Talk isn't cheap, actually.

As anyone who's ever been within earshot of my good self will know - I like talking. Beyond being a functional necessity, it can also bring some beliefs to the surface that you didn't realise you had until you said them out loud.

But it can be a costly business, and I think particularly pricey for me this week. You see, a few weeks ago I had a number of golden nuggets for Cheltenham up my sleeve; selections against hard favourites that were founded on what I believed was shrewd race analysis.

So with assertion, I made the most of the antepost prices and cleverly started spending lots of money on the basis of my imminent payouts.

However, through my excessive talking at Cheltenham previews, both my analysis and "golden nuggets" have been left wide open for ridicule and ripped apart to the point that the pillars of my once strong opinions are dangerously wobbling and in some cases have crumbled right to the floor - primarily my belief that Hurricane Fly would get beaten.

Initially I thought the opposition he has defeated this season was an unreliable gauge to his supremacy. I thought, even though I'm not a fan of statistics that his task of reclaiming the Champion Hurdle crown had been has been greatly underestimated and that his price represented little or no value. He's getting on, he's a fragile type and others had more appeal.

Meanwhile, my liking for Zarkandar has been verbally assassinated with the likes of "So he's better than a 14 time Grade One winner then, yeah?"

This has left me in a terrible place of indecision - a hugely dangerous mind set for anyone gambling. The last time I was like this I started doubting the horse I had backed, so backed the one I thought I would win to level out my losses only for them both to get beaten.  So, as they say in racing, it's definitely time to take a pull. No more over analysis, just plain, John Wayne straight talkin'

So here are the bare essentials:

Hurricane Fly has ground now in his favour. On that basis you can pretty much put a line through Binocular even though he looked in fine fettle on his last run. Rock On Ruby is wearing blinkers, for me not a great sign as he'll need to be even better than he was last year to score a double. Grandouet - No, just no.

Zarkandar, has 111 form this season just like the favourite, and despite being Grade 2s, Hurricane Fly's opposition wasn't too hot so far this season. He likes Cheltenham, the give in the ground will take the sting out of the pace which should give him better claims.

Decision: I'd love the Fly to win, genuinely, but I don't think he's value and for that reason I'll talk myself around full circle and unconfidently stick with Nicholl's charge.

Elsewhere, Jezki is going to win the Supreme Novices because he's got the most class in the race, more speed and if human, would be one of those quietly confident alpha male types that are oh so dreamy.

Quevega will win; Simonsig will win: Fruity O'Rooney will be placed in the JLT Speciality Handicap Chase and Carlito Brigante could claim the last.

That's it. Time to stop talking and now do the walking. (Goodness, I hope I'm right...)

 - Hayley O'Connor