Check out Road to Cheltenham's tips for Day 1 of the 2026 Festival. He's picked out seven selections for opening day.
Get yourself ready for the pinnacle of jumps racing with dozens of offers on our Cheltenham Free Bets page.
The time for talking is over – we are now a matter of hours away from the opening day of the 2026 Cheltenham Festival and I’ll be providing my selections on all four days at this year’s meeting.
Here, I look at each race on Tuesday in a bid to kick the week off with a few winners. One of my strongest fancies of the meeting runs in the opening race and I’ll be looking to roar him home in the Supreme…
Supreme Novices' Hurdle Tips
I’ve been banging the drum for OLD PARK STAR in my recent columns and I’m not going to stop now despite Nicky Henderson playing down expectations. He brings a high level of form to the race and I was hugely impressed with him at Haydock last time out.
That race has a poor record in terms of being a Supreme trial but I was really taken by the bloodless manner of that success and it will take a good one to beat him. He’s my NAP of the Day and I’m hoping he can give Nicky Henderson a sixth win in the race.
Arkle Chase
Arkle Novices Chase Tips
All KOPEK DES BORDES, aren’t we? I’ve been a huge admirer of this horse since he won his bumper at Fairyhouse and he has always looked like a chaser in the making. We’ve seen him just once over fences so far but I’d say his talent makes up for inexperience.
I wouldn’t go as far as to say I’m good mates with the Kopek Des Bordes lads but we have spoken on several occasions and they have always held him in high regard. For me, he is a natural two-mile chaser and he will take some pegging back if he hits the front.
Fred Winter
Fred Winter Juvenile Hurdle Tips
Joseph O’Brien has a great record in the juvenile handicap and GLEN TO GLEN is one of two runners in the race for him. A shrewd operator when it comes to his jumps horses, I believe this has been the main target for this Dawn Approach gelding for some time.
His form ties in with many of his rivals and he’s been running in all the right races, with stablemate Puturhandstogether also winning the same race at Cork before going on to win at Cheltenham. Hopefully he can run a big race with JJ Slevin in the saddle.
Ultima Handicap Chase
Ultima Handicap Chase Tips
Paul Nicholls isn’t exactly blessed with firepower these days but QUEBECOIS heads to the Ultima with a fantastic chance of running a big race on Tuesday. Harry Cobden takes the ride and he’ll be much more involved than he was when finishing second to Personal Ambition at Newbury.
He’s 0-4 over fences but you’d imagine that this race has been the plan for some time given his connections. The nicer ground will certainly enhance his chances and he ticks plenty of boxes for a staying handicap like this. He has a lot going for him and he has a real chance of placing.
Champion Hurdle
Champion Hurdle Tips
Connections have opted to roll the dice with LOSSIEMOUTH and I wish them the very best of luck in Tuesday’s feature race. It would’ve been easy enough to go for the Mares Hurdle after the Dublin Racing Festival but they’re going for gold and you have to respect it.
She is 4-4 at Prestbury Park and she’s already won at three Cheltenham Festivals. It isn’t the strongest Champion Hurdle of all-time and Lossiemouth is expected to be well backed ahead of the race. Is she good enough? Only time will tell. For me, she may have enough to win this year’s race.
Plate Handicap Chase
Plate Handicap Chase Tips
The Henry de Bromhead stable seems to come alive during Cheltenham week and I give ZURICH a real chance of going close in the Plate. He has that all-important course form in the book and he looks reasonably well treated off a BHA mark of 134.
Madara and McLaurey may well have plenty in hand but both are short enough now and I’d rather side with Zurich at a juicier price. He doesn’t have the ‘sexy’ profile of the two market leaders but I’m hoping Brian Hayes can deliver him late to strike for Pimlico Racing.
National Hunt Chase
National Hunt Chase Tips
A competitive field of 17 runners go to post for the National Hunt Chase and WALKING ON AIR is my tentative selection – though I’d be lying if I said I had a real strong fancy in the race. He’s been a little frustrating at times but Tuesday could well be his day.
He travelled into the race at Doncaster supremely well but was outpaced at a key stage and he was on the backfoot from that point. The trip will be of no concern and he will have the services of Harry Cobden in the saddle for the first time. He’s got a squeak.
Find More Cheltenham Day 1 Tips
Andy Holding's Day One Tips
Racing Lee's Day One Tips
Liam Firkin's Day One Tips
Jake Price's Day One Tips
Liam Firkin's Day One Place Accumulator
