Through the card tips at the Cheltenham Festival on Tuesday 14th March
Four Grade One races will be run on day one of the Cheltenham Festival
Jonbon, Byker and Gaillard Du Mesnil feature in our selections
Expired
Nico de Boinville on Constitution Hill clear the last hurdle to win the Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle. (Getty)
Cheltenham Day 1 Tips
Cheltenham Day 1 Schedule
Race 1 - Supreme Tips
Race 2 - Arkle Tips
Race 3 - Ultima Tips
Race 4 - Champion Hurdle Tips
Race 5 - Mares' Hurdle Tips
Race 6 - Boodles Handicap Hurdle Tips
Race 7 - National Hunt Chase Tips
The moment that National Hunt racing fans have been waiting for all season has finally arrived. The 2023 Cheltenham Festival is about to begin!
Seven excellent races will take place on Champions Day. The Champion Hurdle headlines a stacked card, which also features the Supreme Novices' Hurdle, the Arkle and a stunning renewal of the Mares' Hurdle.
Here are our free tips through the full card on day one of the Cheltenham Festival.
I can see why many experts and punters are keeping the faith with Facile Vega, but I'm happy to take the favourite on following that awful performance at the Dublin Racing Festival.
I'm a little worried about the softening ground for my ante-post selection MARINE NATIONALE. Barry Connell's star did manage to win the Royal Bond on soft ground, though, so maybe my worries are unfounded.
Connell has been incredibly bullish about Marine Nationale's Supreme chances in the build-up. The 100-day lay-off isn't a problem, as that's been the plan since his Grade One success at Fairyhouse back in December. Michael O'Sullivan cannot claim his five-pound allowance at Grade One level, but that doesn't concern me either, as O'Sullivan is clearly an extremely capable rider. Marine Nationale remains my main selection.
I put up INTHEPOCKET as my each-way selection for the Ballymore at the ante-post stage. Now that the ground is set to remain soft all week, Henry De Bromhead has decided to run his six-year-old in the Supreme and I think Inthepocket has a fantastic chance of hitting the frame here.
Rachael Blackmore's mount motored to victory on his hurdles debut over two miles and managed to outstay Three Card Brag to win a Grade Two over two-and-a-half miles at Naas in December. Inthepocket stayed on to place second behind Il Etait Temps at the DRF, where Blackmore's mount was inconvenienced by the fading Facile Vega and took a while to find some clear air. Given a smoother passage, I could see Inthepocket running a huge race.
Nine have been confirmed for this year's Arkle, a larger field than most were expecting, but I still feel that this is a straight shoot-out between the top two in the betting.
The softening ground would have to suit El Fabiolo, who produced an outstanding performance to win the Irish Arkle last time out. In contrast, JONBON'S most recent effort at Warwick looked rather pedestrian, but funny things can happen in match-races, so I'm willing to forgive Nicky Henderson's star for that underwhelming performance.
Jonbon jumped beautifully when winning on debut at Warwick and dealt with the railway fences wonderfully when winning the Henry VIII Novices' Chase at Sandown in December. Nico De Boinville's mount has dealt with soft ground well in the past and, unlike El Fabiolo, Jonbon already has a good run at the Cheltenham Festival under his belt.
Arkle 2023 Tip - Jonbon
Aidan Coleman riding Jonbon lead all the way to win The Close Brothers Henry VIII Novices' Chase at Sandown. (Getty)
OSCAR ELITE has run well at the last two Cheltenham Festivals. Despite carrying fairly poor form into both races, Joe Tizzard's charge finished second behind Vanillier in the 2021 Albert Bartlett, before placing third in last year's renewal of the Ultima, crossing the line just three lengths behind Corach Rambler.
This year, Oscar Elite comes into Cheltenham on the back of a victory, having won the Reynoldstown Novices' Chase under Harry Cobden at Ascot. Despite that Grade Two victory, Tizzard's eight-year-old returns to the Ultima rated just one pound higher than last season and Tizzard has managed to retain the services of Harry Cobden.
Another who catches my eye is CLOUDY GLEN, who also boasts valuable Cheltenham Festival form, having followed Mount Ida home in the Kim Muir two years ago.
Venetia Williams' ten-year-old held off Fiddlerontheroof to win the Coral Gold Cup off a five-pound lower mark last season. Cloudy Glen ran very well for a long way on his only start of this season in the Grand National Trial at Haydock, where he only succumbed to Quick Wave and Snow Leopardess after a tired jump at the last. Charlie Deutsch will take the ride on Tuesday and Cloudy Glen won't mind the extra cut in the ground.
Ultima Handicap Chase 2023 Tip 1 - Oscar Elite each-way
Ultima Handicap Chase 2023 Tip 2 - Cloudy Glen each-way
CONSTITUTION HILL is going to win the 2023 Champion Hurdle. State Man is greatly respected, but Nicky Henderson's star has looked on a different level to any hurdler we've seen since Faugheen romped to victory in 2015.
At 1/3, the favourite isn't a betting proposition. If I was going to have a punt, I might back Zanahiyr each-way, as he'll be ridden to pick up the pieces. For me, and for many, this will be a watching brief, as we enjoy one of the best hurdlers in recent history.
Champion Hurdle 2023 Tips - Constitution Hill
Live Stream
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After weeks of teasing a possible switch to the Stayers' Hurdle, Marie's Rock returns to defend her Mares' Hurdle crown. Honeysuckle, Epatante and Brandy Love add extra star quality to this contest - which is undoubtedly the best renewal of the Mares' Hurdle we're ever seen - but of those at the head of the market, Marie's Rock would be the one for me.
Yet, given there are three paid places available, I'm going to remain on the side of my ante-post selection SHEWEARSITWELL, who I'm shocked to see is sitting second-to-last in the Mares' Hurdle market.
Shewearsitwell looked highly progressive as a novice, but took a while to get back on track following a series of problems during 2021 and 2022. Mullins' mare returned to top form by winning the Pertemps Qualifier at Punchestown in November, and went on to hand Queen's Brook a sound thrashing at the Leopardstown Christmas Festival, where Gordon Elliott's mare was backed into 8/13 before the off.
Mullins' eight-year-old has beaten Queen's Brook this season and her form is better than both Theatre Glory's and Love Envoi's. On soft ground over this distance, I'd have Shewearsitwell down as a stronger stayer than both Epatante and Echoes In Rain, and if Danny Mullins' mount was to finish ahead of Brandy Love, it wouldn't be a big surprise. 25/1 is a massive price.
Charles Byrnes travels over to Cheltenham with a small, select squad of talented hurdlers this year and he'll have high hopes for BYKER, who was rated 76 on the flat for Richard Hannon and has impressed in his three starts over hurdles in Ireland.
Having stayed on to place fifth from a horrible position on his hurdles debut at Limerick, Byker comfortably beat Mighty Mo Missouri on soft ground at Naas in January. Philip Enright's mount then carried a penalty into a Rated Novice Hurdle that's produced three of the last four winners of this handicap, and Byrnes' youngster ran a cracker to finish third. Philip Byrnes comes in to take the ride for his father, and he'll reduce Byker's mark by a further five pounds.
Dan Skelton has saddled top-six placers in six of the last eight renewals of the Boodles and the rain has arrived in time for his French import PUNTA DEL ESTE, who scooted home on heavy ground to win by seven lengths on her final start for David Cottin.
Harry Skelton held his mount up on her British debut at Haydock, where Punta Del Este didn't jump well early on, but warmed to her task and staying on gamely down the straight to finish third behind Bo Zenith. Like Byker, Punta Del Este has been handed what looks a kind opening mark by the British handicapper and she'll be my second selection at an each-way price.
Boodles Handicap Hurdle 2023 Tip 1 - Byker
Boodles Handicap Hurdle 2023 Tip 2 - Punta Del Este each-way
Paul Townend riding Gaillard Du Mesnil clear the last to win The Neville Hotels Novice Chase at Leopardstown. (Getty)
I'm struggling to see past GAILLARD DU MESNIL in Tuesday's final contest. Patrick Mullins' mount has been earkmarked for this race since the start of the season and even a Grade One victory at Leopardstown over Christmas wasn't enough to alter Willie Mullins' plans.
Gaillard Du Mesnil is a Grade One winner, who's also placed in four further Grade Ones and finished third under 11-8 in an Irish Grand National. The favourite sits eight pounds clear of his closest rival in the ratings and there are no penalties for Grade One wins in the National Hunt Chase. He should deliver for the punters in the finale on day one of the Cheltenham Festival.
National Hunt Chase 2023 Tips - Gaillard Du Mesnil
