Welcome to dwell protection of the primary day of the Cheltenham Competition on a day the place we could see a horse of true generational expertise have his coronation.
Many horses carry an aura however in recent times maybe none has touched that of Structure Hill, the horse tipped by many to enter racing’s stratosphere this afternoon
Maybe he’s already there, having received his 5 profession begins by an combination of 15 lengths together with victory within the opening race of final 12 months’s competition.
But the barometer of greatness in racing is judged by a horse’s potential to do it on the largest phases within the greatest races and Structure Hill has that likelihood this afternoon.
The six-year-old shall be despatched off a red-hot favorite for the Unibet Champion Hurdle (3.30), a race his coach Nicky Henderson has received a file eight occasions beforehand.
Whereas maybe not a backable worth for many punters, Structure Hill would be the cornerstone of a whole bunch of 1000’s of a number of bets and a win will strike worry into the hearts of the bookies up and down the land.
Elsewhere, the Cheltenham legend that’s Honeysuckle will take pleasure in what’s going to presumably be her competition swansong, when she tackles eight rivals within the Shut Brothers Mares’ Hurdle.
The twin Champion Hurdle winner has not been the power of previous this season, therefore the choice to redirect her to this weaker contest.
Nonetheless, she stays arguably the most well-liked horse in coaching and victory for her and Rachael Blackmore this afternoon would really deliver the home down.
Past that, the storyline to observe shall be how shortly the Irish begin racking up the winners.
Willie Mullins has enormous probabilities in at the very least 5 of this afternoon’s races, together with the favourites the opening two races – the Sky Wager Supreme Novice’s Hurdle (1.30) and the Sporting Life Arkle (2.10) – whereas there are a bunch of Irish challengers elsewhere on the cardboard.
Mullins’ victories in these opening two contests might really sign the beginning of an enormous week for the Irish.
