It’s the week we have all been waiting for! Day one of the Cheltenham Festival see’s us send 11 runner down to post.

In the opener, the Skybet Supreme Novice Hurdle, we send out two representatives. EL CAIROS is one of the talking horses out of our yard. Unlucky to have fallen when he had the race at his mercy at Leopardstown at Christmas, he got off the mark shortly after when winning a maiden hurdle at Thurles. He looks to have a serious turn of foot and if Jack can keep a lid on his jumping he is certainly one for the shortlist. KOKTAIL BRUT was this seasons Royal Bond Novice Hurdle winner. A classy individual on his day, he just didn’t quite fire at Christmas when he was well held by stablemate Skylight Hustle. He showed a much better account of himself at the DRF behind Talk The Talk and can’t be ruled out of picking up the placings under Danny Gilligan.

In the McCoy Contractors Juvenile Handicap Hurdle we run Barbizon and Hardy Stuff. BARBIZON was a winner on hurdling debut before finishing 4th in a Grade 2 event. He sits near the top of the weights and this might be a tough ask but has the benefit of Josh Williamson’s 5lb claim. HARDY STUFF was a big price winner of his maiden hurdle at Leopardstown over Christmas. He raced keenly the last day in a small field but hopefully Sam Ewing can get him switched off and settled in this 22 runner contest.

Search For Glory and Patter Merchant go down to post in the Trustmarque Ultima Handicap Chase. SEARCH FOR GLORY pulled up in the Thyestes last time out when the ground was near unraceable. He had finished 2nd on both starts previous to that when ridden by James Smith who seems to get a fine tune out of him and the partnership are reunited again today. PATTER MERCHANT just scrapes in near the bottom of the weights. He should favour the better going conditions and is the pick of Jack Kennedy.

In the feature race, the Unibet Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy, we send out BRIGHTERDAYSAHEAD. She turned the tables on Lossiemouth last time out at the DRF when she took the Irish Champion Hurdle in fine style. She’s in the form of her life and we’re very excited about her chances this year. Jack Kennedy rides.

We run two in the Sun Racing Plate Handicap Chase. DEE CAPO Carries top weight here today. He ran a huge race in the Grade 3 handicap chase last time out where he was badly hampered in the first half of the race and made up considerable ground to finish 4th. He will be ridden by Danny Gilligan. DOWN MEMORY LANE was a winner over 2m4f last time out beating stablemate Search For Glory. He’s lightly raced for his age and is one of the classier horses in this contest. Jack Kennedy takes the ride.

Our final runners of the day are Kurasso Blue and Will Do in the National Hunt Challenge Cup Novices’ Handicap Chase. KURASSO BLUE has not finished out of the first two in his 3 starts over fences to date. He should appreciate the step up in trip as he looks to be a true stayer. Jack Kennedy is booked to ride. WILL DO was second in the Porterstown handicap chase earlier in the season before his form tapered off. He still holds plenty of ability and could throw up a surprise result if he’s on song today. Danny Gilligan rides.