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Cheltenham Festival Day 1 Tips
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GET READY FOR THE ROAR! The 2022 Cheltenham Festival is finally here and we’ll be hoping for a strong start to the week. All 7 races covered 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). Profit and loss will be calculated to level stakes (same as our oddschecker bets) and posted daily to Twitter.
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
Ukraine Appeal National Hunt Challenge Cup Novices’ Chase – Grade 2 3m5f201y
Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle 1.30
ADD DYSART DYNAMO AND EACH WAY SAVER MIGHTY POTTER TO BET365 BET SLIP
This has the potential to be the best Supreme we’ve seen for almost 20 years with the amount of strength in depth in here. Loyal GYTO followers will know we have a good record in this race stemming back to Cinders And Ashes back in 2012 where he belted the last but held on well to land us a 16/1 winner! In recent years Altior, Klassical Dream, Shishkin and Appreciate It have given us plenty to shout about.
Trends
– 9/10 won a Graded Novice Hurdle
– 9/10 ran in last 59 days
– 6/8 rated 153 or higher
– 8/20 contested a graded bumper
– 22/25 won last time out
– 13/14 2+ wins over hurdles
– 5/9 won a Grade 1 last time out
Cheltenham 1.30 Dysart Dynamo (11/4)
Looked a smart prospect in bumpers winning both starts and made all in taking fashion to go 2-2 over hurdles at Punchestown back in January; improving all the time and can get these in trouble; likely to be in the box seat.
With stablemate Kilcruit also lining up here DYSART DYNAMO may end up getting a lovely toe in. Initially I thought he might go off the front under Townend but now Kilcruit has been confirmed I think Patrick might push forward on him and help the selection to settle. He has such a high cruising speed anyway so I expect him to be in the box seat turning for home. He won both starts in bumpers easily and despite looking babyish on hurdles debut at Cork his jumping did improve as the race went on. He put that experience to good use to win head in chest at Punchestown and an even stronger pace here will only help him further. I think he has been largely underestimated and I’m expecting big things. If he handles the prelims well and settles in the race I honestly don’t think they’ll see which way he goes.
Henderson saddles both Constitution Hill and Jonbon but his form heading into this would have to be a worry. It’s the lowest amount of winners heading into the Festival since 1997 so that is a red flag for me. I think Constitution Hill might be taken out his comfort zone so Jonbon could emerge as the main danger. Of the rest MIGHTY POTTER looks a solid place bet as he will improve again. He has won 2 from 3 over hurdles and still looks quite raw so should be finishing strongly.
Bet365 ITV Racing 4/1 Offer is perfect for backing Mighty Potter
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.
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Supreme Novices’ Hurdle
Cheltenham Tuesday 1.30 Dysart Dynamo (best price 11/4) NEXT BEST
Mighty Potter (best price 10/1) each way saver
Sporting Life Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices’ Chase 2.10
ADD BLUE LORD TO BET365 BET SLIP
Trends
– 16/22 won Grade 1/2 over fences
– 14/18 sent chasing after Novice hurdle campaign
– 24/30 aged 6 or 7
– 17/21 last time out winners
– 8/12 unbeaten chasers
– 10/16 ran at least 3 times over fences
– 7/10 rated 160 or higher
Cheltenham 2.10 Blue Lord (9/2)
Taken really well to fences looking a smart recruit winning so effortlessly on debut at Fairyhouse and then followed up crossing the line 20 lengths in front at Naas; held off Riviere D’etel at Leopardstown; more to come.
On current ratings this years Arkle looks an average renewal which lacks a real superstar it seems. There isn’t a Shishkin, Altior or Douvan type in this field. The favourite is Edwardstone at the time of writing and I think he is there to be taken on. 8 year olds don’t have a poor record in the race and even though he has improved for going chasing I don’t think he has as much to come as some of the others in the field.
BLUE LORD is unbeaten over fences and won the Irish Arkle last time out beating the re-opposing Riviere D’etel. Plenty think that form will be reversed but it was the mistake that cost the mare last time and who is to rule out something similar again plus Blue Lord is better off at the weights. People try to pick holes in him which is why you can get 4/1 on a Grade 1 Willie Mullins horse in the Arkle and he looks good value.
Riviere D’etel is the main danger but she will need to be mistake free only getting the 7lb mare allowance now and I do wonder what how she will fair at the business end of the season with 5 runs over fences already. Haut En Couleurs is clearly highly rated but horses that fell prior to the Arkle don’t have a great record so his time might come further down the line.
Bet365 ITV Racing 4/1 Offer is perfect for backing Blue Lord
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Ultima Handicap Chase 2.50
ADD FANTASTIKAS AND CORACH RAMBLER AS WELL AS EACH WAY SAVER TEA CLIPPER TO BET365 BET SLIP
Trends
– 9/14 142-148 rating
– 9/12 carried 10-10 or more
– 4/8 were novices
– 9/12 ran at Cheltenham earlier this season
– 9/10 wore headgear
– 0-28 runners Irish trained
– 6/14 won last time out
Cheltenham 2.50 Fantastikas (11/1)
Progressive chaser who made a winning start in this sphere before bumping into Threeunderthrufive at Doncaster and then L’homme Presse at Cheltenham; back on track at Lingfield latest and sure to go well here.
The Ultima is always one of the most competitive handicaps of the week so it’s no surprise to see it 7/1 bar the field at the time of writing. Like usual I’m going to take 3 in the race with my main hope of a winner being the Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained FANTASTIKAS. He is a horse I’ve had my eye on for a while now and I thought he did well to prevail with the pair a country mile clear at Lingfield. A 4lb rise is lenient and he has the right profile to come into his own tackling a race like this for the first time. He obviously remains open to further improvement and from a trends perspective has plenty going for him.
The other one I liked was CORACH RAMBLER for Lucinda Russell. This horse is lightly raced for an 8yo and I thought he looked promising winning at Aintree and here earlier in the season. He was a creditable fourth behind Eclair Surf in a fiercely competitive Grade 3 at Warwick before unshipping behind the favourite for this race Does He Know at Ascot last month. He never really looked happy in the testing ground and with better conditions likely here I think we’ll see a much improved performance. He is off the same mark and is definitely one to be interested in with Derek Fox in the saddle.
With decent each way terms on offer I’m also going to include an each way saver on TEA CLIPPER for Tom Lacey. This horse looked firmly on the upgrade staying on well to beat Fidelio Vallis at Chepstow at the start of the season and while he has been beaten twice since he did finish four of four behind Bravemansgame in a Grade 1 at Kempton when last seen and as a result has an attractive looking mark. He has undergone wind surgery too and I can see him travelling into this well and at 25/1 has to be included. Plenty of dangers probably headed by Does He Know along with Gericault Roque. Oscar Elite may also show up better here but he does have enough to prove on the balance.
Bet365 are paying an extra place on this race, you can now get 5 places.
Ultima Handicap Chase
Cheltenham Tuesday 2.50 Fantastikas (best price 11/1)
Corach Rambler (best price 12/1)
Tea Clipper (best price 25/1) each way saver
Unibet Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy 3.30
ADD HONEYSUCKLE AND EPATANTE WITHOUT THE FAV TO BET365 BET SLIP
Trends
– The past 7 winners were unbeaten in the season
– 27/32 winners won last time out
– 28/39 winners aged 6 or 7
– 5 year olds are 2/105 in the past 34 years
– 21/23 ran at Cheltenham before
– 0/29 10 year olds plus
– avoid 5 year olds record 2/108 runners
Cheltenham 3.30 Honeysuckle (8/11)
Ran out a mightily impressive winner of this last year, leaving rivals standing; since added a win at Punchestown and then gone 2-2 this season winning at Fairyhouse and Leopardstown last month; unbeaten and impossible to oppose.
I am really looking forward to seeing the wonder-mare HONEYSUCKLE in the flesh again on Tuesday and it is hard to see a reason for her to be beaten. She doesn’t get the credit she deserves from everyone but she is 14 out of 14 for a reason and about to break £1million in career earnings. She always makes a move turning in that not many can go with and puts the races to bed. From a betting perspective she is in our acca for the week but is no value as a single at current prices.
The closest rival in the betting is last years Supreme winner Appreciate It who was very impressive in that race. He hasn’t been seen on the track since and I take the point that Willie Mullins is a genius but I find him hard to trust without a run when in the Supreme he was beating horses rated in the 140s this is totally different task.
My play in the race is a small bet on EPATANTE in the without the favourite market. She won it two years ago and seems to be back to her best. She is only an 8 year old and like Honeysuckle she gets the 7lb mare allowance which is proving so valuable. She is unlikely to beat her fellow mare but I expect her to go well behind. Of the rest Teahupoo impressed last time out but is a 5 year old and hasn’t ran at the track before and Adagio is so good round here he could easily run a place but he could better in the future.
You can get 4 places on this race with bet365 which is ideal for Epatante.
Champion Hurdle
Cheltenham Tuesday 3.30 Honeysuckle (best price 8/11)
Epatante without Honeysuckle (best price 7/1)
Epatante to place (best price 5/2)
Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle 4.10
ADD QUEENS BROOK AND EACH WAY SAVER MRS MILNER TO BET365 BET SLIP
Trends
– 12/14 winners trained in Ireland
– 9/10 winners trained by Willie Mullins
– 12/14 won or placed against the boys
– 13/14 won or placed in Grade 1 or 2
– 10/14 rated 150 plus
– 8/14 won or placed at the Festival previously
– Flat background a big negative
Cheltenham 4.10 Queens Brook (5/1)
Likeable mare who has looked gradually progressive over hurdles and impressed winning easily at Fairyhouse back in November; stuck to the task when second to Burning Victory at Punchestown last month and spot on for this now.
This is a fiercely competitive renewal of the Mares’ Hurdle and I’m still not over Concertista getting chinned in this last year. Telmesomethinggirl certainly has the form to have a big say here but I wouldn’t want to back anything too short in here so I’m taking a chance on QUEENS BROOK coming good. I thought she showed what she was capable of beating Ciel De Neige at Fairyhouse in November and with a spin to get fit at Punchestown last month she should be primed and ready to fire now. She remains open to further improvement and this track clearly suits as she showed when finishing third to Ferny Hollow in the Champion Bumper back in 2020. She comes here on the up and has more going for her than most.
From an each way perspective I thought MRS MILNER was very interesting so I’ll be having a saver on her. She bolted up in the Pertemps last year and had no problem making a winning return at Limerick in October. She was beaten up in trip in the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury when last seen but back down in trip now and at a track she clearly operates well at I think she has very solid place claims and an upset certainly couldn’t be ruled out. She will be ridden quietly and will look to pick her way through late. If Bryan Cooper gets the splits then who knows? There is potential for a lot of pace so it could easily set up nicely for her.
Dangers include Stormy Ireland but she should be taken on for the lead by Heaven Help Us. Burning Victory picked up the pieces in the Triumph when Goshen fell a couple of years ago and she beat Queens Brook at Punchestown so has to be respected but I’m pretty certain the latter can reverse that form here. Echoes In Rain has found life tougher in open company but was only beaten 7 lengths by Honeysuckle and I don’t think she is one to give up on yet so look for a big run from her as well.
Bet365 ITV Racing 4/1 Offer is perfect for backing Queens Brook or Mrs Milner
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 4.10 Queens Brook (best price 5/1)
Mrs Milner (best price 12/1) each way saver
Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (Fred Winter) 4.50
ADD THE TIDE TURNS AND EACH WAY SAVER FOREVER WILLIAM TO BET365 BET SLIP
Trends
– 9/17 winners were French bred
– 6/11 ran in Grade 1 or 2 earlier in the season (even if well beaten)
– 11/17 carried 11 stone plus
– 10/17 had just 3 hurdle runs
– 8/17 won last start
– 7/17 ran against older horses
– the less hurdle runs the better
Race Live Stream
ITV racing finishes before this race so bet365’s live streaming is great to watch the last 2 races on each day of the festival.
Stream every race at Cheltenham here
You will need to be logged in and have a funded account or to have placed a bet in the last 24 hours. Geo location and live streaming rules apply.
Cheltenham 4.50 The Tide Turns (7/1)
Progressive on the AW for Sir Mark Prescott and made a bright start over hurdles beating HMS Seahorse easily at Punchestown; far from disgraced in graded company the last twice and lots more to come in handicaps.
This race features one of the talking horses of the week in Gaelic Warrior. The English handicapper looks to have given him a ridiculous chance rating him roughly 10lb below what he would be based on his French mark. Willie Mullins got the mark and knew he was going to come straight here without actually running for him. He could be a Grade 1 horse in a handicap but I am going to oppose him as he is a short price in a 22 runner field. He hasn’t had a run since June and this will be very different from his races in France.
The first horse I am going to take him on with is THE TIDE TURNS for Gordon Elliott who has a great record in this race compared to Willie Mullins. Elliott usually targets this race with a few of his horses. I like horses that get their mark in graded company as it rarely effects their mark as they aren’t usually at that level. His run behind Vauban looked very good in the Spring Juvenile Hurdle. He was only 8 lengths back in fourth and that looks some of the best form around. He was well behind Teahupoo at Gowran last time but that run was just to get his handicap mark and he looks overpriced here due to the short priced favourite.
At a much bigger price FOREVER WILLIAM could go well with first-time headgear on after running well in third behind Pied Piper at Cheltenham earlier in the year. He won on debut and has ran in graded company since finishing third twice. He likely has plenty to offer in handicap company and will run his race. Of the rest HMS Seahorse who’s form ties in well with The Tide Turns and Ebasari at a bigger price both have live place chances.
Bet365 ITV Racing 4/1 Offer is perfect for backing The Tide Turns or Forever William
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 4.50 The Tide Turns (best price 6/1)
Forever William (best price 40/1) each way saver
Ukraine Appeal National Hunt Challenge Cup Novices’ Chase 5.30
ADD STATTLER TO BET365 BET SLIP
Trends
– 4/8 trained by Gordon Elliott (plus Galvin)
– 6/12 ran at least 8 times over fences
– 10/12 contested Graded Novice chase earlier in the season
– 5/11 ran in a Grade 1
– 6/11 ran in a Novice chase at the track earlier in the season
– 23/31 7 or 8 year olds
– 10/11 142 plus rated
Race Live Stream
ITV racing finishes before this race so bet365’s live streaming is great to watch the last 2 races on each day of the festival.
Stream every race at Cheltenham here
You will need to be logged in and have a funded account or to have placed a bet in the last 24 hours. Geo location and live streaming rules apply.
Cheltenham 5.30 Stattler (5/2)
Reached a decent level of form over hurdles but already looked a better chaser winning impressively on chase debut at Fairyhouse and then beating a subsequent winner at Naas last time; should relish this test and has the most potential.
I can’t wait to see STATTLER at Cheltenham. Connections have touted this horse as a ‘future Grand National’ type and connections have targeted this in previous years winning it with the likes of Rathvinden and Galvin last year. They won it with a similar type back in 2013 in Back In Focus and I think he can remain unbeaten over fences here. He obviously lacks experience but from what I’ve seen he looks to have really come into his own now and I’ll be surprised if he is beaten. Patrick Mullins rides and has won this twice in the past decade. I expect him to give him a stalking ride round before staying on best up the Cheltenham hill.
Run Wild Fred is hugely respected as he fits the typical profile you’d often associate with this race. He is battle hardened and stays all day so I have no doubt he’ll run his race but what I’m confident on is the potential Stattler brings to the table and if he shows it I think he’ll just be too good for Run Wild Fred. The latter has never raced away from Ireland either which has to be slightly concerning and from time to time he can walk through a fence. If he doesn’t put in the most fluent round Stattler will be waiting to pounce. There’s a fair bit of pace on too so he won’t be left alone on the front.
Vanillier was an impressive winner of the Albert Bartlett a year ago and clearly comes alive here. His last two runs have left something to be desired though and Stattler left him standing at Naas so he has enough work to do to even close that gap. Pats Fancy would likely be the each way play but with just the 7 runners you’re getting just 2 places so I’m happy to leave him alone given my confidence Stattler will win this. Ontheropes has very solid form but I think he’ll be doing his best work late and the race might already have got away from him by then.
Cheltenham Festival Day 1 Selections ADD ALL TO BET365 BET SLIP
Supreme Novices’ Hurdle 1.30 Dysart Dynamo NEXT BEST
Arkle Challenge Trophy 2.10 Blue Lord
Ultima Handicap Chase 2.50 Fantastikas
Champion Hurdle 3.30 Honeysuckle
Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle 4.10 Queens Brook
Fred Winter 4.50 The Tide Turns
National Hunt Challenge Cup 5.30 Stattler NAP
Cheltenham Festival Daily Double
The Daily Double consists of both the NAP and NB and is a great way of covering our two best bets of the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival to try and maximise profit.
Cheltenham Festival Daily Double
Cheltenham Festival Day 1 Lucky 15
With some good value on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival we have also included a Daily Lucky 15. We recommend backing this each way given the price and we’d only need a couple of winners/ some places to make a decent return.
Cheltenham Festival Day 1 Lucky 15
Cheltenham 2.10 Blue Lord
Cheltenham 2.50 Corach Rambler
Cheltenham 4.10 Queens Brook
Cheltenham 4.50 The Tide Turns