We've discussed the hype around this Fixture many times and the fact that some nerds will start their write up's and momentum building for the next one before the Midlands Grand National has even started at Uttoxeter on Saturday. The dozens of Tipsters that suddenly appear, those that do just about every horse entered either ante-post or in big blogs for 11 months before and then claim just about every winner of every race, does your head in really!

 

That's why we have learned to keep it simple, keep it to format and in the past 3-4 seasons, that has delivered some excellent NET profit.

 

This though is no ordinary Festival, the grave error of judgement in allowing Crowds last year will surely haunt those responsible for that decision for the rest of their lives, if it doesn't it should do, No Crowds quite rightly this year, No Elliott this year quite rightly and his ban should have been longer and his horses excluded from 2021 in my opinion, and a number of other probable entrants not here from Ireland, some owners spitting their dummies out, some Trainers not prepared to take the transport risk, and many of those will be missed.

 

Whatever way you look at today it is THE WORST AND POOREST Day 1 at Cheltenham in my memory, lack of numbers, lack of overall Betting value, it's just lacking in every facet, apart from that "hype". That's not to say there aren't 3 better days to come, their clearly are, but it will determine that we have a quieter first day than normal and that's partly due to an expectation that in almost every race it's very hard to see beyond the top 3-4 in the market.

 

Let's try to find the right strong ones and a few dark horses and see if we can start well as has been the norm in recent years.

 

NO ELITE today, sums up the poor renewal of The Ultima in particular, David will be back tomorrow.

 

Tips today from Sean, Robin and myself...

 

We'll limit to tops 10 points a day but might roll a few over from today to other days and aim for 40 points in total all week.