Cheltenham countdown: Bookies braced for first day shakedown

Annie Power's final flight fall in 2015 famously got bookmakers off the hook, but a year later layers fear she may prove the centrepiece of a fresh accumulator nightmare result that could see Rich Ricci become that rarest of creatures – a popular banker.

The flamboyant American owner, formerly a Barclays Bank senior executive, is set to see his colours carried by four Grade 1 favourites on the opening day of the festival and bookmakers are already anticipating the worst if the quartet of Min, Douvan, Annie Power and Vroum Vroum Mag come in.

Only Annie Power's exit prevented an estimated €50 million payout last year and with that star mare favourite for the Champion Hurdle this time – along with Min in the Supreme and Douvan in the Arkle – it will be Vroum Vroum Mag who represents Ricci, Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh in the OLGB Mares Hurdle.

“If Ricci is grinning, we’re sure to be suffering,” a Ladbrokes spokesman said. “This year could be every bit as bad. If we find ourselves 3-0 down heading into Vroum Vroum Mag’s race we’ll be white as ghosts!”

Vroum Vroum Mag will face 19 opponents in her race while Annie Power is up against a dozen after Sunday’s final declarations for those two races. As expected that Champion Hurdle opposition includes Annie Power’s stable companions Nichols Canyon and Sempre Medici.

Although she wore a hood on her only appearance this season at Punchestown, no headgear has been declared for Annie Power in what will be her third festival appearance. She was also runner up to More Of That in the 2014 World Hurdle.

Nicky Henderson is numerically the strongest trainer in the Champion Hurdle field with five runners, headed by the 2014 runner-up My Tent Or Yours, who hasn’t run in over 700 days.

First runner

Hopes for a fifth Irish trained Champion Hurdle winner in six years will also be carried by Henry de Bromhead’s Identity Thief, who will be a first runner in the opening day feature for owner, Michael O’Leary.

Besides Vroum Vroum Mag, four other Irish-trained mares will take their chance in the OLBG, including the ante-post favourite’s stable companion, Gitane Du Berlais. Willie Mullins is chasing an eighth consecutive victory in the race after Qevega’s historic six-timer and Glen’s Melody’s win last year.

Mullins’s famous opening day four-timer last year constituted half of his ultimate record-breaking tally in 2015 and the strength of the champion trainer’s challenge this time is reflected in 20-1 odds about him emerging from Tuesday with a blank.

In contrast, one firm is offering just evens about Mullins saddling three or more winners from day one alone.

With 28 races to be contested over four days, horses trained in Ireland are 7-4 outsiders compared to the home defence in betting for the Ireland V Britain Prestbury Cup challenge. To date, 2014’s tally of 14 winners is the highest tally ever recorded by the visitors.

Ground conditions

Ground conditions at

Cheltenham

are edging towards good to soft for the start of the National Hunt festival with a dry forecast in the days ahead, although expected to get colder towards Friday.