WITH overseas guests including Phillip Hobbs, Warren Greatrex and Tom Segal, together with leading jockeys Katie Walsh and Andrew McNamara, it was no surprise that the Dunraven Arms Hotel Cheltenham Preview was a sell-out on Sunday last.

Following a flavoursome supper, the unmatchable Nick Luck, in his role as MC, initiated proceedings with a brace of telephone calls to his fellow countrymen Simon Claisse and Sam Twiston-Davies.

Claisse predicted: “ground on the slow side of good” for the opening day of the Festival and refused to rule out watering, while Twiston-Davies surprised those present by identifying Sire Collonges as one of his best rides of the week outside of The New One.

A Supreme Novices Hurdle discussion followed with Douvan, who according to bookmaker Willie Power may go off a 7/4 shot, rated as the most likely winner by the panel.

Both Walsh and McNamara were confident regarding Willie Mullins’ charge but Segal raised queries about his form before suggesting Qewy as a possible alternative at a big price.

Greatrex issued an upbeat bulletin on his Seedling, but when questioned by Luck if he was the best he had ever trained replied: “I’ll tell you next Tuesday!”

The Neptune Novices Hurdle drew some lively debate with Segal of the opinion Windsor Park was the one to beat while also giving favourable mention to Rebecca Curtis’ unexposed Beast Of Burden.

Walsh felt that Outlander had more scope than stablemate Nichols Canyon and duly selected Outlander as her bet and this was agreed upon by McNamara with Hobbs nominating Parlour Games as the best of the home contingent.

Andrew McNamara was resigned to losing the Triumph Hurdle to a UK-trained winner. Hobbs believed J.P. McManus’ Hargam as a potential improver. His owner seated near fellow local legend J.T. McNamara, stated that on good ground: “Hargam would have a great chance. A.P. is very happy with how he worked recently and he wouldn’t swap him for anything.”

The novice chases were next up for debate with the Arkle forming the starting point. Segal described Un De Sceaux as “absolutely sensational” and added: “I think he could win a Champion Hurdle, he’s that good”.

McNamara expressed a slight reservation and said: “You never seem to be in control with him. It would be a bit like a roller-coaster riding him. The only thing to do would be to just let it go and let it happen.”

EACH WAY

Walsh suggested Smashing as the each-way value, she explained: “He was second to him around Fairyhouse and I just loved the way he kept going. He went the whole way to the line and is a huge price at 16/1.”

Hobbs and McNamara both confessed to being Coneygree fans if he runs in the RSA Chase but along with Greatrex raised concerns that he and Kings Palace may get into a battle early and set the race up for Don Poli.

Walsh was in the Don Poli camp and remarked: “He’s not flashy; he jumps super and the further he goes the better he is.”

Segal felt that this is the race of the Festival and strongly agreed with Walsh on Don Poli and said: “I think he’s the star of the Festival potentially.”

In favouring Sprinter Sacre for the Champion Chase, Greatrex was a solitary figure. He felt that the vibes from the Henderson yard were positive and raised the possibility of him winning even if he wasn’t back to his very best before admitting that Champagne Fever had also caught his eye.

This was agreed upon by the vast majority of the panel, many of whom highlighted the grey’s almost exemplary record in the Cotswolds.

McNamara revealed the Ryanair Chase as the likely option for Hidden Cyclone. He declared: “We know what he’s capable of. He was beaten by Dynaste in a Ryanair last year and I don’t think there’s anything as good as Dynaste in it this time round.”

Don Cossack was selected as his chief rival. Interestingly, both Segal and Walsh selected longer priced options in Ballynagour and John’s Spirit respectively.

Walsh admitted Faugheen “looks like a machine”, and like many of the panel readily put him forward to maintain his unbeaten record in the Champion Hurdle.

Hobbs and McNamara further endorsed Rich Ricci’s geldings chances, the latter stated: “He’s an absolute aeroplane” before stating that from a betting perspective Hurricane Fly at “an each-way price of 8/1” was the play in the race.

Willie Power admitted: “If the first two (Douvan and Un De Sceaux) have won, it will be really horrible going into this on day one!”

The World Hurdle followed with Walsh giving Greatrex’s Cole Harden at 33/1 a favourable shout. This then drew a positive report from his handler who stated: “He’s been struggling with his wind on the deep ground since he won at Wetherby.

“I feel he’d have beaten Rock On Ruby if there was another half a mile the last day. He’s had his wind done, he’s in really really good form, on good ground he’s a rock-solid each way chance.”

Matters concluded with the Gold Cup, here Greatrex favoured Many Clouds. Hobbs and McNamara were both of the opinion that Silvianaco Conti was the most likely winner.

However, Segal was willing to oppose Paul Nicholls’ charge at the prices and deemed Carlingford Lough “to be an improver, who is peaking at the right time and was really strong at the finish in the Hennessy.”

Walsh expressed a similar opinion: “I think Carlingford Lough will win. The Hennessy was a better race than the Lexus, he has loads of experience, jumps great and he travels and stays and you need to stay.”