Cheltenham Festival Day 1 Tips

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THE WAIT IS OVER! The best four days of the year have arrived. Here you will find our tips for Day 1 of the Cheltenham Festival. All 7 races previewed in-detail.

We’ll include key information like how we think the race will be run and who we see emerging as the main danger (or dangers). In most races this year we have included an Each Way Saver (at a big price).

Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle – Grade 1 2m87y
Sporting Life Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices’ Chase – Grade 1 1m7f199y
Ultima Handicap Chase – Grade 3 3m1f
Unibet Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy – Grade 1 2m87y
Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle – Grade 1 2m3f200y
Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (Fred Winter) – Grade 3 2m87y
Sam Vestey National Hunt Challenge Cup Novices’ Chase – Grade 2 3m5f201y

Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle 1.20

ADD APPRECIATE IT AND BLUE LORD TO BET365 BET SLIP

There’s nothing quite like backing a winner in the very first race of the Cheltenham Festival! It sets things up nicely for the rest of the week and it’s always good to roar one home early. Loyal GYTO followers will know we have a good record in the race stemming back to Cinders And Ashes back in 2012 where he clattered the last but held on well to land us a 16/1 winner! In recent years Altior, Klassical Dream and Shishkin have given us plenty to shout about.

Trends

– 21/24 winners had won last-time-out
– 8/9 winners had won a Graded novice hurdle
– 8/12 winners had won a bumper
– 7/8 winners sent off at single figures
– 5/14 winners trained by Willie Mullins

Cheltenham 1.20 Appreciate It (5/4)

Inexperience cost him when runner-up in last year’s Champion Bumper; 3-3 over hurdles since and impressive in Grade 1 Chanelle Pharma Novices’ Hurdle at Leopardstown last month, beating Ballyadam; will keep improving.

There are just 8 runners heading to post this year and Willie Mullins looks to hold the key with unbeaten hurdler APPRECIATE IT. He hasn’t put a hoof wrong over hurdles so far winning with a sense of inevitability on each occasion. He blew rivals away in a Grade 1 at Leopardstown at Christmas keeping on strongly and had the likes of Ballyadam and Thedevilscoachman trailing in his wake. That form has been boosted since with the latter looking a nice prospect himself. I like Ballyadam as a horse and I can see him running well but it’s a big ask to reverse that form. Given the selection stays further I’m expecting Paul Townend to be proactive on this horse and make it a real test off the front. I just can’t see anything living with him up the hill.

While Ballyadam is probably the one I fear most it wouldn’t surprise me to see BLUE LORD run a big race. I think he’ll be suited by the better ground and with a good test I can see him getting a nice toe into it so I think he’ll pick up the pieces in terms of a place. That may well be behind the selection and Ballyadam but at the price he is worth a saver. He is clearly very talented but doesn’t always channel it in the right direction so if things fall right for him he could be a lively danger to the selection. Past those mentioned I don’t see Irascible, Grumpy Charley or For Pleasure being good enough and they are comfortably ruled out.

Bet365 ITV Racing 4/1 Offer is perfect for backing Blue Lord

Back a winner at 4/1 or more and get a risk free bet on the next live ITV race (up to £50) at bet365.

Offer applies to first single bet placed. Applies to Win and Each-Way Fixed Odds markets and Enhanced Place Terms markets only. Bet restrictions and T&Cs apply. New and eligible customers only.

Supreme Novices’ Hurdle

Cheltenham Tuesday 1.20 Appreciate It (best price 5/4) NEXT BEST

Blue Lord (best price 10/1) Each Way Saver

Sporting Life Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices’ Chase 1.55

ADD SHISHKIN AND CAPTAIN GUINNESS TO BET365 BET SLIP

Trends

– 23/29 winners were aged 6 or 7
– Horses rated 160+ have won half the races since 2012
– 14/18 winners had 3 or 4 runs over fences prior to the race
– 5 year olds 0/12 since 2007

Cheltenham 1.55 Shishkin (8/15)

Supreme winner who has quickly made up into a smart chaser winning all 3 starts over fences; won a Grade 2 at Doncaster last time head in chest; hard to see where his limitations lie and can’t oppose.

The Arkle is always a cracking race due to the speed they go at. We were gutted when Energumene was ruled out due to a setback as it was going to be an amazing clash with SHISHKIN but hopefully they will meet in the future. That leaves Shiskin who has been the long-term favourite for this race with a penalty-kick on all known form. He is the only novice chaser to be given a Racing Post Rating of 170 after just 2 chase runs other than the superstar Douvan. To put that into perspective Nicky Henderson ran superstars in the same race (Wayward Lad Chase) over the years such as Sprinter Sacre, Simonsig and Altior and none of them got a rating after the race of over 167. He won the Supreme in a race which you can mark-up as he had a horrible trip through the field, nearly getting brought down, before winning in impressive fashion.

He has gone off at 1/6, 1/3 and 1/7 in all 3 of his chase wins and is short again in the Arkle but rightly so on all known form and he will have to underperform to get beat. With Shiskin being short and already being in our acca GET OUR CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL ACCA BY CLICKING HERE in the market it could be worth having a bet on the forecast or betting without the favourite. The market suggests Allmankind is most likely to follow Shishkin home however I think CAPTAIN GUINNESS could be the play to finish 2nd. He did fall last time out at Leopardstown when up with Energumene but looking at the race back the fall wasn’t a bad mistake he was fairly unlucky. He has run well behind Energumene previously and Henry de Bromhead thinks he could be fair bit better on the ground we will get this week and I fancy him to run a big race. The forecast will be around 5/1 at current prices but without the favourite with bet365 you can get 11/2.

Allmankind is the danger in the race but 5 years olds have never won this and he may get company for the lead. That combined with his shuddering mistake whilst having an easy time of it at Warwick I think he could be out of the top 2. Plenty fancy Franco De Port to go well but I am think he may get done a bit for speed but will be staying on late.

Arkle Challenge Trophy

Cheltenham Tuesday 1.55 Shishkin (best price 8/15)

Captain Guinness without Shiskin (best price 9/4)

Ultima Handicap Chase 2.30

ADD NOTEBOOK AND EACH WAY SAVERS MILAN NATIVE AND ALNADAM TO BET365 BET SLIP!

Trends

– 8/9 winners wore headgear
– 4/7 winners were novices
– 9/11 winners ran at Cheltenham earlier in the season
– 8/13 winners rated between 142-148
– 5/10 winners sent off at single-figures

Our NOTEBOOK is well fancied in this race and we have a full preview on why we fancy his chances on the Oddschecker app.

Aye Right wears his heart on his sleeve and while he ran a cracker when last seen in the Sky Bet Handicap Chase when second to Takingrisks I think he’s high enough in the handicap at 154 and I’m surprised he is as short as he is in here. I much prefer MILAN NATIVE as a saver for ‘Sneezy’ Foster. This horse won the Kim Muir at last year’s Festival and has been better than the bare results since making a winning return at Galway. He’s had a wind op and still looks handicapped to win off a mark of 149 for me. He’ll be ridden quietly enough and should be making good ground late in the day. The money is coming as we speak but at 15/2 he looks good value so has to be included alongside my main selection (on oddschecker).

The other one that caught my eye was ALNADAM for Harry and Dan Skelton. This horse doesn’t have much to hide from the handicapper but he is clearly on the upgrade winning 2 of his last 3 and if he steps forward again with the step up in trip promising to suit I think he can be on the premises. He is unexposed and there could be a fair bit more to come so at 12/1 he looks a cracking each way play in a race where the places are all up for grabs. Dangers include the admirable Aye Right as mentioned as well as Pym who I could see running well for a long way but maybe not seeing it out as strong as one or two others.

Bet365 are paying an extra place on this race, you can now get 5 places.

Ultima Handicap Chase

Cheltenham Tuesday 2.30 NOTEBOOK

Milan Native (best price 15/2) Each Way Saver

Alnadam (best price 12/1) Each Way Saver

Unibet Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy 3.05

ADD HONEYSUCKLE AND SILVER STREAK TO BET365 BET SLIP

Trends

– The past 6 winners were unbeaten in the season
– 26/31 winners won last time out
– 27/38 winners aged 6 or 7
– 5 year olds are 2/105 in the past 34 years

Cheltenham 3.05 Honeysuckle (7/4)

Unbeaten mare who showed an attitude to die for running down Benie Des Dieux at last year’s Festival; blew rivals away back to this trip in the Irish Champion latest and expected to prove hard to beat.

The Champion Hurdle is always one of the races of the meeting and this renewal looks a fair bit better than last year. The mares allowance still seems a lot in a race at this level with mares getting to carry 7lb less than rivals. That is why this contest looks to favour the two mares in the field who come out best by at least 3lb at the weights. We are pinning our colours to the super mare HONEYSUCKLE over reigning champ Epatante. Honeysuckle is 10/10 over hurdles and I still don’t think she gets the credit she deserves despite her incredible record. Plenty thought Beni Des Dieux would beat her last year and she held her off nicely. Regarding the trip, many think she doesn’t have speed to be at her best at 2 miles but she showed it at Leopardstown last time in the Irish Champion Hurdle. She has the perfect mix of speed and stamina and with the rain making the ground on the softer side of good she will be in her element and hopefully make it 11/11.

The main danger is clearly Epatante despite the underperformance at Christmas at Kempton when she was soundly beaten by Silver Streak. The latter may be a better horse this year but that wasn’t Epatante’s true running and they did find a few issues after the race. Henderson who has an amazing record in this race hasn’t had a great year by his high standards and she comes here under a bit of a cloud and siding with the impeccable record of the selection looks a solid bet.

Goshen is a horse I have a lot of time for and he clearly has so much talent as he showed in the Triumph until the final hurdle and again at Wincanton last time. He doesn’t seem straight forward and this race could just be a year early for the 5 year old. With a few question marks over Epatante and Goshen it wouldn’t surprise me if Abacadabras and perhaps more so SILVER STREAK can run into places at nice prices with the former likely to go better on faster ground than he gets in Ireland and the latter just being a better horse this year at the age of 8.

You can get 4 places on this race with bet365 which is ideal for Silver Streak.

Champion Hurdle

Cheltenham Tuesday 3.05 Honeysuckle (best price 2/1)

Silver Streak (best price 14/1) Each Way Saver

Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle 3.40

ADD CONCERTISTA AND GREAT WHITE SHARK TO BET365 BET SLIP

Trends

– 11/13 winners trained in Ireland
– 9/13 winners trained by Willie Mullins
– 12/13 winners had won over 2m4f (or further)
– 10/13 winners rated at least 150
– 8/13 winners sent off 9-4 or shorter

Cheltenham 3.40 Concertista (11/10)

Progressive mare who won Dawn Run head in chest at last year’s Festival; continued to improve since 2-2 in Graded races this campaign, running on strongly last time; more to come and trainer seeking tenth win in this race.

Willie Mullins is the most successful trainer in the history of the Cheltenham Festival so it’s no surprise to see him with a strong hand again at this year’s Festival. We’ll be hoping he has at least a double on Day 1 and his strongest chance may well be the exciting CONCERTISTA in the Mares’ Hurdle. She looks the most progressive mare in the field for me and I can’t get out of my head how impressive she was at least year’s Festival. She dismantled the field and when Daryl Jacob gave her a squeeze she motored clear to win by 12 widening lengths. She has done nothing wrong since, always doing enough to win on return at Fairyhouse before improving to run out an impressive winner up to this trip at Leopardstown last time. She stayed on strongly and looked to relish the step back up in trip. I think she can step forward again and if she does she will have all of these in trouble. Mullins is seeking a tenth win in the race and you’d be a braver man than me to oppose him.

The Skelton’s are represented with Roksana. She was a fortunate winner of this race in 2019 when Benie Des Dieux fell at the last and while she is clearly talented herself I think she is better over further (which is why they took so long to decide on her target) and she might just get tapped for toe when the taps are turned on. I expect her to finish second but I’ll be surprised if she has the speed and class to overhaul the favourite who will hopefully be away and gone. Dame De Compagnie is back over hurdles now and has to be respected but the stable are just struggling for a bit of form at the moment and I can see her running well without being good enough.

Given the shape of the race I do think it’s worth backing one at a price to hit the frame. Black Tears had been progressing nicely but I did think she looked a bit workmanlike at Punchestown last time and while she should strip fitter again I think she needs to find more. I’ve decided to put forward a stablemate to the selection in GREAT WHITE SHARK as a bit of value to run into a place. She is around 16/1 at the time of writing and while she was below par at Gowran, dropping back in trip at a track she ran well at when third in the Martin Pipe I can see her running better than her odds suggest. Floressa might improve for this longer trip and could be one for the bet365 Each Way Extra for a extra place or two.

Bet365 ITV Racing 4/1 Offer is perfect for backing EW saver

Back a winner at 4/1 or more and get a risk free bet on the next live ITV race (up to £50) at bet365.

Offer applies to first single bet placed. Applies to Win and Each-Way Fixed Odds markets and Enhanced Place Terms markets only. Bet restrictions and T&Cs apply. New and eligible customers only.

Mares’ Hurdle

Cheltenham Tuesday 3.40 Concertista (best price 11/10) NAP

Great White Shark (best price 16/1) Each Way Saver

Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (Fred Winter) 4.15

ADD RIVIERE D’ETEL AND BALKO SAINT TO BET365 BET SLIP

Trends

– 9/16 winners were French bred
– 11/16 winners had won no more than once over hurdles
– 8/16 winners won last time out
– Only 2 of the last 16 winners were rated over 134 (they were the last two though)

Cheltenham 4.15 Riviere D’Etel (11/1)

Well regarded filly who improved to win head in chest at Punchestown in December; expected to do better at Navan in January but not disgraced in third and winner looks a smart prospect; plenty of potential now handicapping.

The ‘Fred Winter’ is one of the most competitive handicaps of the week and this looks no different. It was always a great race to find a few big priced winners until the last two runnings with two single figure priced winners in Aramax and Band Of Outlaws. That said I still want to side with a couple that have bigger odds in a field this size.

My first and main selection in the race is RIVIERE D’ETEL as he ticks a lot of the right boxes on trends and his form is as solid as it comes. Gordon Elliott targeted this race previously and you would expect the horses in this race under the care of Denise Foster now would have had their targets set at the start of the season. His latest run behind the Thedevilscoachman looks very good form as he has won a Listed event since and is now rated 142 which would be top-weight in this race. I like that he took on older horses last time and he should be competitive in this off 134 and we can still get a double-figure price on him.

The other selection is BALKO SAINT who has never been out of the placings and got his win last time out at Wincanton. His best form line however does look to be the run behind Duffle Coat and Adagio who are running at a level beyond this race and it just looks rock solid form with Adagio winning twice since and Duffle Coat being 4/4. He does carry a 5lb penalty for his win but is clearly progressing nicely and I can’t believe he is 33/1 for this race.

Saint Sam and Houx Gris are live dangers but I don’t want to be playing at shorter prices in this race with horses that have similar profiles and form at far bigger prices. Even Busselton who ran against Saint Sam is double his price and could be better on the faster ground expected this week.

Bet365 ITV Racing 4/1 Offer is perfect for this race

Back a winner at 4/1 or more and get a risk free bet on the next live ITV race (up to £50) at bet365.

Offer applies to first single bet placed. Applies to Win and Each-Way Fixed Odds markets and Enhanced Place Terms markets only. Bet restrictions and T&Cs apply. New and eligible customers only.

Fred Winter

Cheltenham Tuesday 4.15 Riviere D’Etel (best price 11/1)

Balko Saint (best price 33/1)

Sam Vestey National Hunt Challenge Cup Novices’ Chase 4.50

ADD OUR VALUE TIP AND EACH WAY SAVER SNOW LEOPARDESS TO BET365 BET SLIP!

Trends

– 9/11 winners contested a Graded novice chase
– 22/30 winners aged 7 or 8
– 8/11 winners had run at least 5 times over fences
– 7/11 winners had run at the Festival previously
– 7/10 winners sent off single-figures

Our VALUE TIP runs in this race and the full preview of why we think it has a great chance in this race is on the Oddschecker App.

The market is suggesting the front 3 should have this between them and while I have selected one of those that I think is the best value (on oddschecker) I do think it has an open look to it in terms of from an each way perspective and I will be backing SNOW LEOPARDESS to have a say here. This mare has really enjoyed coming back chasing of late and has some decent form in the book having chased home Shan Blue at Wetherby before getting her head back in front at Haydock in November. She was a good second to Canelo on final start in December and I know that horse has been turned over since but he still has potential and given how lightly raced the selection is I think she could still have more to come over staying trips. Clearly this requires a career best but that’s represented in her price at 18/1 and it wouldn’t surprise me at all if she managed to run into a place. Again she might be worth backing using bet365 Each Way Extra. I think there are enough questions over those close in the market to her to make her a decent bet.

National Hunt Challenge Cup

Cheltenham Tuesday 4.50 VALUE TIP

Snow Leopardess (best price 18/1) Each Way Saver

Cheltenham Festival Day 1 Selections ADD TO BET365 BET SLIP

Supreme Novices’ Hurdle 1.20 Appreciate It NEXT BEST

Arkle Challenge Trophy 1.55 Shishkin

Ultima Handicap Chase 2.30 NOTEBOOK

Champion Hurdle 3.05 Honeysuckle

Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle 3.40 Concertista NAP

Fred Winter 4.15 Riviere D’Etel

National Hunt Challenge Cup 4.50 VALUE TIP