Cheltenham Day 1 (Tuesday)

The annual spectacle that is the Cheltenham Festival kicks off with the first of four days at the amphitheatre of the Cheltenham Racecourse in the Cotswolds on Tuesday 11th March. All of the leading trainers, jockeys, staff and punters have been patiently waiting for these four days in March for the whole of winter. As the tapes go up for the opener, the Cheltenham roar will signify the start of the week’s action at the premier meeting of the national hunt season.

The principal race on day one is the Champion Hurdle in which punters could witness a historic battle between three of the best hurdlers in Constitution Hill, Brighterdaysahead, and State Man. What a proposition that will be if it happens.

Novices are represented by the hurdlers in the opening race in the shape of the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and the chasers in the Arkle Chase. Two tricky-looking handicaps in the Ultima Chase and the Fred Winter Juvenile Hurdle will be tough races to crack whilst the Mares’ Hurdle and National Hunt Novices’ Chase make up the seven races on day one.

At the time of writing, before we have released our Cheltenham Festival tips on day 1, the 48-hour declarations for the races have not been confirmed. However, we’ve highlighted the horses we believe are worth keeping an eye on in each race on day 1. Make sure to visit Punters Lounge daily during the festival for free Cheltenham tips.

Cheltenham Day 1 Tips

13:20 – Supreme Novices’ Hurdle

The Supreme Novices’ Hurdle is a Grade 1 contest and the elite race for two-mile novice hurdlers run over 2 miles and 87 yards of the old course. The race was originally run in two or three divisions and has been run in its current format since 1972. It features all the best two-mile novice hurdles in Britain and Ireland with the winner likely to be called the best two-mile novice around.

Kopek Des Bordes is the main contender from Willie Mullins’ Closutton stable and after the impression he made at the Dublin Racing Festival will be hard to beat. He did plenty wrong at Leopardstown during the race, having pulled hard and being impeded but still managed to come home a comfortable 13L victor and in the process looking a smart young hurdler who remains unbeaten in a bumper and two novice hurdles. With improvement still to come he’s the one they all have to beat and could be very smart.

Salvator Mundi is a stable companion of Kopek Des Bordes and although held in high regard by his shrewd trainer will need to improve a fair bit from his Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle win at Punchestown at the turn of the year where he looked beaten at one stage but rallied to get up close home pulling clear to win by 3L. It would be a major surprise were stable jockey Paul Townend not to choose the former to ride.

Gordon Elliot’s Romeo Coolio was an impressive Grade 1 winner at Leopardstown over Christmas and although not seen since he did have a racecourse gallop in early February. He also looks smart and it would be no shock were he to be involved in the finish in a race which looks destined to be going across the Irish Sea to Ireland. Certainly, one we will consider when making our tips for Cheltenham day 1.

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14:00 – Arkle Chase

The Arkle Chase is a Grade 1 contest for the best two-mile novice chasers around. The race is run over 1 mile 7 furlongs and 199 yards of the old course. It features the best two-mile novice chasers from Britain and Ireland with the winner likely to be hailed as the best two-mile novice chaser around. First run under this name in 1969 it commemorates one of the greatest chasers ever in Arkle, who won three Gold Cups in the 1960’s.

Majborough was thrust into clear odds on favouritism with the unfortunate injury to the smart Sir Gino and will take all the beating for crack Irish handler Willie Mullins. A winner at the Festival twelve months ago on only his third start over hurdles when winning the Triumph Hurdle, he’s made a perfect start to his chasing career by scoring at Fairyhouse Racecourse and in grade one company at Leopardstown at the Dublin Racing Festival.

His jumping wasn’t foot-perfect at Leopardstown in the Grade 1 Irish Arkle but he will no doubt improve his technique as he gains experience and he will be hard to beat in a race that looks most likely to cut up to a smallish field. Paul Townend is his regular rider and will take the ride again. Could well prove to be one of the Cheltenham tips Tuesday delivers as a winner.

The best of the home challenge may well lie with Dan Skelton’s L’eau du Sud who was runner-up in last year’s County Hurdle at the Festival and has made a great start to his chasing career having won all four of his runs starting in handicap company back in October at Stratford Racecourse progressing through to his latest victory which came in the Kingmaker Novices’ Chase at Warwick Racecourse in early February where he was chased home by Rubaud. He has won at Cheltenham which is a bonus and looks the most likely threat to the favourite Majborough with his usual rider Harry Skelton on top.

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14:40 – Ultima Handicap Steeple Chase

The Ultima Handicap Chase is a Premier Handicap run over 3 miles and 1 furlong of the old course. It is the first handicap of the week and is likely to be contested by a maximum field of twenty-four. Lucinda Russell’s Corach Rambler has won the last two runnings and went on from last year’s victory to take the Grand National the following month.

Haiti Couleurs is a lightly raced eight-year-old trained by Rebecca Curtis who won over course and distance in December on only his second start over fences and was an eyecatcher back over hurdles at Newbury Racecourse in early February when finishing third. Only 5lb higher than his win here in December he too could be a player for our Cheltenham Tuesday tips if taking up this engagement.

Novices have a good record in the race and if Phillip Hobbs and Johnson White’s Lowry’s Bar takes up his engagement he could run well. He stepped up to 3M when runner-up at Windsor Racecourse to Jinkgo Blue in a Grade 2 novice chase in January and this lightly raced seven-year-old has plenty of scope for improvement on his current handicap mark.

Another novice who could feature is the Alan King-trained Masaccio. The grey has shown more than enough in four starts in novice company this season to suggest he can run well especially with this longer trip looking likely to suit.

Monbeg Genius is heading for the Grand National following his Uttoxeter win in February although would be a player here if taking this race en route to the Aintree Festival. Jonjo and son AJ O’Neill’s nine-year-old was third in this two years ago but pulled up last year.

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15:20 – Mares’ Hurdle

The Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle is a Grade 1 hurdle for mares only run over a distance of 2 miles 3 furlongs and 200 yards. The race is a relatively new contest introduced in 2008 as part of the mares programme. 13 of the 16 winners have been trained in Ireland with nine of those trained by Willie Mullins.

If Brighterdaysahead takes this option, she would be banker material (especially, as touted, Lossiemouth goes for the Champion Hurdle) for the Cheltenham tips for Tuesday. In a ten-race career, she’s only been beaten once which came at the Festival last year when going down to Golden Ace in the Mares’ Novice Hurdle.

A winner of Grade One’s at Punchestown and Leopardstown this season, she’ll love stepping up to this longer trip and can give Gordon Elliott his first winner of this year’s meeting. Her latest demolition job in the Neville Hotels Hurdle over Christmas at Leopardstown was spectacular even allowing for the subsequent Grade One winner State Man appearing not to run his race.

In the absence of Brighterdaysahead, Henry De Bromhead’s July Flower is a possible having won on her British debut in a Grade 3 mares’ hurdle at Leopardstown over Christmas. Willie Mullins’s Jade De Grugy hasn’t been seen this season but having finished fourth in the Mares Novices’ Hurdle last year ended her season with a Grade One victory in the mare’s hurdle at Fairyhouse and is not to be written off if turning up here for her leading trainer who has done so well in this race over the years.

Kargese also hails from the Mullins camp and despite a rather disappointing re-appearance when turned over at odds on at Ascot is a smart mare who was runner up in last year’s Triumph Hurdle at the Festival as well as winning a Grade 1 at the Punchestown Festival.

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16:00 – Champion Hurdle

The Champion Hurdle is a Grade 1 hurdle run over a trip of 2 miles and 87 yards of the old course. It is the highlight of day one of the festival and the blue riband for hurdlers featuring the very best hurdlers from Britain and Ireland. The winner will be lauded as the best hurdler around and join an illustrious group of champion hurdlers including the likes of Istabraq, Persian War, Hurricane Fly and Honeysuckle.

Nicky Henderson’s superstar gelding Constitution Hill has looked as good as ever this season and even with Lossiemouth and Brighterdaysahead in opposition will be very hard to beat. The admirable eight-year-old has won all nine of his runs under rules including the 2022 running of the race when he coasted home from State Man and has landed the odds laid on him on both starts this season, the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton Racecourse and the International Hurdle at Cheltenham.

The last hurdle blunder at the latter was more jockey error than anything and it will be great to see him secure a richly deserved second Champion Hurdle and put him up there amongst the greats of the hurdling game. Brighterdaysahead would be his main rival if taking this option following a highly impressive victory at Leopardstown last time out.

James Owen’s Burdett Road was back in third when blundering at the last in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton and although held on that running by Constitution Hill can battle for a place here following his 2nd in the Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton Racecourse in February. The final day 1 Cheltenham tips may well have their name on them.

The winner that day Golden Ace is a likeable mare who also has place claims. In what looks highly likely to be a small field this does, bar mishap, look like Constitution Hill’s to lose. Willie Mullins’s State Man comes here having (possibly) fortuitously won the Irish Champion Hurdle for the third consecutive time, but he was put in his place by Constitution Hill in this race two years ago and it is likely to be the same outcome.

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16:40 – Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle

The Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle is a Premier Handicap for four-year-old juveniles only and is run over 2 miles and 83 yards of the old course. The race is a relatively new race having been added to the festival when a fourth day was added in 2005. It tends to feature the juvenile hurdlers that aren’t quite good enough to run in the Triumph Hurdle and has always featured a near maximum field of around 24 runners.

French trainers Noel George and Amanda Zetterholm are likely to saddle Stencil who made an eye-catching British debut when runner-up to the impressive East India Dock over course and distance in the Triumph Hurdle Trial on trials day here in January. The J P McManus-owned four-year-old had previously won twice in his home country and certainly looks one to watch here for a very shrewd outfit.

Willie Mullins’s Willy De Houelle looks an interesting contender for our Cheltenham tips on day 1 having shown promise in graded company including when fourth to Hello Neighbour in the big Grade 1 juvenile hurdle at Leopardstown at the Dublin Racing Festival in February and is one to watch.

Naturally Nimble is an improver trained by Joseph O’Brien who has taken this race twice in the past including last year and has shown more than enough in three starts in Ireland in Graded company winning a Grade 3 at Fairyhouse back in December to suggest he could be a player here if taking this route.

Gavin Cromwell is lining up a decent team for Cheltenham which may include his Total Look, he’s better than his third at Punchestown in a handicap last time although will have to improve his jumping if he’s going to be competitive in this. Will be one we take a serious look at for our Cheltenham day 1 predictions.

Ireland is likely to have a strong presence here which can also include Declan Queally’s Bacchanalian who did well to beat Murcia a neck at Naas Racecourse in February and that should get him into the race.

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17:20 – National Hunt Novices’ Chase

The National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup is a novice chase for amateur riders run over a distance of 3 miles 5 furlongs and 201 yards of the old course. The race is a classier event since being reduced from 4 miles to 3 miles 5 furlongs in 2018 and has fallen to an Irish-trained horse on seven of the last 10 renewals.

Neil Mulholland’s eight-year-old Transmission looks the ideal sort for this test of stamina which will be run as a handicap for the first time this season. A winner in an amateur riders’ handicap chase here back in November he teed up for this in the Cleeve Hurdle presumably to prevent a rise in the weights.

Haiti Couleurs beat Transmission here in a novice’s handicap chase over 3M 1 1/2F back in December and if taking up this engagement could also be a player. Now Is The Hour has been very well supported ante-post and represents the shrewd Irish stable of Gavin Cromwell. They can’t be ignored when we consider our Cheltenham Festival day 1 tips.

He’s shown promise in four starts in novice chases in Ireland at up to 3M and should relish this longer trip of 3M 5F 201 yards. He is without doubt one to watch for an operation that is never far away when the money’s down.

Dan Skelton is always a man to fear in novice handicap chases and his Deafening Silence is a possible. This trip will suit this progressive eight-year-old who ran a fine second to Herakles Westwood at Windsor over 3M last time looking to all like a longer trip will suit him.

White Rhino looks like an interesting outsider for the Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerrieo stable on the Cheltenham day 1 racecard. He unseated early in the Grade 1 Kauto Star Novice Chase at Kempton over Christmas and looks as though this longer trip will suit this progressive novice who had won his two previous starts at Ayr and Haydock.

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Tuesday’s Racecards at Cheltenham

Cheltenham Festival Day 1 Betting Trends

• The two top trainers with the best recent record in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle are Willie Mullins (5 wins from last 12 runnings) and Nicky Henderson (3 from last 12).
• Class normally rises to the top in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle with 24 of the last 28 winners having won last time out although the 2024 winner Slade Steel had finished runner-up on his penultimate start.
• The Arkle Chase is one of the Cheltenham day 1 results where the market is normally proved correct with 10 of the last 13 market leaders winning including last year’s victor Gaelic Warrior. Only 2 winners this century were sent off at double-figure odds (Put The Kettle On at 16/1 and Western Warhorse at 33/1).
• Five-year-olds have a poor recent record in the Arkle Chase and are 0-16 since 2007 although four 5-year-olds did strike between 1998 and 2006.
• The market is a very good guide in the Ultima Handicap with 10 of the past 11 runnings going to a horse returning a SP of 11-1 or shorter although only 2 of those were favourites in Corach Rambler (2023) and Coo Star Sivola (2018).
• The Ultima Handicap is a race in which it pays to watch out for any horse wearing headgear of sorts with 10 of the past 15 winners wearing some form with last year’s winner Chianti Classico wearing a tongue tie.
• The Mares’ Hurdle has only been run seventeen times and 14 of the winners were trained in Ireland including 10 from Closutton maestro Willie Mullins.
• Having previously shown form at the Cheltenham Festival is a good guide for the Mares’ Hurdle with 10 of the winners having previously placed or won at the previous year’s Festival including last year’s winner Lossiemouth who had won the Triumph Hurdle the year before.
• 12 of the past 14 Champion Hurdle winners came into the race unbeaten that season including last year’s winner State Man with 30 of the last 35 winners winning last time out.
• Market favourites have a superb record in the Champion Hurdle with ten outright favourites winning in the last thirteen years including the last five.
• Irish trainer Gordon Elliot has won four of the last twelve renewals in the Juvenile Handicap Hurdle and is a trainer to follow in the race in stark contrast to his compatriot Willie Mullins whose record in the race now reads 0-22.
• The Juvenile Handicap Hurdle is a race where it may be wise to avoid the front of the market as only one favourite has won in the last 11 years with winners returning at odds of 18/1, 25/1, 33/1 (three times) and even 80/1.
• 13 of the last 15 winners in the National Hunt Chase Cup had all contested a graded novice chase earlier in their career including last year’s winner Corbetts Cross.
• Previous Cheltenham form is a big positive with 11 of the past 15 National Hunt Chase Cup winners having run at the previous year’s Festival with 3 of the last 4 finishing in the first four a year earlier.

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