1.30 – Spinal Research Supreme Novices’ Hurdle

2m4f - Grade 1

The 2010 Cheltenham Festival starts with a bang and Irish banker DUNGUIB (10/11, Paddy Power) is understandably a red-hot favourite to hammer the bookies and maintain his unbeaten record over hurdles in the opener. 

 Philip Fenton’s seven-year-old was by far and away the best bumper performer around last season and it is impossible to forget his scintillating victory at last year’s Festival.  He had the likes of Rite Of Passage and Quel Espirit miles behind him in the Champion Bumper and he’s not looked back since, landing four races over obstacles including two emphatic performances that saw him secure back-to-back Grade One victories without coming off the bridle.  Judging on those efforts it is difficult to envisage him being defeated and he is arguably the most exciting runner of the whole week. 

 Layers will look to his sloppy round of jumping at Leopardstown last time out for hope but Dunguib barely came out of a canter there and the hustle and bustle and fast paced clip they will go in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle will surely see his jumping to better effect.  Even if his hurdling remains on the shoddy side it may not be enough for his rivals to stop him and another jaw-dropping display could be in store for Tuesday.  That being said, he will not be for everyone at a shade odds-on and Paddy Power’s Dunguib special (follow this link for information on their remarkable offer) means that punters can back any of the opposition and not have to worry about whether or not the selection is capable of trouncing the rest of the field.

Totesport Trophy hero Get Me Out Of Here (5/1, Blue Square) will be many punters’ idea of an alternative to the favourite and the unbeaten Jonjo O’Neill-trained six-year-old looks to be a hugely talented hurdler.  He looks an awkward ride but his performance last time out was hugely impressive and he will be in good hands under Tony McCoy.  Willie Mullins’ Blackstairmountain (12/1, William Hill) is respected and Menorah (12/1, Boylesports) comes into the reckoning judged on his annihilation of the useful Bellvano at Kempton on Boxing Day.  However, it is likely that none of them will be good enough to topple an in-form Dunguib and with no major negatives hanging over the favourite he is taken to get the Festival off to a resounding start for punters.

Selection – Dunguib (10/11, Paddy Power)