Cheltenham Tips: Day 1 Road to Cheltenham Preview, Entries & Races

The Road to Cheltenham has now arrived at Prestbury Park with Day 1 at the Festival now upon us. Referred to as Champions day, Day 1 has often been kinder to punters than the subsequent three days and many will be keen to get off to a good start. 

Ballyburn, Marine Nationale and Constitution Hill were three ante-post odds on shots on the first day and will have made up many ante-post accumulators.

None are running but in their place we have State Man (Champion Hurdle) and Lossiemouth (Mares' Hurdle) as two odds on favourites for team Mullins. 

The Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and Arkle Chase look wide open as does the Boodles in what could prove to be a tricky day for punters. 

Big stories to follow on Day 1 at Cheltenham

The first big story is Ballyburn’s defection into the Supreme. Although winning the 2 mile Grade 1 at the Dublin Racing Festival, Willie Mullins has opted to run him in Wednesday’s Gallagher Novices’ Hurdle, leaving Tullyhill as the Supreme favourite (3/1 bet365). Sir Gerhard was recently stepped up in trip to win the Gallagher, then Ballymore, and Mullins will be hoping that Ballyburn can do the same. 

It was a back and forth move on the exchange markets but a decision has been made and the fallout is that Firefox, Mystical Power and Tullyhill head the betting. Jeriko Du Reponet looks to have a mighty chance too now whilst Slade Steel could come to the fore in Ballyburn’s absence. 

The second story to follow is of Meetingbythewaters in the Ultima. Not only have the Irish not won the race for over 15 years, but J.P. McManus recently acquired the horse from Paul Byrne and will be hoping he can repay his owner quickly. Without Corach Rambler it will be interesting to see whether the Irish can finally win the race with Stumptown who was 2nd in last year’s Kim Muir. 

Finally, the Champion Hurdle is packed with stories, again largely about those who aren’t competing namely Constitution Hill. Nicky Henderson has supplemented Iberico Lord in his place and also has Luccia but State Man now looks set to collect another Grade 1 for Wille Mullins who is edging towards 100 Cheltenham Festival winners.

Cheltenham Day 1 Entries

It was eye-catching to see Iberico Lord sent to the Champion Hurdle rather than the County. It is an expensive business to supplement horses and although he may get more favoured ground, Friday’s County looked a far more achievable goal. 

As said previously, many of the eye-catching entries revolve around the horses not entered; however, it was fascinating to see Gaelic Warrior declared for the Arkle after his turbulent season. 

Having started off over 3 miles, the son of Maxios dropped down to intermediate distances at Limerick and Leopardstown. Having won a Grade 1 at the former and bombed out at the latter, connections have now opted to drop him all the way down to the minimum trip in a fascinating move.  

Cheltenham Day 1 Race Schedule

Cheltenham Day 1 Tips

My favourite bet on Day 1 comes in the Arkle, one of the races that was blown apart my Marine Nationale’s performance at Leopardstown as well as his subsequent withdrawal. The horse that won the Irish Arkle, IL ETAIT TEMPS, looks overpriced at 11/2 (best price on William Hill).

Although he has disappointed twice at Cheltenham after two promising runs at Leopardstown, both were in races that didn’t suit. For a small horse neither the stamina sapping new course for the Triumph or the end to end gallop of the Supreme would have suited and he has impressed me with the way he jumps. He can go very close in a tightly knit Arkle.