Four horses that have been gaining the most support on Day 1 of Cheltenham Festival.
The Cheltenham Festival kicks off with Champion Day on Tuesday, March 11, 2025 and punters have been quick to latch onto four standout selections that could spell trouble for the bookmakers.
Bookmakers will be hoping at least one of them falters. But if they all deliver, it could be a nightmare start to Cheltenham for the layers and a dream start for punters.
This four-fold has been heavily backed and is now into 15/2. Here’s a closer look at the four horses the bookies are fearing most on Day 1.
Constitution Hill – Champion Hurdle
63% of Champion Hurdle bets via oddschecker this week are backing Constitution Hill.
Unbeaten in ten career starts, Constitution CONSTITUTION HILL (best price 4/6) Hill has dominated the hurdling scene and arrives at Cheltenham bidding to cement his legacy.
His nine-length demolition of State Man in the 2023 Champion Hurdle was one of the most dominant Festival performances in recent memory, and despite some interruptions to his campaign, he has returned this season with victories at Kempton and Cheltenham.
While some question whether he can still match his lofty 175 rating, there’s no doubt he remains the one to beat.
Brighterdaysahead has emerged as a serious contender after two Grade One wins this season, including back-to-back victories over reigning champion State Man.
However, if Constitution Hill is anywhere near his best, the unbeaten superstar will be tough to stop, having already dominated this race last year and the Supreme before that.
Kopek Des Bordes – Supreme Novices’ Hurdle
56% of Supreme Novice Hurdle bets this week are backing Kopek Des Bordes.
KOPEK DES BORDES (best price 1/1) has been the standout novice hurdler this season, storming to a dominant Grade 1 success at Leopardstown and earning a 154 Timeform rating—higher than last year’s Supreme winner, Slade Steel.
The Willie Mullins-trained five-year-old announced himself in the George Mernagh Memorial Sales Bumper last season where he won by 13 lengths at Fairyhouse's Easter Festival before making a seamless transition to hurdles at Leopardstown over Christmas, where he has continued to impress.
However, his most impressive performance came last month at the same venue, effortlessly stepping up in class to dominate his rivals in the Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle - earning the title as the best novice hurdler this season.
Majborough – Arkle
50% of Arkle bets this week are backing Majborough.
Willie Mullins has dominated the Arkle Trophy in recent years, and MAJBOROUGH (best price 4/7) looks set to continue that trend.
The five-year-old burst onto the chasing scene with a commanding 6½-length victory on his debut before winning the Irish Arkle by nine lengths.
His chasing debut at Fairyhouse showcased slick, aggressive jumping and was one of the most impressive chasing debuts of the season.
While his performance at Leopardstown wasn't quite as eye-catching as his debut, he showed his adaptability and ability to overcome adversity, adjusting his stride to avoid costly errors—traits essential for a top-class two-mile chaser.
Willie Mullins has a stranglehold on this division, and Majborough looks set to follow in the footsteps of past greats.
Lossiemouth – Mares’ Hurdle
49% of Mares Hurdle bets this week are backing Lossiemouth.
A Festival specialist, LOSSIEMOUTH (best price 4/6) is three from three at Cheltenham, including a dominant win in last year’s Mares’ Hurdle.
While her campaign has had some setbacks—most notably a heavy fall in the Irish Champion Hurdle—her class is undeniable, and she has already proven she thrives on the big stage.
Willie Mullins has trained ten of the last 17 winners of this race, and if Lossiemouth can return anywhere near her best, she is the standout contender once again.
Despite concerns over her recent fall, punters have been piling in, confident that she will deliver another Festival masterclass.
