Right, time for round one of previews for the greatest festival of all time!!! Looks like one of the best Cheltenham's since the inception of the NHC into the league and the hype and tension has never been so great!! Let's get it on!!

IRISH BANK SUPREME NOVICES HURDLE

2m Hurdle, 4yo+, Grade 1

12 Line up to face the roar of the opening race Cheltenham crowd, 25 of the highest class races coming up and it starts with a bang. Some very classy consistent types here and will be a great race. Firstly we’ll start off with WORLDSBEST, known to some as one of the bankers of the festival this highly hyped horse has been very classy when winning twice and 2nd to what looks like some horse last time out. Is the one to beat but two horses that can go close are CHINESE WHISPER & PRINCESS WISTERIA, the former is a super consistent horse who has not been out of the top 4 all season, good form at the course and ground also in favour should stand it in good stead. The latter is already a grade 1 winner after the tolworth win and is a C&D winner over good ground, despite that trainer has reservations over ground. Other possible are GO ON GO ON GO ON who finished a great 3rd on debut and could give these a run for their money. PICRIES & PRANCANNER are both solid types who have been finishing towards the front in their races and have outside place claims. UNCERTAIN RESERVE has run well at every attempt and shouldn’t be ruled out, but ground could cause problems. WILD WIND is another real consistent horse who can get involved but has it to do with a few of these.
Solid race here, a lot of good chances but WORLDSBEST looks a good thing and will take all the beating, no doubts either about CHINESE WHISPER showing up in the places again and the class of PRINCESS WISTERIA should be enough to grab a place.

1:Worldsbest
2:Chinese Whisper
3: Princess Wisteria

I have placed a Sticky on this mate so its top of the forum page

Nice one Nick!!

Guys i started doing some previews last night but ive seen Nick is doing them so im going to leave him to it:

If the nhc gets the improvements it needs i wish to do a these previews for the whole festival, hopefully with Nicks help - the previews are an in depth runner by runner guide with concluding verdit .

I will try and post a link on here but dont have an account at any sharing site or know how to use them but if you want to take a look then leave ur email address and ill send them over!!!

Don't see any harm in both of you doing them.

Let's see who's the best previewer

Got your email Ryan, can upload that on the website if you want but do you want to do a few more? Rapidshare.com is always an alternative

Sorry guys been on the lash all weekend so fell asleep all afternoon! If you want we can alternate races, took me about 30 mins/1 hour to do one so will take me aaaages to do all of them so help would be greatly appreciated! Let me know asap before I start any others!

well the two id done were the Supreme Novices and the Arkle - they take a long while and i do them on word in a different format.

rich can u upload a link to the two i sent you so people can have a look at them!?

http://rapidshare.com/files/442943042/S ... EK_12.docx



Ryans Previews

Ok then I'll just carry on then, once I've given a few pastings out on fifa I'll get cracking

Great work lads

Arkle Challenge Trophy Chase

2m Chase, 4yo+, Grade 1

15 horses entered for the arkle which again looks a tough heat. First horse to look at is CALM HANDS a flat import who won the Tingle Creek over firm ground earlier in the season, has disappointed since but will have ground and no G1 penalties here so do not dismiss. DARENIA has also won over the ground when winning the Henry VIII chase, tends to be a bit sloppy with jumping at times but is a class horse when stays upright and will go very close. GODIVA for Dave Hooley will be another top chance for the trainer. Won over a range of ground conditions and winner of the Desert Orchid chase, has everychance but like DARENIA needs to stay upright but if does will definetly go close. NEWCORP LAD very good horse on his day, another who has won over firm ground down at Exeter and has always been there or there abouts since. Likes to make the running and if gets given an easy lead he could run away with it. THE PERFECT STORM has been class around 20 furlongs this year and comes here instead of the Ryan Air. Trainer believes a strong 2m and the ground will be in favour and if keeping up to form has every chance. Other horses that could have a chance here are MAMA MIA who was second on debut but dissapointed since, PACO BOY good 3rd on debut but a bit of an unknown quantity. SMOKING ACES was third behind DARENIA on debut before going on to win the Grade 1 Victor Chandler, despite that worries about the ground and distance may put pay to his chances. ZAFONIC also has a good chance after winning the Irish Arkle 4 weeks ago, good win there but deserves a go here despite ground reservations.

Strong race as you'd expect at the festival and the selection is NEWCORP LAD tough front runner who has been consistent at the top level and I could fear this might be given an easy lead and run away with it. DARENIA & GODIVA are very close on ratings and can fill the places. SMOKING ACES & THE PERFECT STORM cannot be ruled out whatsoever.

1: NEWCORP LAD
2: DARENIA
3: GODIVA

Champion Hurdle Trophy
2m Hurdle, 4yo+, Grade 1

11 line up for what is looking a class Champion Hurdle. CAMPAIGN CAKE is already a double G1 winner over 2 miles and deserves a spot in this class race, won over the ground so that will be in favour as looks to struggle in softer condition. Definitely can be in with a shout, CHICKEN SOUP has won over the distance but struggles when upped in class and may be out of depth here. DOUBLE D is again a top consistent horse for Padraig Hogan, again another dropped down in trip but may be up against it with some of these. FARAMIR ASKARAR for top trainer Craig Allen has been a loyal servant with 2 Grade 1’s to his name already, was behind some of the novices last time though and ground may be a problem. ITS HULK TIME has been a consistently good horse but still a maiden and some better types here. MANDANAGO FANDANGO is the apple of his trainers eye and has been specifically aimed at this race, another double G1 winner who has form over differing ground conditions and some solid form so should have a real chance here. MINERVAN STAR and QUAKE have been quite disappointing for some of the top flat trainers and could struggle and so may SPARKISS & SWORD OF BRIXTON. The one everyone has to beat though is the reigning champion SANDRA BULLOCK the only horse to come back and reclaim their crown this year and has every chance, despite that yet to win a G1 this year and ground may spoil her chances but i’m sure she will be fighting out the finish

Despite SANDRA BULLOCK reappearing to reclaim her crown it could be a bit too much on her plate and through the form MANDANAGO FANDANAGO may have the upper hand, Ryan Tahmassebi’s chance is a double G1 winner and this could be his chance to take the Champion Hurdle. FARAMIR ASKARAR, CAMPAIGN CAKE & DOUBLE D should also be fighting out the places.

1: MANDANAGO FANDANAGO
2: SANDRA BULLOCK
3: CAMPAIGN CAKE

William Hill Trophy Chase

3m Chase, 4yo+, 0-140 Handicap

ANOTHER BARINGO was 4th in the Peter Marsh chase and is well handicapped to possibly show a good run here for Paul Moores. CARRIGEEN & COMICAL ALI are both out of the handicap and could struggle here. ELLY has performed well at restricted level and won at kelso latest, likes the firm ground but may be up against it. HAND FULL is a flat import who ran well at Newbury latest but is still an unknown quantity over the trip so is best watched. Another flat import is Sydney cup winner HOPSCOTCH who was 3rd on chase debut in the Aon Chase, dissapointed last time and main target is back on flat, has place claims. I HEAR MELODIES has performed well at graded level and is nicely weighted here, could have place claims. LIGHTS OUT has won over the C&D but dissapointed since until 3rd at Kempton lto, ground will suit and will be towards the front. LITTLE MILAN has been very solid at the top level of 3 mile chases but has yet to win despite a second here in the Letheby & Christopher chase, is also weighted to turn the result around with NAVADEE who hasn't been seen since then but there are good vibes coming from the trainer and the ground will suit both of these horse so expect them to be fighting it out towards the end. MIDAS WAY & SHIRLEY'S QUEST are at the bottom of the handicap and could struggle against some of these. PICTURE BOOK was 3rd behind the 2 aforementioned horses LM & NAVADEE at cheltenham but ground worries may put pay to her chances. TRAVELLING PRAYER cannot be forgotten especially after a 2nd in the Feltham but dissapointed since and is well handicapped to go close here.

As mentioned this race is expected to be between LITTLE MILAN & NAVADEE who filled the top 2 places in the Letheby & Christopher and the ground will suit both of these so it will be tough to choose between them but being in recipt of 7lb after finishing a length behind LITTLE MILAN is weighted to reverse the result. TRAVELLING PRAYER, PICTURE BOOK, LIGHTS OUT & HOPSCOTCH also have every chance in this very open race

1: LITTLE MILAN
2: NAVADEE
3: LIGHTS OUT

Some great stuff. Surprised to see Newcorp Lad getting a selection!

I can't seem to get hold of Ryans previews...

Excellent work Nick.

BGC Cross Country Handicap

3m7f Chase, 4yo+, 0-160 Handicap

First of the long distance chases here and could be a pointer towards Aintree and the National. BABUCON is the first runner who is guaranteed to like the trip and the ground, some good runs in handicap company but this will only be used as a stepping stone for the national, has place claims. BARTON SUN hasn't been overly convincing and the ground is a worry so best watched. BEST STAR has some mixed form, but is 1 from 1 over Good-Firm and that could help the mare and has a decent chance of a place if stays. EAGER is an extremely consistent sort who has done well enough to stay out of the handicappers grip, can see a big run coming from this one. FOLLOW FLANDERS is a top class horse, returning from a poor run in the P'O Sullevan last year but is this years Welsh National winner and if stays will go very close, ground is a plus as well. OWN IT II has had a decent season picking up one win but has the ground and a tough handicap mark to deal with so best watched. PORT AU BANQUE & POWER DEL have also had one decent run this year which could put them in contention but could struggle on the form lines. ROTUMA is an unknown quantity but should be respected coming out of a top staying stable. THE SNAIL has had a great year so far with some good wins and places but seems to struggle on anything better than good so is dismissed for that reason and has a very high handicap mark as well. THE VIPER is an interesting one for top trainer Padraig Hogan, 2nd in the Welsh National and will relish this ground, gave FOLLOW FLANDERS 16lb that day and here recieves 4lb from the Craig Allen horse so should be able to reverse form, will go very well. TIMES TWO TURKEY & VALAZAR SKY are both good consistent types but up against it here.

It is a very tough race and anything can happen but it is hard to look past THE VIPER, ground, trip and weights all in favour and will be tough to get past when it comes to the buisness end. FOLLOW FLANDERS will also be there at the finish with EAGER, BABUCON and BEST ONE will also be towards the front of the field.

1: THE VIPER
2: FOLLOW FLANDERS
3: EAGER