Cheltenham Festival day one declarations confirmed as going is changed with more rain forecast

9 months ago 57

THE day one Cheltenham Festival declarations have been made – and it looks like being an absolute cracker on Tuesday.

All the big guns stood their ground – with the Ballyburn saga finally ended as he was not declared for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.

Mullins will fire a whole host of his big horses at Cheltenham’s day one[/caption]

Willie Mullins will saddle Tullyhill, Mystical Power, Supersundae, Mistergif, Gold Dancer and Asian Master in the opener.

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There will be 12 runners in the Supreme, with no Ile Atlantique or Anotherway for Mullins, with the former surely now bound for the Gallagher on day two.

Henry de Bromhead has declared Slade Steel for the Supreme.

The horse was a promising runner-up behind Ballyburn when last seen but they have avoided him this time round.

As first reported by Sun Racing, Gaelic Warrior was declared for the Arkle with Paul Townend in the saddle and a hood applied.

While the same duo will look to land the Champion Hurdle with State Man in the absence of Constitution Hill.

Lossiemouth was not declared for that race while Gordon Elliott declared Irish Point, who will be ridden by Jack Kennedy.

The declarations were made as Cheltenham’s going was officially eased to soft from good to soft, soft in places.

The worst of the rain is expected tonight, while 7mm hit the track on Saturday night.

Clerk of the course Jon Pullin said: “We’ve updated the going to soft ground on the Old and New course and we remain heavy, soft in places on the cross-country course.

“We could get a few more showers this afternoon, maybe 2 or 3mm, and after that it’s largely dry tomorrow, although there might be a little bit of drizzle around in the morning.

“There might be a light shower or two on Tuesday but very little as far as volume is concerned, so once we’re through this afternoon that should be the worst of the rain for the first part of the week.”

Elsewhere, JP McManus’ new purchase Meetingofthewaters was declared for the Ultima.

The ante-post favourite will have Mark Walsh in the saddle while Kim Bailey’s big fancy Chianti Classico snuck in at the bottom of the weights.

Eight horses will contend the Champion Hurdle with Nicky Henderson saddling Luccia and Iberico Lord in Constitution Hill’s absence.

Lossiemouth looks a bit of a good thing in a Mares’ Hurdle dominated by Mullins runners.

While Paul Nicholls will saddle joint-top weight Liari in the Boodles at 4.10 with Elliott’s Ndaawi.

The smallest field on the day will be the seven runners in the National Hunt Chase.

Derek O’Connor will ride Corbetts Cross, who dramatically ran out in the Albert Bartlett last year.

Patrick Mullins gets the leg up on Embassy Gardens while also noticeable among the runners is 60-length Devon National winner Mr Vango, who will be ridden by Gina Andrews.