The day is finally amongst us. It’s time for the next four days to be dominated by over 200,000 punters as the pinnacle of horse racing comes to the streets of Cheltenham.
Our writers have been hard at work in the newsroom at Park Life Sport, studying all the latest form guides and updates to be able to give you our picks ahead of the first day of races.
Day One is made up of seven different races, with the highlight of today’s racing coming in the Unibet Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy at 15:30, where Constitution Hill is the runaway favourite of the day at 4/11.
Matt Daley (MD), Drake Rogut (DR), Toby McLuskie (TM) and Will Pritchard (WP) have all shared their picks ahead of today’s racing.
Race One: Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (13:30)
The First Race of the day is largely set to be a Willie Mullins’ race, with Facile Vega the runaway favourite for the opener – while Il Et Temps is also in the running at 5/1.
MD: Facile Vega – 15/8
DR: Facile Vega – 15/8
TM: Inthepocket – 17/2
WP: Etait Temps – 5/1
Race Two: Sporting Life Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices’ Chase (14:10)
Up next in the Novices’ Chase, it’s a race which will be dominated by two runaway favourites in Jonbon (Willie Mullins) and El Fabiolo (Nicky Henderson) at 5/4 and 6/4 respectively.
MD: El Fabiolo – 11/8
DR: El Fabiolo – 11/8
TM: Saint Roi – 8/1
WP: Jonbon – 7/4
Race Three: Ultima Handicap Chase (14:50)
With the opening two races both having a clear choice of favourites, the 14:50 provides a real chance for a big punt at decent odds.
There’s no runaway favourite, though Derek Fox’s Corach Rambler leads the bookies at 13/2, while there’s several horses not far behind in the running.
MD: Monbeg Genius – 7/1
DR: Fastorslow – 17/2
TM: Nassalam – 9/1
WP: Fastorslow – 17/2
Race Four: Unibet Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy (15:30)
The biggest race of the opening day, and almost every script leads towards Constitution Hill, who is one of the most heavily backed horses to date.
Willie Mullins’ State Man has an outside chance at 10/3 to sweep up should the opportunity arise.
MD: Constitution Hill – 4/11
DR: I Like To Move It – 28/1
TM: Constitution Hill – 4/11
WP: Constitution Hill – 4/11
Race Five: Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle (16:10)
Honeysuckle, Marie’s Rock and Brandy Love lead the way for the bookies. However, with the it being the last dance for Honeysuckle, don’t be too surprised if Rachael Blackmore’s horse goes out on a high.
MD: Marie’s Rock – 11/4
DR: Brandy Love – 7/1
TM: Brandy Love – 7/1
WP: Honeysuckle – 5/2
Race Six: Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (16:50)
The penultimate race of the day, and Tekao is the bookies’ favourite, but only one of our writers has decided to back Willie Mullins on this occasion.
MD: Tekao – 3/1
DR: Bad – 6/1
TM: Byker – 6/1
WP: Sir Allen – 10/1
Race Seven: WellChild National Hunt Challenge Cup Amateur Jockeys’ Novices’ Chase (17:30)
Gailard Du Mesnil is the runaway favourite in the final race of the day and is backed at evens, while Mahler Mission, Minella Crooner and Mister Coffey are all outside favourites.
MD: Mahler Mission – 13/2
DR: Chemical Energy – 10/1
TM: Mister Coffey – 9/1
WP: Gailard Du Mesnil – 1/1
Disclaimer: All odds are correct at the time of writing and are provided by Bet365.
