All set fair at 'glorious' Cheltenham

Clerk of the course Simon Claisse reports the outlook for Cheltenham to be "glorious" as he eagerly anticipates the four-day Festival that starts on Tuesday.

Leading trainers on both sides of the Irish Sea have been checking out ground conditions and have been impressed with the state of the track.

"We had a good day on Sunday with visits from Nicky Henderson, Alan King, Jonjo O'Neill and Ben Pauling,"said Claisse.

"All very happy with and complimentary about the track, and agreeing with the going description of good to soft on the chase and hurdle courses, Old and New, and good to soft, good in places on the cross country course.

"We had a little bit of rain last night just as it was getting dark, but nothing overnight, so the going description remains as above with a glorious outlook for the week - warm and sunny.

"There may be a bit of rain around on Friday but that's a long way off."

Claisse added: "We're in good shape. I can't recall the place looking quite as 'forward' as it does at the moment - you can tell in the town, the daffodils are out. Preparations have gone very well and I can't wait for the meeting to start."

He said that he had enjoyed the sight of the horses already stabled at Cheltenham ahead of the meeting exercising on the course on Monday morning.

"It was nice to see 60-70 horses out this morning - Noel Meade's string, Gordon Elliott's, Willie Mullins', among others."

Mullins and his stable jockey Ruby Walsh are the combination bookmakers fear on tomorrow's opening day with Melon in the Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle and Limini in the OLBG Mares' Hurdle being backed in doubles.

Ladbrokes estimate the 10-1 brace will leave them facing a pay-out in excess of £3million.

Nicola McGeady of Ladbrokes said: "Ruby Walsh and Willie Mullins are the ultimate Cheltenham dream team. Many punters look no further than these two on the opening day. The Irishmen have the ability to make or break our week and this year will be no different.

"The last couple of years have left us facing up to record-breaking Ruby Tuesdays, but Melon and Limini could combine to heap further misery on the bookies."