The headline act on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival is the Champion Hurdle where the champion hurdler of the season will be crowned. You can find a full big race preview of that standout offering by clicking on this link.
That isn’t the big race on the day one card. There are four non-handicap races taking place on the first day of the meeting including the popular Supreme Novice Hurdle and the Arkle Chase. We go through all four races here.
1.20 Cheltenham: Supreme Novice Hurdle
Preview
The Festival kicks off with the smallest Supreme field in living memory, a disappointing field of just 8 runners. Despite that, we should get a pretty fast pace with For Pleasure sure to go off quick with the Willie Mullins favourite Appreciate It & the top English challenger Metier also likely to be close to the leader.
This has typically gone to the fancied runners with 7 of the last 8 winners starting in single figures but it’s 6 years since the Festival opener went the way of the favourite. This year’s favourite looks strong, having won all 3 starts this term including a pair of Grade 1s most recently. He has no issues with stamina & he may well prove to be classier than his rivals but whether he really quickens is the one question mark, especially if the ground dries out a bit more. On the stats front, the last 12 winners were all aged 5 or 6 but he’s a 7 year old, the only one in the field. That said, we’ve only seen 13 runners over 6 contest this race in the last decade. I wouldn’t put anyone off him but the odds are very tight indeed.
Metier is 3 from 3 over hurdles & won the Tolworth last time out. His chances are solid as he’s looked impressive but this slightly better ground may not suit him as much as others. Soaring Glory from the Jonjo yard put himself in the picture by landing the Betfair Hurdle but winners of that race have a poor record here so he’s passed over too. Stablemate of the favourite, Blue Lord, is a decent type & could run into a place but he’s held by not only the favourite but also our selection so has to find some improvement.
Betting
At an each way price, I like the chances of Ballyadam. Like 8 of the last 12 winners of this race, he’s a bumper winner & hails from the yard of Henry De Bromhead having been moved following the Gordon Elliott episode. In fact, that would be the main worry as to how he’s settled into his new surroundings. Form wise, he’s 2 from 4 this term after winning his first 2 including the Grade 1 Royal Bond. He was then 4th behind Appreciate It at Leopardstown over Christmas when the yard was going through a very quiet spell indeed. For that reason, it’s easy to put a line through it & then he returned to form when 2nd in the Pharma, just 3 lengths behind today’s favourite again. He was, however, in front of both Blue Lord & Irascible who re-oppose here. That day, he travelled into it really well & looked a danger to the favourite. The better ground & faster pace is sure to suit & this fluent hurdler should go very close to getting us off to the perfect start.
Tips
PLACED – Back Ballyadam (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 8.00 William Hill BOG (⅕ odds 1-3)
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1.55 Cheltenham: Arkle Novice Chase
With Energueme a late absentee, this race is one to watch rather than get involved in. Shiskin, last year’s Supreme winner, is hard to oppose & odds of 4/9 accurately reflect his chance. Allmankind will do his best to make it a true test whilst Captain Guinness is the one for the forecast if he can stay on his feet having fallen last time out in the Irish Arkle.
3.40 Cheltenham: Mares Hurdle
Preview
Two and a half miles for the mares hurdle with a field of 11 in a race that has been dominated by the Irish, who have saddled 11 of the last 13 winners. The favourite is Concertista from the powerful Mullins yard & she looks tough to beat having finished 2nd & 1st at the last 2 Festivals in the Dawn Run over 3 furlongs shorter. She’s 2 from 2 this term & is the joint top rated in the field along with the 2019 winner of this race, Roksana, from the Skelton yard. 4th in this last year, she’s been seen racing over 3 miles this term & has run with credit, winning a pair of Grade 2s which sandwiched an excellent 3rd behind Stayers Hurdle favourite Paisley Park, and Thyme Hill. Both look solid but their prices are tight with a few alternatives in the field.
Dame De Compagnie won the Coral Cup last year & has an excellent Cheltenham record whilst Black Tears was runner up in that same race & is 4lbs better off here. Indefatigable is another Festival winner having won the Martin Pipe last year but she’s been out of form this term & this is her first start following wind surgery.
Betting
3rd in that Martin Pipe handicap was the selection here, Great White Shark. She’s a very useful dual purpose performer &, at her best, is good enough to win this. Post Cheltenham, she won at the Galway Festival & then won the Cesarewitch on the flat by a margin of 3 lengths. On those 2 bits of form alone, she should be trading in single figures but is surely priced up having run poorly in the Galmoy when sent off favourite. The 3 mile trip stretched her that day especially as she raced freely but of more concern was the heavy ground. Back on better ground here & over a shorter trip, she should go well & her turn of foot could prove to be the difference in a good renewal. With the 2 market leaders 5lbs clear of the rest on official ratings, I’ll also take her in the market without those 2.
Tips
Back Great White Shark (e/w) for a 0.5/10 stake at 17.00 BetVictor BOG (⅕ odds 1-4)
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Back Great White Shark (e/w) in the ‘without Concertista & Roksana’ market for a 1/10 stake at 6.50 Bet365 (⅕ odds 1-3)
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4.50 Cheltenham: NH Novice Chase
3 miles 6 furlongs is a true stamina test & even more so at a stiff track like Cheltenham so you need something certain to get the trip. Next Destination is a solid favourite & along with Galvin, the front 2 look the ones to beat. I’ll be keeping my powder dry & instead focusing on finding winners for Day 2.
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