Ruby Tuesday, Ireland 3-4 Britain, or Nicholls 1-0 Henderson – however you dress it up day one of the 2011 Cheltenham Festival was full of more action than you can shake a stick at.
Hat-trick hero Ruby Walsh was the story to come out of the first day, after he galloped into folklore by saddling three winners. Much like a Major League baseball player there’s no time to celebrate too wildly as the races come thick and fast with another five rides today for the Irishman.
The pick of these is in the sportingbet.com Queen Mother Champion Chase at 3:20. Walsh saddles the Paul Nicholls trained Master Minded and will be confident that he can add to the two Champion Chases that the horse has won in the past.
Last year’s winner Big Zeb is the challenge that Walsh, Nicholls, and Master Minded need to see off and it will require the same resolve that saw Walsh have such a successful first day.
Ruby is also fancied aboard Call The Police in the 4:00 Coral Cup and you wouldn’t put it past him to gain at least two more winners today.
We almost forgot to say that it’s Ladies Day down at Cheltenham today and although it won’t be the kind of array of Ayre Heads you might see at an iGaming conference, the hats on display are worth the admission price alone though.
As far as the other races are concerned keep eyes peeled for Chicago Grey in the first race of the day at 1:30, First Lieutenant and Oscars Well should fight it out in the Novice Hurdle at 2:05, before Wayward Prince and Time For Rupert look well placed in the RSA Chase.
Another horse that is heavily fancied is Plan A in the race at 4:40. Given that Walsh doesn’t ride in that race Paul Carberry may be in with a chance of saddling it as a winner.
