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

The Cheltenham Festival kicks off next Tuesday with the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, the moment that jumps racing fans like myself have been waiting for all year.

This week we’ll preview all 4 Championship Races, but we’ll kick things off by taking a look at the Festival specials markets.

• Arkle Chase Betting Preview
• Champion Hurdle Betting Preview
• Champion Chase Betting Preview
• World Hurdle Betting Preview
• Gold Cup Betting Preview

At this stage we’re still in the dark about running plans, but several bookmakers are now non-runner/no bet. For example, you fancy Lough Derg – the staying hurdler that never says die. Yet he could run in either the Champion Hurdle, World Hurdle or Coral Cup.

For punters who aren’t in the know, it’s best to check out running plans by searching for the horse’s connections in Google News.

Top Jockey usually only takes about 3 winners, but you really want a jockey tied to an in-form stable who has a good book of rides at the festival. At this stage we don’t know who is riding what, as there are still some dilemnas to be solved – e.g. AP McCoy’s Gold Cup ride.

Tony McCoy is 9/2, not a bad price for a jockey who rode his 3000th winer this year. He doesn’t ride Cheltenham particularly well, but has some strong rides for JP McManus, such as Binocular.

I was on Ruby Walsh at evens (1/1) last year, and he’s 5/4 with bet365 this year. Even at that price he looks a good bet, taking rides for Paul Nicholls and Willie Mullins. Add in Kauto Star and Master Minded and it looks like you have yourself some easy money.

Choc Thornton is interesting at 9/1 with Ladbrokes, whilst Richard Johnson is the best long-shot at 25/1.

Rain is forecast this week, and if it doesn’t fall the course will be watered to ensure that it rides on the easy side of good. ‘Good to Soft’ is 4/11 with Blue Square in the Official Going market.

Paul Nicholls is 5/2 with totesport for 5 or more winners – I’m not interested.

Nicholls is 7/1 on Betfair to repeat the Gold Cup 1-2-3 of 2008, but Denman has been very weak in the betting recently. Perhaps punters should just play the reverse forecast with Kauto Star and Neptune Collonges.

Nicky Henderson is 9/1 to win the Champion Hurdle and World Hurdle - you wouldn’t bet against him this year. He could even take the Gold Cup with Barbers Shop (16/1)!

Blue Square go 4/5 for a Female Winner at Cheltenham – think Nina Carberry (Garde Champetre, Parsons Pistol, Poker De Sivola).

Punters may want to put the so-called ‘bankers’ in an accumulator – the Bincocular, Kasbah Bliss, Master Minded, Kauto Star fourfold is 15/1 on Betfair.

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

Official Going Betting

Top Jockey Betting

Champion Hurdle Betting

Champion Chase Betting

World Hurdle Betting

Gold Cup Betting