Cheltenham Festival

Cheltenham Day 1 Tips: Green And Gold Set For Big Day On Champion Day

11 hours ago

| BY Steve Mullington

Seven races are scheduled for Day One of the Festival. The feature race of the day is the Champion Hurdle, a two mile Grade 1 race.

Bet on Tuesday at the Cheltenham Festival with William Hill

1.20pm The Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m

Trainer Dan Skelton is confident that his charge MYDADDYPADDY can bounce back in the Supreme following his defeat at Aintree on Boxing Day.

Prior to getting beat in the Grade One Formby Novices’ Hurdle, the four-year-old had impressed with two hurdle victories and had headed the ante-post betting market.

With a full compliment of hurdles back in front of him, I think we will see him back to his best, and he’s a tasty looking each-way bet. Nicky Henderson’s Old Park Star is the obvious danger.

2.00pm The Arkle Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) 2m

KOPEK DES BORDES put in an explosive public schooling session at Punchestown the other Wednesday, with his owner saying that Lulamba could struggle to keep up with last year’s Supreme Novices’ Hurdle winner in the Arkle.

I’m also inclined to agree with him, and fairly confident they will finish 1-2 in this two miler.

2.40pm The Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (Fred Winter) 2m

The JP McManus-owned SARATOGA is a well fancied in the Fred Winter after being brought along nicely by Padraig Roche.

Since his eye-catching second at Naas last month, punters have latched onto this juvenile and I don’t think their money will be displaced. JP’s other runner Manlaga rates the main threat.

3.20pm The Ultima Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) 3m 1f

After JAGWAR’S defeat in Cheltenham’s 2m4½f handicap chase in January, the Ryanair Chase was straight off the cards and the Ultima was seriously contemplated.

His Cheshire-based trainers have the McManus charge in tip-top condition and he has been rated fourth best in the handicap on 11st 9lbs. He comes into this staying chase with a leading chance and the stable are just hitting form again, which is rather timely with a big week like this coming up.

Stablemate Iroko can chase him home.

4.00pm The Unibet Champion Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m

JP McManus has already experienced nine Champion Hurdle winners previously, and will be hoping that THE NEW LION can notch up win number ten for him.

Given Constitution Hill’s well-documented jumps retirement, and given the fact that he only has to see off eight other rivals, there will never be a more opportune time for Dan Skelton’s gelding to land jumps racing’s hurdling blue ribband.

4.40pm The TrustATrader Plate Handicap Chase 2m 5f

Dan Skelton’s MADARA is one of the best-handicapped horses at the Cheltenham Festival according to the experts at Timeform.

The number crunchers in Halifax have the seven-year-old six pounds clear of his official BHA mark of 140. That certainly makes him an appealing bet for punters.

Gavin Cromwell’s Will The Wise can bounce back from his Christmas effort in the Paddy Power Chase.

5.20pm The Princess Royal National Hunt Novices’ Handicap Chase 3m 6f

GRAND GESTE (11st 5lbs) landed the recent William Hill-sponsored Grand National Trial at Haydock and tries his luck in the National Hunt Novices’ Handicap Chase. On a nice mark of 135, he’s an interesting each-way player in the final handicap on day one of the Festival.

Of the others, Newton Tornado has strengthened in the betting following his impressive victory at Doncaster last time.