Nick Luck
Nick Luck’s William Hill blog: Cheltenham Festival 2026 Day One Tips
William Hill ambassador Nick Luck previews the action from the opening day of the 2026 Cheltenham Festival.
Cheltenham, Tuesday
TALK THE TALK still looks a little underestimated in the Supreme (1.20). A smart, speedy horse and the only Grade One winner here, he looks to have all the tools to do better still on this quicker surface, obliging despite conditions and poor track position in a steadily run affair at Leopardstown. There’s little danger of a pedestrian gallop here, however, and I can see him swinging away in behind as they turn down the hill.
LULAMBA gets the vote in the Arkle (2.00). Much has been made of Kopek des Bordes perhaps being able to run him off his feet, but it’s hard to know where the bottom of Lulamba is, who appears to be toying with high class rivals contemptuously. Nicky Henderson has made this type of horse his life’s work, and I see no reason to think he’s not a solid bet as second favourite.
MUSTANG DU BREUIL and GLEN TO GLEN are the two I like against the field in the Fred Winter (2.40). The former ran a really tidy race against elders in the Dovecote, enjoying the better ground and finishing stoutly in a tempo-dictated affair. He was well past the front two moments after the line, has gone up just enough to ensure qualification, and can take a big hand. Glen to Glen has been given a rather speculative mark but is a much quicker horse than most of these judges on his Flat form and won’t mind a bit of hurly burly. His trainer excels in this.
KONFUSION is just about the pick in the Ultima (3.20). This is a seriously spicy edition, and I’d have Iroko and Johnnywho high on the shortlist as well, but I like a forward-going type who is still improving for this, and I believe the selection fits the bill. He couldn’t get into his usual rhythm at Haydock, but perhaps he doesn’t like the place, and he’s had a nice break to freshen him. He’ll enjoy the ground and can cap a fine season for connections.
THE NEW LION will probably win the Champion Hurdle (4.00). All sorts of results are possible here, but I take a much more positive view of this horse than some, feeling he’d have ultimately beaten Golden Ace with some comfort in the Fighting Fifth and appreciating that the Trial was simply a way of ensuring a clear round. The presence of Tutti Quanti, Workahead and Brighterdaysahead – plus Lossiemouth in cheekpieces – might well ensure he can be smuggled into this off the pace, which will suit. He is not sure of speed. Alexei is possibly the each way play at a price.
RISKINTHEGROUND is worth an each way interest at a massive price in the Plate (4.40). He’s a fair tool at this track on this sort of ground off this sort of mark… you just must erase almost all of his pretty underwhelming efforts this season. The stable has a much more obvious candidate, but the selection can run really well if he’s on song.
KING OF ANSWERS and KURASSO BLUE are both getting some love in the last (5.20). The former is from a stable that has had a wretched season, but which is showing some signs of a revival, and this horse looked quite talented and progressive when kicking aside the useful Bill Baxter. Meanwhile, Kurasso Blue is about the least exposed of the lot, will love the distance, and will get the Jack Kennedy no-rush ride.
