LIVE TEXT COMMENTARY (all times GMT)
To get involved, e-mail [email protected] (with ‘For Oliver Brett’ in the subject), use606](http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/606/A65020448)or text us your views on 81111 (UK) or +44 7786200666 (worldwide) with “RACING” as the first word. (Not all comments can be used. Messages will be charged at your standard operator rate)
By Oliver Brett
1251: Our first race is just 40 minutes away, and the punters are pouring into Prestbury Park. Some other key timings: The Arkle is at 1405, and the Champion Hurdle at 1520. And what a muddled set of form lines we have for that particular race - unlike, it must be said, the feature races for the other three days.
1246:****Honest Frank on Twitter:](http://twitter.com/HonestFrank)“Top Irish trainer Edward O’Grady says his 16-1 chance Osana could surprise some better fancied rivals in today’s Arkle Chase”.
1244: For the twitterati out there, you may want to catch up with some more gossip, news and tips from our ownHonest Frank](http://twitter.com/HonestFrank)and 5 live racing correspondentCornelius Lysaght.](http://twitter.com/CorneliusRacing)And if you want to get your tweets mentioned here, you canalso follow me.](http://twitter.com/bbcsport_oliver)Just make sure you come back here from time to time.1243: A quick reminder that this text commentary is a poor imitation of its true potential without plenty of involvement from you, whether via e-mail, text or on 606. Even on Twitter if you like.1241: The weather’s been glorious for the past two weeks after a miserable winter, and the ground is improving all the time. Here’s the official going: Chase and hurdles courses - good to soft, good in places; cross-country course - good, good to soft in places.
1240: FromCelestialHalo on 606:](http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/606/A65020448)"I backed Celestial Halo at 22-1 a while ago and I think he has a cracking chance, better ground should really suit him!"1235: So is today going to be a good one for the Irish They have a number of fascinating contenders today, no more so than Dunguib, a very hot property for our first race at 1330, the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.
1230: A very good afternoon to the first day of what promises to be a spectacular Cheltenham Festival. The sun is shining at Prestbury Park and we will have text commentary of all four days building up to the box office smash on Friday which can only be termedKauto Star v Denman, part III.](http://www.paklinks.com/sport2/low/other_sports/horse_racing/8565313.stm)This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.