Jane Mangan’s William Hill Blog: Cheltenham Festival 2025 Day One Preview

William Hill ambassador Jane Mangan is here to preview the first day of the 2025 Cheltenham Festival.

Tuesday, Cheltenham

Starting off with the Michael O’Sullivan Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (1:20pm), I think Kopek Des Bordes is the best novice hurdler that we have seen so far this season. I just hope that the circus doesn’t get to his head – it’s a possibility, and I’m not surprised that the hood has been fitted. Each way against the favourite, I’m going for Workahead. His maiden from Leopardstown at Christmas is working out very well, as he beat William Munny by seven lengths. Connections won the race last year with Slade Steel, and he rates a good each-way play here.

The Arkle Chase (2:00pm) looks simple to me – I think it’s Majborough’s to lose, barring an incident. He’d be the first horse to win the Triumph Hurdle and the Arkle, and whilst five-year-olds have a poor record in the race, a horse of his calibre hasn’t contested it in a long time. He’s a potential superstar, and anything short of a win will be disappointing.

The Ultima Handicap Chase (2:40pm) has, as it always does, attracted a massive field. Ireland has a terrible record in the race, having only won it twice since the 1960s. I don’t see the trend changing, as I fancy Broadway Boy for the Twiston-Davies team. Three years ago, Corach Rambler beat Fastorslow in this race before going on to win the Aintree Grand National, and I think this horse has similar credentials. He has won three times at Cheltenham, twice over course and distance, and his prominent racing style will suit here. As a seven-year-old, I still think he has improvement to come, and I can see him running a big one in the Ultima.

Much has been made of the decision for Lossiemouth to defect to the Mares’ Hurdle (3:20pm) – it’s time to let that lie. The fact is, she is the one to beat here. She’s rated 160, she won the race last year, and to be frank, could you see any of her opposition finishing within a length of Constitution Hill? No. She’s the best horse in the race, and I think she will add another festival win to her CV this week.

I do think July Flower appeals as an each-way selection here. She was third in the French Champion Hurdle last year, she’s a real strong stayer, and a strong pace would suit her here. I liked her win at Leopardstown over Kala Conti, and I think she may have been a forgotten horse for Henry de Bromhead, who does well in these types of races.

The Champion Hurdle (4:00pm) has attracted seven runners, and it looks to me like a match. I have a lot of time for State Man, and the application of cheekpieces is interesting, but I don’t think he brings his best to Cheltenham. The presence of a pacemaker adds a level of intrigue for Brighterdaysahead, who will want a real test of stamina. I don’t think it matters – Constitution Hill is the best around. He’s ten from ten, and I think he will remain unbeaten.

Joseph O’Brien has a strong hand in the Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (4:40pm) – a race he has a good record in, having won it twice in the last six years. He has two fancied runners here in the form of Puturhandstogether and Beyond Your Dreams. Mark Walsh has gone for Puturhandstogether, but I fancy the Beyond Your Dreams. I like the fact they have reached for the cheekpieces here for the first time, and his most recent run, when beating Slurricane, was very eye-catching. JJ Slevin has a great racing weight of ten stone and three pounds on this filly, and she will take all the beating.

The National Hunt Chase (5:20pm) has been revamped this year. Now a handicap, it has attracted a much larger field than in previous years. It won’t take a Corbetts Cross to win the race this time around – I think slow and steady will win the day. Haiti Couleurs is the one I like here. I think connections have been working back from this race since he beat Transmission in December. He had a run over hurdles last time to keep him straight, and he’s a really strong stayer who loves the track. He is four pounds worse off with Transmission, but I think there is more to come here, and he can take the last out.