The Bookies Blog team have already decided that Dunguib will canter home in the Supreme Novices Hurdle, but should that bet land us in trouble, which of the two fancied mares should we rely on to dig us of our financial hole?

Bookmakers took action today to cut Voler La Vedette‘s odds into 7/4, which means she is now the new market leader to win the third running of the David Nicholson Mares Hurdle on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival.

The latest market move must also be put down to Quevega‘s weakness; I’m surprised to see bookmakers such as Sporting Bet offering 2/1 about last years winner recording a repeat success over the 2m4f.

The race looks between the pair of Irish raiders in my eyes. In 2008 the Irish sent over Sweet Kiln, who was a bitterly disappointing favourite, but this year they send over the first 3 in the betting.

Whiteoak was just a novice when winning this race at 20/1 in 2008, but she has since been retired to the paddocks.

7/4 Voler La Vedette

I’m already financially down on Voler La Vedette, before she has even set foot at Prestbury Park. I backed her each-way at 33/1 to romp home in a hurdles race on the opening day of the Festival. Unfortunately, it was for the Champion Hurdle, over a shorter trip that would’ve suited her better…

When Colm Murphy clarified the running plans atfer a February setback, I checked out her odds for this Mares race. 4/1.

She won 4 of her 5 starts as a novice, and then beat a below-par Go Native at the start of the 2009/10 season. Go Native wasn’t right on that day, so we shouldn’t read too much into that Down Royal success. She then swerved a clash with the smart Solwhit at Leopardstown, where she was tried over the 2m4f trip against inferior mares. She looked lazy when she hit the front, but she still managed to land the odds.

To me she has questionable stamina – but connections have every reason to have a crack at Quevega, who could be rusty after almost a year off.

Over 2m against Quevega, she’d be my idea of a banker.

2/1 Quevega

Quevega was heavily backed for last year’s Mares Hurdle, and she galloped away from United by 14 lengths to justify 2/1 favouritism. She hasn’t been seen since picking up an injury at Auteuil, but there haven’t been any negative comments from the Willie Mullins camp so far. She hasn’t had a prep run, but I wouldn’t be too concerned about that in such a weak race. Voler La Vedette has question marks over the trip, and I know that Quevega’s jockey Ruby Walsh is one to be trusted with my Cheltenham bankroll.

For me, Quevega should employ front-running tactics and make sure this race is a test of stamina. Not a stroll around Prestbruy Park.

She has a brilliant hurdling technique, and was only beaten 3 lengths by Solwhit and Punjabi at Punchestown last year. Those two horses are both at the head of this year’s Champion Hurdle market.

I have backed her at shameful odds of 11/8 and will step in again if she touches 5/2.

Voler La Vedette is a tempting place lay on Betfair.

bookies.com is your No.1 bet for comparing Cheltenham Festival betting odds:

David Nicholson Mares Hurdle Betting Odds

Supreme Novices Hurdle

Arkle Chase

Champion Hurdle

Neptune Investment Management Novices Hurdle

RSA Chase

Champion Chase

Ryanair Chase

World Hurdle

Triumph Hurdle

Albert Bartlett Novice Hurdle

Cheltenham Gold Cup

The first race of next week’s Cheltenham Festival, the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, will determine the fortunes of many punters, especially those travelling across the Irish Sea. Dunguib is the horse in question, and is the first so-called ‘banker’ to run. Combined odds of 6/1 about Dunguib, Big Bucks, Master Minded and Kauto Star all winning will tempt many – but will punters still be sitting pretty after the Supreme Novices’ – run over 2m110y?

9/10 Dunguib

Dunguib is undoubtedly the latest National Hunt superstar and he has won 7 out of his 9 races impressively. The most telling of which was last year’s Champion Bumper win at the Festival:

His jumping over obstacles has been atrocious though, and many pundits think that it will cost him the race. Those having large bets on this odds-on favourite will hope that his engine ensures that he trounces a weak looking field.

Last year’s favourite in this race, Cousin Vinny, was beaten at odds of 9/4. Another negative, is that Dunguib’s regular jockey, Brian O’Connell, has never ridden the Cheltenham hurdles course before.

7/1 Get Me Out Of Here

Get Me Out Of Here looks the natural each-way choice in this field. The JP McManus-owned gelding has a progressive profile with form that reads nicely: 11111. The last ’1′ being the Totesport Trophy Handicap at Newbury, which was hotly contested by some useful types.

AP McCoy rides for boss Jonjo O’Neill, and the Champion jockey would love to have a winner before taking the Gold Cup ride on 4/1 Denman on Friday 19th.

12/1 Blackstairmountain

Ruby Walsh takes this ride, the first of many next week. Willie Mullins looks to have a formidable team one again for this year’s Festival, but Blackstairmountain only has a maiden hurdle victory at Punchestown to his name. Such inexperience is a concern in this frantic race.

12/1 Menorah

Menorah is the 15/8 second favourite in the ‘Best of British’ market, contested by Oscar Whisky and Get Me Out Of Here. A slow pace was blamed for his recent odds-on Ascot defeat, but I’d want my cash to be carried by a last time out winner. Richard Johnson is amongst the best jockeys around Cheltenham, but he is yet to win this curtain-raiser.

20/1 Oscar Whisky

Yet another Irish bred gelding in the race, and another one that is unbeaten over hurdles. What to make of his wins though? They have all come at short odds in weak-looking races.

That said, jockey Barry Geraghty is a plus and Nicky Henderson is the leading Festival trainer.

20/1 Dan Breen

Has been backed into 20s from 33/1 last week. His Doncaster win could perhaps be a good bit of form, as the second placed Tanto Faz went on to win a race at Stratford. I can’t get too excited and I’d still rather back the machine that is Dunguib!

bookies.com is your No.1 bet for comparing Cheltenham Festival betting odds:

Supreme Novices Hurdle

Arkle Chase

Champion Hurdle

Neptune Investment Management Novices Hurdle

RSA Chase

Champion Chase

Ryanair Chase

World Hurdle

Triumph Hurdle

Albert Bartlett Novice Hurdle

Cheltenham Gold Cup

Last year’s 6/4 Champion Hurdle favourite, Binocular, could still run in the 2010 edition, despite having previously been ruled out by trainer Nicky Henderson.

It had been reported that Binocular was suffering from a muscle problem, but he has now been given the thumbs up from the vets at the Henderson yard.

The French-bred hurdler has been beaten twice by Go Native this season, but a win in a Listed Hurdle event at Sandown Park led to renewed optimism about his Champion Hurdle bid this year.

Binocular (pictured) is a best-priced 12/1 now with Boylesports to be crowned Champion Hurdler, in what looks to be a wide open race without any outstanding candidate. William Hill go 10/1 and will refund you bet if he doesn’t line up.

He is a 20/1 chance on Betfair, as there is still a doubt that he will run. Layers have a chance to collect their winnings before the race is even run, but should he line up, they could face damaging liabilities. £52 has been matched at 999/1!

AP McCoy would be retained to ride Binocular for his boss JP McManus, which would leave Zaynar jockey-less, as it has been understood that Barry Geraghty will ride last year’s champion Punjabi. Top jockeys Ruby Walsh and Paddy Brennan both have fancied rides, so it may mean that Felix De Giles gets the leg up on Victor Chandler’s grey star.

bookies.com is your No.1 bet for comparing Cheltenham Festival betting odds:

Supreme Novices Hurdle

Arkle Chase

Champion Hurdle

Neptune Investment Management Novices Hurdle

RSA Chase

Champion Chase

Ryanair Chase

World Hurdle

Triumph Hurdle

Albert Bartlett Novice Hurdle

Cheltenham Gold Cup

The 2009 Totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup is the highlight of the festival – featuring another match-up between previous winners Denman and Kauto Star (pictured).

The race revolves around Champion Trainer Paul Nicholls, who has the front 3 in the market.

Denman didn’t put a foot wrong last year, and beat stablemate Kauto by 7 lengths. The bookmakers were quick to make him an odds-on shot for 2009, but since then he has suffered from heart problems. Owner Harry Findlay thinks that the win took a lot out of him and he disappointed on his seasonal re-appearance at Kempton Park.

In February he was trounced by Madison Du Berlais in the Levy Board Chase, but the track didn’t suit him. He is likely to come on for the run, but Ladbrokes go a massive 7/1.

He has been working well, and will be partnered by Sam Thomas, who has a 100% record with him.

The 7/1 hasn’t been popular, but if the price is bigger on the day (e.g. 10/1), I’m afraid that I shall have to step in and back the champ.

15/8 Kauto Star is one of my favourites, but betting sense has to prevail. The price is just too short for my liking, especially with rain forecast for the first half of next week. Last year he got turned over at 10/11, and he was never travelling well on the tacky ground.

On good ground, he has to be a banker, but we shall have to see the weather does. I would be feeling chuffed at this stage if I had taken 6/1 after his defeat last year. He won the King George in effortless fashion, and will go well fresh. That said, he much prefers Kempton Park, a speed track.

He unseated Sam Thomas in the Betfair Chase, and is prone to blunders on the final fence. He would be a popular winner, but the price is too short for my liking.

6/1 Neptune Collonges is a class act and will be partnered by Christian Williams. He won the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup, but I think he’ll grab a place at best. He is improving all the time, but last years Gold Cup (3rd) was run to suit him. He has never won at Cheltenham before.

9/1 Madison Du Berlais has had a great season and should go for the Grand National. He has never won at Cheltenham in 5 starts, and prefers flatter tracks like Newbury and Kempton. For an each way bet there are others at even bigger prices.

12/1 Exotic Dancer will be partnered by AP McCoy, and should run his race. He is 33/1 to win the National off top weight.

40/1 War Of Attrition is another former winner in the field, but his best days are behind him.

20/1 Albertas Run has festival form, but needs good ground. If the going was good, you’d fancy Kauto to hose up.

25/1 Air Force One looks a decent bet, particularly after the Hennessy form has been boosted by Madison Du Berlais. Air Force One should reverse the placings, and is capable of a place at this level.

50/1 Imperial Commander should go for the Ryanair Chase and 150/1 Snowy Morning has been very disappointing this year.

100/1 Snoopy Loopy can never be discounted, but he looks up against it after a hard season.

Recommendation:

DENMAN each way at any odds greater than 7/1 looks stunning value, but Kauto Star should win on good ground. Air Force One and Madison Du Berlais have place chances.

bookies.com is your best bet for comparing odds for the Cheltenham Festival.

Gold Cup Betting

Champion Hurdle Betting

Champion Chase Betting

World Hurdle Betting