Jane Mangan

Jane Mangan’s William Hill blog: Cheltenham Festival 2026 Day One Tips

4 hours ago

| BY News Team

William Hill ambassador Jane Mangan is here with her best bets on Day One of the 2026 Cheltenham Festival.

Cheltenham, Tuesday

The opening race of the Cheltenham Festival is a typically fantastic renewal of the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (1:20pm). It has been won by some brilliant horses in the last 10 years: Altior, Shishkin, Constitution Hill, and most recently Kopek Des Bordes, and I think that it will take that calibre of horse to win it this time around. Unsurprisingly, nine of the last 13 winners have been trained by either Willie Mullins or Nicky Henderson, but I think this year it’s going to go to an outside camp. Joseph O’Brien has gone on the record saying that Talk The Talk is one of the most Jumps talented horses he has ever had, and I thought he did really well to win at the Dublin Racing Festival when coming from a long way off a slow pace on heavy ground. The drying conditions should only suit this horse with his turn of speed, and I think he’s the real deal. He’s the one to kick the week off for me.

The match of the week has to be in the Arkle (2:00pm): Lulamba vs Kopek Des Bordes. Both have statistics that suggest their chances are limited. As a five-year-old, Lulamba must buck the trend of no five-year-old winner since 2007, whilst Kopek Des Bordes arrives here with only one chase run under his belt. The last horse to win an Arkle off the same preparation was Western Warhorse in 2014, however, both have the talent to overcome those statistics. Kopek Des Bordes appeals as the more natural two-miler but, with a strong pace looking to be set by stablemate Kargese, this may well develop into a test of stamina. Lulamba is the one for me. He will be very strong up the hill and I think he is a Gold Cup horse of the future, but he might just have the class to land an Arkle along the way.

The Fred Winter (2:40pm) has been an Irish benefit of late, but I think that this renewal is staying at home. I was really impressed by what I saw from Winston Junior in defeat over course and distance back in December before following up with a very impressive victory at Ascot when we last saw him. The booking of Jack Kennedy is very eye-catching and if he can settle, this high-class jumper can overcome a mark of 131.

The Irish have a very poor record in the Ultima (3:20pm), with only two winners from the last 57 renewals, so we better stick to Team GB. I’m siding with the top weight Iroko. I was very impressed with him at Ascot, and I think the step up in trip will be no issue for him. He was a good second to The Jukebox Man at Haydock and whilst he is obviously targeting another tilt at the Grand National, for me, he wouldn’t look out of place running in the Gold Cup. I believe he is good enough to give weight away all round here.

We have a very open Champion Hurdle (4:00pm) this year. It’s fantastic to see Lossiemouth lining up but I think that she will struggle to match the talent and turn of speed that The New Lion possesses. Whilst it will be difficult for Dan Skelton’s gelding to give the mares seven pounds, the drying ground is a concern for Brighterdaysahead, and I think he has the talent to beat both. The International Hurdle doesn’t have the best of records when it comes to producing the winner of this race, but I think he has what it takes to win this year. He has course form and I think he is the one to be with.

Next up is the Plate Handicap Chase (4:40pm). Henry de Bromhead is a man I’m going to keep a close eye on over the next couple of days. His string has been out of form since Christmas, but he typically comes alive this week every year. With that in mind, I’m siding with Downmexicoway. He looks to have the right credentials for this race. The last 12 winners have been rated between 139 and 149. He is bang in the middle on 145, and I think he ran a better race than the result suggests when third to Kargese and Romeo Coolio at the Dublin Racing Festival. He impressed me back in November at Gowran Park and I think this race has been in mind for a while. He looks a nice price to me.

Emmet Mullins won the National Hunt Chase (5:20pm) with Corbett’s Cross, and he turned out to be a Grade One performer. Whilst I’m not sure Backmersackme is a future Grade One performer for him, I still think that he is very well handicapped off a mark of 135. He got a ten-pound rise for his win at Leopardstown and he showed that day that stamina is his forte, so the three-mile-and-six-furlong trip looks to be of no concern. I think he can close out the day with a winner for Donagh Meyler and Emmet Mullins.