SOME 200 punters, the wise and the young, gathered in the Harcourt Hotel, in the heart of Dublin city centre on Wednesday night, to listen to the experts mark their cards before their annual pilgrimage to next week’s Cheltenham Festival.

The panel consisted of Gordon Elliott, Davy Russell, David Casey, Kevin O’Ryan, Johnny Dineen, Kieran Stokes and Gary O’Brien.

MC Kevin O’Ryan got the night underway with a discussion on the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle. The star-studded panel was split on this one. Willie Mullins’ right-hand man David Casey insisted Facile Vega must be forgiven for his below-par run at the Dublin Racing Festival, but the Cullentra duo of Davy Russell and Gordon Elliott were quietly confident in their very own Doctor Bravo.

It was generally agreed that Nicky Henderson’s Constitution Hill is unbeatable in the Champion Hurdle and State Man seemed to be the panel’s choice to pick up silver. However, Davy Russell broke out into song in order to let the crowd know that “I like to move it, move it”, thereby passing on his each-way tip for the race.

Moving on to day two, the majority of the panel appeared to agree with Tony Mullins’ comment from earlier in the week when he described the largely unexposed Impaire Et Passe as an ‘aeroplane’. Johnny Dineen tipped up Henry de Bromhead’s Inthe-pocket for a bit of each-way value.

Rolling on to the Champion Chase, the panel believes this will pan out very differently to the Clarence House. Preference was primarily split between Energumene and Edwardstone, with Gentleman De Mee selected to pick up the pieces.

The Champion Bumper was deemed a wide-open affair, so much so that Johnny Dineen insisted that he wasn’t even going to have a bet. David Casey said Willie Mullins may send up to eight horses but was reluctant to suggest that any would be able to get their nose in front of John Kiely’s A Dream To Share.

Gordon Elliott said he could have four or five runners, headed by Better Days Ahead.

On the Thursday card Mighty Potter was an almost unanimous fancy for the Turners Novices’ Chase with the exception of David Casey, who remained loyal to Closutton by making Appreciate It his each-way nap of the meeting at 5/1.

Onto the Ryanair Chase where the consensus was that if Shishkin shows up, he’ll win. If the favourite has another off day then Elliott and Russell think that Michael O’Leary may be writing a cheque to himself, as Fury Road has been schooling well and showing good signs at home.

Marie’s Rock marginally got the nod from the panel in the Stayers’ Hurdle, A few members of the panel had doubts surrounding her ability at the three-mile trip but they were put to bed by Gary O’Brien who described Nicky Henderson’s decision to run the mare in the Stayers’ “a vote of confidence”.

From the Cullentra camp, Russell said he’s learnt a lot from his tricky ride in Gowran on board the Hatton’s Grace Hurdle winner Teahupoo and looks forward to steering him around again.

After a brief interval, the panel were back in the saddle to consider the Friday card. In the Triumph, the unanimous decision was for Blood Destiny to prove too strong for stable companion Lossiemouth. David Casey kept his cards close to his chest with regards to jockey bookings. Russell attempted to put his own name in the frame for Blood Destiny, much to Elliott’s dismay!

Gary O'Brien is a big fan of Marie's Rock

In the Albert Barlett, the panel generally agreed the outcome hinges on whether Corbetts Cross is declared to run, with Three Card Brag being best of the rest.

Finally, we reached the Gold Cup. David Casey said it’s Galopin Des Champs’s race to lose and he selected A Plus Tard as his main danger. Elliott believes Conflated will be suited by the Gold Cup trip and he has an each-way shout. Bravemansgame was not without support from the panel as well, with both Gary O’Brien and Johnny Dineen singing his praises.

A raffle and auction saw funds raised for the Irish Heart Foundation, and finally the crowd fell silent to hear the panel’s best bets.

PANEL’S BEST BETS

David Casey: Impaire Et Passe (Ballymore)

Johnny Dineen; Home By The Lee (Stayers)

Gary O’Brien: Shoot First

(Pertemps)

Gordon Elliott: Delta Work & Galvin (coupled) (Cross-Country)

David Casey’s Lucky 15: Gaillard Du Mesnil (NH Chase), El Fabiolo (Arkle), Tekao (Boodles) and Impaire Et Passe (Ballymore)