Last Updated: 18:26, 13/03/23

Road to Cheltenham blog reaches its close

18:26 Monday

We've come to the end of our Road to Cheltenham blog, but hopefully we have helped you on the way to a winner or two starting tomorrow. Good luck, everyone!

There's still time to get behind our Day 1 Lucky 15, while Architect Tips has provided the selections to support our race-by-race offer and free bet strategy for Tuesday at the Cheltenham Festival.

And don't forget Andy Holding's tips will go live at 7pm every night this week and will only be available to those who have subscribed to early access until 11am the next day.

Read more about it HERE.

Take a chance on Bad in the Boodles?

16:48 Monday

The four-year-old is a best price 8/1 (worst 6/1).

Coolvalla makes big National Hunt Chase move

14:46 Monday

Gaillard Du Mesnil remains the clear market leader at best price Evens.

Cheltenham Day 1 Race-by-Race Offer & Free Bet Strategy

14:11 Monday

Architect Tips has provided the selections to support our race-by-race offer and free bet strategy for the first day of the Cheltenham Festival, starting with Sky Bet's Money Back as Cash offer on the Supreme Novices' Hurdle.

County Hurdle loses Colonel Mustard through injury

12:07 Monday

Townend gets It's For Me ride in the Bumper

11:54 Monday

It's For Me is a best price 5/1 for the race (worst 4/1).

Day 2 Declarations Roundup

10:49 Monday

There have been 10 confirmed for the Ballymore, including market leaders Impaire Et Passe and Hermes Allen. 11 will go in the Brown Advisory, with Mighty Potter unsurprisingly not declared (5/4 Turners favourite).

Seven make the final cut for the Champion Chase, with 10/1 ante-post chance Blue Lord and Gentleman De Mee (infection) both missing.

No real surprises in the Cross Country Chase where Delta Work and Galvin vie for favouritism, while Riviere D'Etel has not been declared for the Grand Annual. There is no Winter Fog, Iroko or No Ordinary Joe in the Coral Cup.

Momentum building for Gerri Colombe in the Brown Advisory?

10:14 Monday

With the rain hitting Cheltenham just in time the momentum is really building behind GERRI COLOMBE now and I think he can remain unbeaten in the Brown Advisory on Wednesday," said Joe Norris (@GetYourTipsOut).

"He has never tasted defeat even winning his point to point. He made it a perfect 3-3 over fences winning the Scilly Isles at Sandown last month. That came over 2 and a half miles so a trip on the sharp side and on quicker ground but his class really came to the fore and he stayed on strongly to win readily in the end.

"He is a horse still learning his trade and with improvement to come back up in trip I have him a cut above anything in this field."

Mahler Mission to shock Gaillard Du Mesnil?

09:59 Monday

"MAHLER MISSION (best price 13/2) would be my NAP on Tuesday at the Cheltenham Festival," said Ryan Summerville (@ryanOTHx).

"This has been the plan a long way out and the step up in trip should see him to better affect. The dam is related to horses that have won over 3m6f and 3m5f so this marathon test should be right up his street and he won’t be stopping late on."

Fantastikas is a big market mover for the Ultima

09:55 Monday

Going change after 4mm of overnight rain

09:04 Monday

The Real Whacker declared for the Brown Advisory

08:52 Monday

Andy Holding has been sweet on The Real Whacker's chances in the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase for two months now, saying in January:

"There’s no denying the son of Mahler will be a big player in whichever race he ends up in, as his jumping and speed figures so far to date are right up there with the very best. 

"Having the pace to run miles quicker than the older horse handicap won by Midnight River over the same C&D last time and stamina to stay an extra half a mile to boot suggests he’s not just a one-trick pony and you can’t underestimate the value of the way he operates over his fences – particularly over such a demanding track as Cheltenham. 

"All in all, he has first-class credentials and if he were housed in one of the bigger yards, he would be half his current odds."

He is a best price 9/2 for the race on Wednesday.

Gentleman De Mee out of the Champion Chase

14:22 Sunday

Willie Mullins confirms Gentleman De Mee has picked up an infection and will not run in the Champion Chase on Wednesday.

Day 1 Declarations

11:53 Sunday

14 runners have been declared for Tuesday's opening race, with Facile Vega the current 2/1 favourite for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle. El Fabiolo heads the nine strong field for the Arkle with Jonbon currently a narrow second favourite. The Ultima has 23 runners at this stage with Lord Accord a notable absentee. 

Day one's feature race, the Champion Hurdle will see short price favourite Constitution Hill take on six rivals including State Man, Vauban and I Like To Move It.

Arguably one of the most competitive races of the festival comes in the form of the Mares Hurdle with Marie's Rock the current favourite at 3/1. The Boodles and National Hunt Chase have had 36 (max runners 22) and 10 declarations respectively.

Shoot First out of Pertemps Final

11:22 Sunday 

Shoot First, who was a favourite for the Pertemps Network Final, has been ruled out of the race on Thursday after suffering a setback this morning

The news shortens Thanksforthehelp, best price of 13/2, to the new favourite for Thursday's race.

Marie's Rock declared for Mares' Hurdle

10:21 Sunday

Last year's Mares' Hurdle winner will defend her crown at this year's Festival after Nicky Henderson and connections decide against a tilt at the Stayers' Hurdle. The eight-year-old was expected to step up in trip but with rain falling in recent days they've decided to stay over 2m4f for now.

Marie's Rock will face nine rivals including dual Champion Hurdle winner Honeysuckle who will be looking to end her career with another Cheltenham Festival win.

Horses confirmed for Tuesday's races at Cheltenham

10:15 Sunday

The horses set to run in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle, Arkle Chase and Ultima Handicap Chase have been confirmed this morning, as well as the Champion Hurdle, Mares Hurdle, Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle and National Hunt Chase.

Official going now Soft, Good to Soft in places

10:05 Sunday

With the Cheltenham Festival just two days away now, the official going is now Soft, Good to soft in places. It is expected to be dry tomorrow, but more rain is due tomorrow ahead of the Festival.

Inthepocket running in the Supreme last minute

09:47 Sunday

Inthepocket, who was originally to take part in the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle, is now confirmed to run in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle this morning instead.

In other news, Epatante is declared for the Mares' Hurdle, no late change for her.