THE SBK Bet-sponsored Cheltenham preview night took place on Wednesday evening at the Harcourt Bar.

Despite the crowd being quite rowdy throughout, umpteen times MC Kevin O’Ryan had to ask for quiet, the panel gave some very insightful and knowledgeable opinions ahead of horse racing’s equivalent of the Olympics which kicks off next Tuesday.

The panel on the night consisted of Kevin O’Ryan (MC), Tony McCoy, David Casey, Busty Amond (assistant to Gordon Elliott who could not attend), Gary O’Brien and Johnny Dineen.

After introductions, the conversation commenced with a discussion on the Supreme Novice Hurdle. David Casey stressed that a decision on which race Ballyburn was going to go for had not been made yet (but it was the next day!).

Busty told everyone to rule out Firefox’s last run as he scoped dirty but did say it would be tough to beat Ballyburn again.

However, Johnny Dineen stressed that the exchanges at the moment would indicate that Ballyburn would go for the Baring Bingham (he was right - someone knew) and is happy to side with Firefox on that basis.

Johnny Dineen said that Quilixios was the one to beat in the Arkle. David Casey agreed with Johnny on Quilxios. Gary O’Brien liked the chances of Il Etait Temps but did say that if Paul Townend chose not to ride him, it would be a negative.

A.P. McCoy noted that Gaelic Warrior is the best horse in the race but stressed that he does need to jump straighter than he has been doing to date.

The panel was unanimous on State Man winning the Champion Hurdle. McCoy said that J.P. and connections would be disappointed if the supplemented Iberico Lord was not in the first three and is a fantastic each-way bet.

Very ordinary

Busty was 99% sure that Irish Point would go for the Champion Hurdle at this stage. He expressed that the rest of the horses, bar State Man, all look very ordinary and added that last week Irish Point had two machines to beat but now only has one.

Like the Supreme, no one on the panel is opposing Ballyburn if he turns up in the Baring Bingham. David Casey thought Jimmy Du Seuil had an outside squeak. Gary O’Brien said that if Ballyburn didn’t run, Predators Gold would be the one he would be concentrating on.

Dineen said that you have to respect the hype coming from Willie Mullins and co. for Fact To File in the Brown Advisory but says that he will back Monty’s Star each-way. Busty confirmed that American Mike would be supplemented and made a comparison with him and Firefox, in the sense that he has beaten the favourite for the race but will find it hard to beat him again. Casey said that Fact To File will have too much class for the rest of the field and will win.

In the Champion Chase, Casey was of the opinion that El Fabiolo was too good for Jonbon last year and nothing that he has seen this year would change that.

McCoy said that the only chance that Jonbon has would be to go a very fast pace and hope he jumps better than El Fabiolo. Dineen thought that El Fabiolo had very little margin for error in the race but did think he would win.

David Casey said that he wasn’t sure which of the Mullins bumper horses is the best bet for the Champion Bumper but gave a good mention to Argento Boy. O’Brien also likes Argento Boy. Out of Elliott’s three horses, Busty said there isn’t a lot between them but slightly prefers Jalon D’Oudairies.

Dineen was bullish about Grey Dawning’s chance in the Turners and thinks he will win. Gary agreed but said that Iroko was the dark horse. McCoy said that Iroko has been schooling well but thinks he is running against good horses here and is a bit limited experience-wise. Casey addes that if Facile Vega runs here, he will appreciate the trip and is huge value at 6/1.

Ryanair

Banbridge was Gary O’Brien’s pick for the Ryanair under the assumption that ground conditions will suit. Casey said that the dryer ground will suit Capadanno but that Envoi Allen is the marker.

Busty advised a bet on Fil Dor in the hope that a few at the top of the market wouldn’t turn up. The consensus though was that the race is very dependent and on good ground, Banbridge will be hard beaten.

Teahupoo is looking like a good thing in the Stayers Hurdle according to Dineen, and Irish Point is a huge non-runner. The rest of the panel was in agreement on Teahupoo as well. Busty joked that Davy Russell must have had the Cha Cha on his mind when riding Teahupoo at last year’s Festival.

On the Mares’ Novices Hurdle, David Casey noted that the Mullins camp all like Jade De Grugy and gave her a good chance in the race. Busty added that Brighterdaysahead was Elliott’s best chance of a winner all week and that she would be the one the yard would be most disappointed with if she got beaten. McCoy and Dineen both said that they would not oppose Brighterdaysahead.

In the Triumph Hurdle, McCoy reckons that the only danger at the moment to Sir Gino is the form of the yard and if Henderson has winners before Friday, that Sir Gino would win.

Casey agreed that despite Willie Mullins having six or seven in the contest, Sir Gino will be very hard to beat. Casey gave Bunting an each-way chance.

Gary O’Brien was concerned about Sir Gino’s chances and that Marjborough could improve enough to cause him issues.

Casey articulated that High Class Hero has the right profile for the Albert Bartlett but that he likes Readin Tommy Wrong after his performance in the Lawlor’s. McCoy gave Johnnywho and Captain Teague each-way chances.

Busty admits to being unsure if any of Elliott’s will be good enough and advised listening to Casey on Readin Tommy Wrong’s chances. O’Brien and Dineen both alluded to the fact that there is a good possibility of an outsider winning the race.

Best horse

David Casey believes that Galopin Des Champs is the best horse in the Gold Cup and thinks he will win. He added that nothing he had seen at home would suggest otherwise. Casey finished his thoughts on the Gold Cup by suggesting that the extra furlong and a half would not suit Fastorslow.

McCoy commented that Gallopin Des Champs deserves to be favourite and added that he is hard to oppose. McCoy did give Nassalam an outside chance on heavy ground.

Gary O’Brien noted that a reproduction of Galopin Des Champs’ Christmas run will win it. Busty added in that the Elliott camp thought that Gerri Colombe would be a lot closer to Galopin Des Champs than he was at Christmas and that they hoped that it wasn’t his true running.

Johnny Dineen is opposing the favourite due to the depth in the race. He also said that the amount of battles that Galopin Des Champs has been involved in is a big negative. He put the final nail in the coffin by saying Galopin Des Champs is one of the weakest favourites at the whole meeting.

Charity Bets

Johnny Dineen: It’s On The Line

Gary O’Brien: Corbetts Cross

Busty Amond: Teahupoo

Tony McCoy: Corbetts Cross

David Casey: Lossiemouth