The traditional curtain-raiser at the Cheltenham Festival is Champion Day, and that looks an apt-moniker given the quality of racing we are likely to see on Tuesday.
There are seven races in all and four Grade One renewals, including the prestigious Champion Hurdle, Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and the Arkle.
Millions of pounds will be wagered throughout the week, so let’s see if we can identify some betting tips that will enable you to win big at the Cheltenham Festival.
Supreme Novices Hurdle
Much of the talk surrounding the festival has been about Willie Mullins; just how many winners will the Irish trainer have? While that question remains open-ended for now, one thing is for sure and that’s Min, his charge in this Supreme Novices Hurdle, has a great chance of getting him off to a fantastic start.
This 3.00 favourite may only have ran three times in his career to date, but all were won in convincing fashion. He has history on both soft and heavy ground, and is a proven winner over this 2m 1f distance.
Of the competition it is perhaps Altior who stands out most convincingly at 5.00. He is a former Cheltenham winner (not at the festival), and this shows he is effective on the unique slopes and dips that the course has to offer.
Arkle Trophy
If the bookmakers are to be believed then you may as well put your betslip down for this one, as Douvan (1.40) has it all sewn up.
It’s easy to see why they favour him so highly – he’s won all seven of his starts after all, and all of those came at this 16f distance. Douvan loves the soft ground and romped home in the Supreme Novices Hurdle here last year.
In competition, the only other contender that really appeals is Sizing John (9.00), who has already suffered the demoralising fate of losing four times to Douvan, but is a horse that has placed in 80% of his starts.
Ultima Handicap Steeplechase
This is a race that looks set to offer fantastic value to punters, with the three favourites priced at 8.50 (Out Sam), and 9.00 (Holywell and Kruzhlinin) respectively.
The worry for those backing the favourite, Out Sam, is that he has only tackled this 24 furlong stretch once before and fell; that was in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at the festival last year.
Mind you, the omens aren’t great for Holywell either, whose recent form reads 4-3-5-4-PU, with his last win coming in February 2015. Kruzhlinin won last time out with Richard Johnson board, and if the Champion Jockey elect takes the ride here then this horse has a chance.
Champion Hurdle
This is a standout race of day one purely due to the betting intrigue surrounding Annie Power, who was supplemented to this renewal by Mullins after his favoured starter, Faugheen, was struck down by injury.
Annie Power (3.25) feel at the last in the Mares’ Hurdle last year when leading, and that won’t be forgotten y many punters. Instead, they’ll be wagering their bankrolls on either The New One (7.00) or My Tent Or Yours (11.00).
The former has run in this race before and Cheltenham pedigree is often a crucial factor, while the latter – not tested for two years – is a prolific ‘placer’ and as such is worth a small stakes punt here.
Mares’ Hurdle
It’s hard to contest Vroum Vroum Mag (2.10) in this one, and we’ll be adding him to today’s betting tips from the team here at
Bet Advisor.
Eight wins in eight starts is eye-catching form in this weak company, and with victories in soft conditions and over long stretches we’re happy to get involved in this Champion Day banker.
Novices’ Handicap Chase
The favourite, Minella Rocco, should go well here and looks a tad long at 5.50, but four outings without a win is an ominous record.
Instead, take a look at Noble Endeavor (7.00), who boasts an enviable record over the 2m 4f stretch and who lost by a head at Cheltenham last year. He beat another contender here, Roi Des Francs, back into third.
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