THE Shearwater Hotel in Ballinasloe was the venue for one of the west’s Cheltenham Festival Preview nights. It was organised by the Kiltormer GAA club with proceeds going to both the club and the East Galway and Midlands Cancer Support.

Unfortunately, jockey Barry Geraghty was unable to join in via Skype due to storm Jorge, as his flight from the UK was delayed.

Sports Editor for the Connacht Tribune, John McIntyre was MC for the night and the discussion began with the Champion Hurdle.

Bloodstock Agent Tom Malone and Gigginstown House Stud’s Eddie O’Leary are both very keen on Nicky Henderson’s mare Epatante. She won the Christmas Hurdle on St Stephen’s Day to put herself into contention for the Champion Hurdle. Although she’s been coughing, Henderson is hopeful that she’ll be fine come the Festival.

Malone said: “She’s a completely different mare this year, if she stops coughing in her box, she’ll win. To me, she’s in a weak Champion Hurdle, she’s getting a mare’s allowance and she’s faultless this year.”

However, should Benie Des Dieux run in the Champion Hurdle the complexion of the race will change completely. Jockey Derek O’Connor says that Willie is very shrew and thinks that his other entry Cliaos Emery, who will be supplemented for the race, represents great value at around 6/1.

Triple threat

In the opening race of the Festival, the Supreme Novices, all eyes will be on the big three of Shishkin, Asterion Forlonge and Abacadabras.

Tom Malone and Derek O’Connor both like Abracadabras, but the Racing Post’s Johnny Ward doesn’t see the Gigginstown-owned horse winning, even though he was only one and a half lengths second to Envoi Allen at Fairyhouse in December.

Shishkin, whose sire Sholokhov also sired Gold Cup winner Don Cossack, is a very talented horse and trainer Nicky Henderson reportedly likes his horse a lot. Willie Mullins’s grey gelding, Asterion Forlonge is unbeaten in three runs and comfortably beat Easywork in a Grade 1 at Leopardstown.

O’Leary thought Asterion Forlonge looked very good last time out, beating their own horse Easywork. O’Connor believes that the Irish novices are much better than their English counterparts.

Fakir D’Oudairies is the selection for the Arkle, as long as he’s let go out and run his race. He’s a fantastic jumper who’ll handle the ground well. He was beaten by Notebook at Christmas, using different tactics. Expect him to bowl along in front this time out.

Onto the Champion Chase on the Wednesday, and Chacun Pour Soi will take all the beating according to Johnny Ward. He’s a brilliant jumper and destroyed Defi Du Seuil as a novice.

He has his doubts about Altior, says he’s had a lot of hard races and might be coming to the end of his career.

Both Tom Malone and Eddie O’Leary are in agreement with Johnny that Chacun Pour Soi is the one to beat, however Derek O’Connor feels that Defi Du Seuil can give him a good race.

Banker

The Irish banker of the meeting is Envoi Allen in the Ballymore Novice. The Gordon Elliott trained six-year-old is unbeaten in seven starts, including the Champion Bumper 12 months ago. O’Connor said that The Big Getaway has been very impressive on a couple of occasions but can’t see him winning at Cheltenham: “On a day when things work, and he jumps very well and travels very well he’s a very impressive horse but he’s not going to get that type of race around Cheltenham.”

Tom Malone thinks Min will win the Ryanair Chase on Thursday, says he’s a solid horse. Frodon is a very likeable horse but it’s hard to see him winning again.

Eddie O’Leary thinks A Plus Tard will give Min a real challenge, while Johnny says Min is the best horse in the race.

Paisley Park looks to be nailed on to win the Stayers’ Hurdle, depending on Benie Des Dieux’s involvement. Emma Lavelle’s charge is looking to repeat last year’s victory and the eight-year-old set himself up nicely with victory in the Cleeve Hurdle at the track in January.

On Friday, in the Gold Cup, Johnny Ward reckons reigning champion Al Boum Photo will be vulnerable.

He thought this year’s race is a much tougher race that last year’s, with the likes of Delta Work, Santini and Lostintranslation all now involved.

Johnny can’t pick any holes in Delta Work, says he’s a very likeable horse and has the best jockey in the business on him in Mark Walsh.

Delta love

Eddie O’Leary said he wouldn’t swap Delta Work, who won two Grade 1s at Leopardstown since Christmas, for any other horse in the race.

There are no negatives with Santini, and he ticks all the boxes for Derek O’Connor: “The softer the ground the better for him. He’s a sound stayer and a safe jumper, a solid, strong typical National Hunt horse. A big, strong, galloping horse that handles heavy ground.”

O’Connor rode in the 2018 Gold Cup aboard miracle-horse Edwulf, for trainer Joseph O’Brien and he said that jumping is key to success in the race: “For some reason, in the Gold Cup you go lickety-split from start to finish, regardless of the trip. It’s flat to the boards, there’s no comfort area at all in the race. If you’ve any questions about your jumping in the Gold Cup, forget about it.”

“People don’t realise how sharp a track Cheltenham is, particularly the chase course. You’re turn, jump, turn, jump, turn, up, down, jump,” added Malone.

Immediately after the Gold Cup, the Foxhunters takes place. Enda Bolger’s horse Stalker Wallace won a point-to-point in Nenagh two weeks ago on heavy ground.

According to O’Connor: “He’s an exceptionally talented horse that can handle heavy ground really well. He’s my pick of the race.”

Derek also likes the look of Longhouse Poet each-way in the Ballymore at a tasty price.

Best bets

Derek O’Connor: Stalker Wallace - Foxhunters

Johnny Ward: Solo – Triumph Hurdle

Eddie O’Leary: Samcro – Marsh Novices’ Chase

Tom Malone: Israel Champ – Champion Bumper