Cheltenham Day 1 Preview & Tips
We’ve picked out five selections from the ITV/ Virgin Media races with a couple of picks at each-way prices.
The Cheltenham Festival is finally here and it’s a high class day of action on Tuesday with no fewer than four Grade 1s on the card including the Champion Hurdle.
We’ve picked out five selections from the ITV races with a couple of picks at each-way prices including one at double figure odds in the Ultima in which BoyleSports are paying five places.
1.30 - Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1)
While there’s no Ballyburn after confirmation of his defection to the Baring Bingham later in the week, it still looks like a high class renewal with the likes of Tullyhill, Mystical Power and Firefox all looking like above average novices.
Preference is for Gordon Elliott’s runner, Firefox. He was on a steep upward curve before a blip at Naas in January at a point when the yard weren’t really firing. That’s an effort worth forgiving and his maiden hurdle success is the piece of form to focus on.
He dished out a first loss to Ballyburn that day and while that rival was unsuited by the sit and sprint nature of the race, the pair still pulled a long way clear of the remainder of the field.
It’s a race that has thrown up a stack of subsequent winners and Firefox’s potent turn of foot displayed that day will stand him in good stead back down in trip.
CLICK HERE To Bet On The Supreme Novices’ Hurdle
2.10 - Arkle Novices’ Chase (Grade 1)
It doesn’t look like the strongest renewal of the Arkle and the one that can take advantage is Gaelic Warrior.
It was a poor run at the Dublin Racing Festival last time behind Fact To File but he had looked like a really smart chaser in the making in two previous chase starts this season, including a Grade 1 success at Limerick over Christmas.
Testing ground should bring his stamina into play and he’s hit the crossbar in two previous Festival appearances over timber. His tendency to jump right is a slight concern but he probably possesses a fair bit more ability than these rivals.
Add to your Betslip - Gaelic Warrior
CLICK HERE To Bet On The Arkle Chase
2.50 - Ultima Handicap Chase
Meetingofthewaters has a fairly obvious chance but his price has probably gone and with BoyleSports offering five places, it’s worth chancing one at a bigger price.
The recent rain that has come is a massive bonus for Famous Bridge. He was travelling as well as any of his rivals before an unlucky unseat in the Grand National trial at Haydock last time and that was an uncharacteristic mistake, brushing through the top of a fence before failing to get the landing gear out.
This is a race connections target and he’ll be sticking to his task well when others are faltering.
Add to your Betslip - Famous Bridge
CLICK HERE To Bet On The Ultima Handicap Chase
3.30 - Champion Hurdle
It’s difficult to get away from the claims of State Man who already has eight Grade 1 victories to his name with seven of those coming in open company.
His only recent defeat came at the hands of Constitution Hill in this race last year and without that rival lining up, he’s hard to back against on ground he’s fine on.
An each-way case can be made for Iberico Lord who has been supplemented for this but with Luccia a potential non-runner due to the ground (recent non-runner at Newbury), a seven-runner heat would make him less appealing if there’s only two places on offer.
Add to your betslip - State Man
CLICK HERE To Bet On The Champion Hurdle
4.10 - Mares’ Hurdle
Lossiemouth is a worthy short-priced favourite but with stamina to prove over this new trip, she might be worth taking on from an each-way perspective.
2022’s winner, Marie’s Rock has been forgotten about in the market. She has an excellent record over this sort of trip if you take out last year’s below par run in this race and she looked back on track when winning at Doncaster last time. This is obviously tougher but she’s well capable of getting in the mix if she’s somewhere close to her best.
