Racing Lee's Day One Tips for the 2026 Cheltenham Festival

Tuesday kicks off the Festival with the Grade 1 Supreme Novices' Hurdle, which is looking like a potentially vintage renewal.

We have Talk The Talk in the ante-post book, although I do like Old Park Star, and he would be a tough beat.

In the Arkle, I think Kopek Des Bordes may defy the stats and win!

Johnnywho and Blow Your Wad can give Jaqwar something to think about at the prices in the Ultima.

The New Lion is another in our ante-post book at 4/1, but it won’t be a push over in a wide-open feature race, the Champion Hurdle.

Happy with Madara, even as favourite, as a course-lover, the Plate Handicap Chase has clearly been a plan.

Add in Peaky Boy, who has plenty of Cheltenham form.

The National Hunt Chase is a tricky puzzle to solve, Iceberg Theory has had form franked, but we have Grand Geste at 14/1 each-way, so with the proven stamina assured as shown in the Grand National Trial last time out, I will take him to at least fill the frame for a team in-form this season.

Racing Lee's Cheltenham Day 1 Ante-Post Porfolio

Supreme Novices' Hurdle

Ante Post Tip: Talk The Talk (1pt win)
Price Tipped At: 10/1
Current Best Price: 5/1

Champion Hurdle

Ante Post Tip: The New Lion (1pt win)
Price Tipped At: 4/1
Current Best Price: 5/2

National Hunt Chase 

Ante Post Tip: Grande Geste (1pt win)
Price Tipped At: 14/1
Current Best Price: 14/1

Arkle Chase Tip

KOPEK DES BORDES (1.5 WIN @ 6/4)

Ultima Handicap Chase Tips

JOHNNYWHO (0.5pt WIN @ 12/1)
BLOW YOUR WAD (0.5pt WIN @ 25/1)

Plate Handicap Chase Tips

MADARA (1pt WIN @ 4/1)
PEAKY BOY (0.5pt WIN @ 18/1)