme Novices' money-back offer

Paddy Power have announced an exclusive promotion for the opening race of this years' Cheltenham Festival.

If Cue Card wins the Supreme Novices' Hurdle on Tuesday 15th, they will refund ALL losing single bets on the race.

Last year Paddy Power offered the same promotion with Dunguib and luckily for them Menorah foiled the odds-on Irish superstar in the first race of the meeting.

This year the firm are hoping that ante-post favourite Cue Card will not win the Festival opener or it will cost them dear.

The five-year-old was a scintillating winner of last season's Champion Bumper and impressed on his first two outings over obstacles.

He lost no caste in defeat when second to Menorah in the International Hurdle at Cheltenham in December and is worthy favourite for the 2011 Supreme Novices' crown.

To open an account with Paddy Power and claim a free £50 bet click here.

Riverside Theatre gets Ryanair ticket

Riverside Theatre, clear second favourite for the Ryanair Chase, is set to take on Poquelin and co in the championship event after trainer Nicky Henderson described the Grade 1 winner as "more likely than unlikely" to run at Cheltenham.

A major flop in last season's Irish Independent Arkle Trophy, Riverside Theatre coasted to a facile success in last month's Betfair Ascot Chase, after which connections hinted that previous plans to skip Cheltenham in favour of Aintree could be amended.

That about-turn now looks likely to be executed with Riverside Theatre - part-owned by actor Jimmy Nesbitt - currently best-price 11/2 to win the 2m5f event.

Henderson said: "We discussed it the other night and as long as we are happy with Riverside Theatre next week, I'd say he'd be here."

Punchestowns swerves Festival

With just 12 days to go before the 2011 Cheltenham Festival, Nicky Henderson has effectively ruled Punchestowns out of running at Prestbury Park and is considering giving the chestnut a run at the racecourse which has lent him his name.

Although entered in both the Cheltenham Gold Cup and the World Hurdle, Henderson is looking away from those events. Punchestowns finally managed a win this season with a fairly unconvincing defeat of Pasco at Kempton last month.

"I think we can say Punchestowns won't be here," said the trainer at a Cheltenham press conference yesterday.

"I don't think he'll win a Gold Cup or a World Hurdle so we are better to stay out of it. There's Aintree and we've always said he should run at Punchestown one year. Maybe it could be this year. That would be over fences."

Henderson admitted the publication of the weights for the Festival handicaps yesterday had thrown him into confusion. His Molotof is the top weight for the Fred Winter Juvenile Hurdle while A Media Luz, who was to be diverted to the Triumph Hurdle instead, has 11st 4lb.

He said: "Our plans have rather fallen out of synch, especially with the four-year-olds. What we thought was sorted a fortnight ago has now fallen out of order - some are now in and some are now out - and we need to go away and have a think."

Henderson said it was "more likely than unlikely" that Riverside Theatre would contest the Ryanair Chase after a brief chat with connections this week while he has not made up his mind about a Cheltenham target for French Opera. The Game Spirit Chase winner is top weight of 11st 12lb - 6lb higher than next best Tchico Polos - in the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase.

However much the trainer would like to win the event commemorating his father, he is also considering the sportingbet.com Queen Mother Champion Chase.

He added: "I haven't discussed it with the owner yet. He and Mad Max are in both races. On the one hand it could help horses like Anquetta at the bottom of the weights, and I could claim off French Opera, but on the other they all have different owners."

The unveiling of weights for the Cheltenham Festival handicaps impacted various betting markets.

For Non Stop, the biggest early gamble for a Festival handicap, could carry just 10st 2lb in his bid to land a major plunge in the Coral Cup - but the classy youngster needs a host of horses to defect if he is win a place in the line-up.

A maximum of 28 runners are allowed to compete in the £70,000 contest, for which For Non Stop, recently cut to best-price 8/1 favourite, has been handed a feather weight by the BHA's handicapping team.

However, with 65 entries due to carry more weight than the novice, trainer Nick Williams - who has also entered For Non Stop in the Grade 1 Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle - faces an anxious wait.Blackstairmountain has been cut for the Vincent O’Brien County Hurdle. Willie Mullins’ six-year-old has been allotted 10st 9lb for the two-mile event with Overturn and Celestial Halo topping the weights at 11st 12lb.

Blackstairmountain showed plenty of promise as a novice to be of interest in a race like the County Hurdle and the fact that we’ve only seen him twice this term suggests that this has very much been the plan all season. He can be backed at best-price 16/1 at the time of writing.

In other races, Definity has joined Divers and Quantitativeeasing at the head of the market for the Centenary Novices’ Handicap Chase.

Kilcrea Kim is now 14/1 joint-favourite for the Pertemps Final alongside Barafundle, Chartreux, Mister Hyde and Sivota.

Dynaste is the new 10/1 favourite for the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys Handicap Hurdle, whilst both Williams Wishes and Snap Tie have been trimmed for the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual, which currently has Tanks For That at best-price 8/1 favourite.

For all the latest bookmakers free bets & Cheltenham Festival special offers click here.