Day one recommendations
Back My Tent Or Yours and Un Atout in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle
Back Simonsig in the Arkle Chase
Back Arabella Boy win and place in the Cross Country Chase
The speculation is over and it's time for the horses to do the talking on day one of the 2013 Cheltenham Festival. Tradition dictates that trilby hatted sportsmanship rules, but the men below the titfers are desperate for success and Channel 4 analyst Graham Cunningham is relishing the equine and human battles in the three big Grade 1 contests...
The chances of a Fergie-style rant or a Mourinho gallop down the touchline are slim to non existent, but don't make the mistake of thinking the big names of Cheltenham are any less driven than their footballing counterparts.
Cast your mind back to Aintree last April when Neptune Collonges recorded the narrowest winning margin in history to give Paul Nicholls that long awaited first Grand National success.
Nicholls had aimed any number of good horses at the Aintree showpiece without success and could have been forgiven for basking in the glory of finally landing the world's most famous chase.
But instead some of the first words to come out of his mouth were "that's blown Nicky out of the water."
The Nicky in question was Nicky Henderson, who remains favourite to dethrone Nicholls as champion trainer for the first time in seven years and heads back to Cheltenham with a potent hand headed by Sprinter Sacre, Simonsig and Bobs Worth and backed up by the likes of My Tent Or Yours, Oscar Whisky and Long Run.
Henderson's patrician approach inspires devotion from old school jumping fans and caution from some exchange players - witness Grandouet's volatile progress in the Champion Hurdle market of late - but Nicholls is the most feisty of competitors and will not give up his crown lightly as Zarkandar bids to make it 4-0 in his running battles with Grandouet.
Nor will he be keen to see his former assistant Harry Fry trump the pair with former Nicholls star Rock On Ruby, while Carlow powerhouse Willie Mullins heads to the Festival with the most powerful Irish team ever assembled and is confident Hurricane Fly is back to the form which saw him land the Champion in ruthlessly efficient fashion two years ago.
And all that reckons without the spiky banter which has been such a feature of the preamble to the heavyweight clash between Simonsig and Overturn in the Arkle Chase.
Henderson has suggested that the trailblazing Overturn will give Simonsig the perfect lead, while the normally laid back Donald McCain has bristled quietly in response having seen many a fancied rival crumble when faced with the sort of heat his stable star brings to battle.
True, it's hardly the sort of trash talk which accompanies heavyweight boxing, but the subtleties of the personal battles will add huge interest to the equine duels in this year's Festival.
But what about the tactical subtleties of the three big races on day one?
Tactics shouldn't be crucial in the opening Supreme Novices' Hurdle if My Tent Or Yours is in the same form that saw him turn an ultra-competitive Betfair Hurdle into a procession at Newbury.
Timeform ratings give him a great deal in hand and the unbeaten Irish raider Un Atout is the other to focus on in a race which will almost certainly be run at a stronger pace than the Champion Hurdle over the same distance.
The lack of an obvious front runner has been a constant talking point with regard to the Champion, while an added layer of intrigue has been added with news that Fry has decided to fit the outwardly uncomplicated Rock On Ruby with blinkers for the first time.
Fry will be hailed as a wizard if the plan comes off - and if forced to choose Rock On Ruby would get my vote - but the combination of soft ground and slight concerns about the headgear have put me off a little.
By contrast, I've switched from being open minded to clear cut on the Arkle.
It's always difficult to bet against your heart in a big race and I would love to see McCain gaze across to Hendo in the winner's enclosure and give him that knowing smile if Overturn can turn Simonsig away.
But the more I look at the Arkle the more I suspect this sets up perfectly for Simonsig.
Overturn will blaze as usual and the pressure on jumping will be very high given that Arvika Ligeonniere and Majala can also force the pace. However, a frenetic gallop could be exactly what Simonsig needs to show his brilliance.
A runaway winner of last year's Neptune Hurdle, Simonsig has slaughtered small chase fields at Ascot and Kempton with a combination of sound jumping and a relentless cruising gallop.
Expect Barry Geraghty to bide his time before loping into contention coming down the hill.
Overturn won't lie down if challenged, but Simonsig looks better equipped for conditions now the ground has turned soft and even at 1.75/7 or thereabouts he looks very tough to oppose.
Last but not least on day one, a word on the Cross Country Chase.
My original fancy Balthazar King misses out due to the soft ground, but the weekend deluge is great news for Arabella Boy.
Enda Bolger's gelding departed six out here in December but his overall profile in this discipline is progressive and impressive. Don't expect to see him on the scene too early. Do expect to see him play a significant part in the finish.
Day one recommendations
Back My Tent Or Yours and Un Atout in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle
Back Simonsig in the Arkle Chase
Back Arabella Boy win and place in the Cross Country Chase
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