O'Connell pins high hopes on flyer Dunguib

JOCKEY Brian O'Connell has described Spinal Research Supreme Novices' Hurdle hotpot Dunguib as a "once in a lifetime horse" ahead of this afternoon's opening race of the Cheltenham Festival.

Philip Fenton's seven-year-old will be attempting to emulate the exploits of Montelado, the last horse to win the Champion Bumper at the meeting and follow up in the Supreme 12 months later. O'Connell was in the saddle for his ultra-impressive bumper success last year when he was still an amateur, but turned professional before Dunguib ran in the Grade One Royal Bond Novice Hurdle in December.

"The nerves are OK at the moment," said O'Connell "It helps that I've ridden him in all of his races, I ride him out at home so I know him very well. The experience of last year in the bumper can only help him and the fact that he is a year older, too. He feels a bit stronger this year. He's seven now so he's probably done all his growing, but he has maybe matured a bit.

"I only turned pro this season, and to be riding him, well, he's a once in a lifetime horse, you could spend your whole career looking for a horse like this. I have had a few outside rides this season, but Dunguib winning would certainly be a big boost to my career."

Dunguib will face 17 rivals in the Festival opener, with the most notable withdrawals at the declaration stage being Bellvano, Peddlers Cross and Rite Of Passage, with all three having other options. Nicky Henderson's unbeaten Oscar Whisky is a highly-regarded youngster at an attractive price.