Nick Luck’s William Hill Cheltenham Festival Tips: Day One

William Hill ambassador Nick Luck previews Day One of the Cheltenham Festival 2025, tipping in all seven races.

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Cheltenham, Tuesday

WORKAHEAD can get us off to the perfect start by repelling the Mullins might in the Michael O’Sullivan Supreme (1.20). A powerful gelding – already seven – he posted one of the most striking novice performances of the season when bolting up at Leopardstown over Christmas, recording a very sound time on a decent surface. I loved the way he jumped, getting slicker as he went and exuberant at the last in the manner of a horse who had loads left. That form is arguably comparable to the achievement of Kopek Des Bordes at the DRF, yet he is fully eight times the price. Expect a bold show from the front.

MAJBOROUGH should despatch his rivals – however useful – in the Arkle (2.00). Much has been made of some less than aesthetically pleasing jumping at Leopardstown, but he was asked some serious questions by Mark Walsh, and was rapid away from his obstacles. What he has already achieved for one so young and inexperienced is remarkable, and he can win again.

MYRETOWN and TRELAWNE will be getting my support in the Ultima (2.40). They are at either end of the handicap, but I believe both are capable of improving. Myretown definitely wants good ground on pedigree, and the balance of his performance supports that. He is undoubtedly well handicapped, and I’m taking a punt that he’ll cope with the hurly burly. Trelawne was among the favourites for this last year, and I don’t really buy the idea that he wants a slog. He was being talked of as a potential fringe player for a Gold Cup at the head of the season, and he gets a suitable race for the first time since.

JOYEUSE each way looks the play in the Mares’ Hurdle (3.20). It’s clear that Lossiemouth will take an awful lot of beating if anywhere near her best, but she comes off a heavy tumble and will likely face slightly quicker conditions than usual here. The selection may have had a modest rating when winning the William Hill Hurdle, but she won with such ridiculous ease that it’s hard not to think that she’s a Graded mare and can take another step up.

CONSTITUTION HILL is a backable price, even at odds-on, in the Champion Hurdle (4.00). One of the best we’ve seen, the likely searching pace can only exacerbate his superiority.

QUANTOCK HILLS is a sporting wager in the Fred Winter (4.40). Now with plenty of experience at this venue, he was shaping second best behind East India Dock here before stumbling two out and then rather coasting home. He didn’t look short of pace that day, won’t mind a switch to the Old Course, is seven pounds better off with favourite Stencil, and gets Harry Cobden.

I tipped Haiti Couleurs ante-post for the NH Chase (5.20), but there’s nothing left in his price, and an on-the-day bet at the current odds is WILL DO, who is in rather calmer waters (odd though it sounds) than in those super-frenetic big-field open handicaps in Ireland that he’s used to. He glided along when favourite for the Paddy Power at Leopardstown over Christmas, just found wanting for a bit of pace. I can see him getting a Jack Kennedy special here, smuggling around and delivered late.