The biggest four days of the National Hunt calendar has arrived as on Tuesday the Cheltenham Festival 2023 will begin with seven top class races on what should be a fantastic opening day of action in Gloucestershire.
The Champion Hurdle is the feature race on the Tuesday card but a disappointing turnout leaves us looking at a couple of the support races for bets from those races which are not handicaps. Previews of those races can be found elsewhere on the site.
1.30 Cheltenham
Favourite
We kick off the biggest meeting of the whole year with a 14-strong field for the Supreme Novice Hurdle, where the Irish have 9 runners and 7 of the first 8 in the market. Willie Mullins, as will be the case in many of the races over the 4 days, has a strong hand including the favourite Facile Vega. Last year’s impressive bumper winner won his first 2 starts over hurdles with the minimum of fuss but flopped last time out at the Dublin Racing Festival when only 5th of 6. He went off miles too fast there and I’m sure the same mistake won’t be made this time. If back to his best, he should win but it’s a risk at the 2/1 odds that are available.
Contenders
Barry Connell has been talking up the chances of Marine Nationale ever since he won the Royal Bond in December. He’s been kept fresh since then and it’s anyone’s guess whether he’s improved or not since then. Il Etait Temps won the race that Facile Vega flopped in, and the 2nd and 3rd, Inthepocket and Dark Raven also run here whilst High Definition fell at Leopardstown after going off at a blistering pace with Facile Vega. Of those 4, High Definition may appreciate better ground, Dark Raven is probably outclassed whilst the 1-2 have claims, the preference at the prices being for Inthepocket who is a strong stayer at this trip.
Betting
Tahmuras is the leading hope from this side of the pond and he’s the each way selection. He’s 3 from 3 over hurdles, including a win in a Listed novice hurdle at Haydock and most recently, an excellent victory in the Grade 1 Tolworth. That form is working out well with the 3rd and 4th winning since. That day, he travelled best of all and was still on the bridle 2 out before making a bad mistake. He had to be shaken up before coming back on the bridle and then walked through the last. He wandered about a bit on the stiff uphill finish but was clear best at the line and was value for further than the official winning distance of nearly 3 lengths. He’ll be more streetwise this time and if he can iron out those jumping blemishes, he should be bang in the mix especially with the uphill finish in his favour.
Tips
Back Tahmuras (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 12.00 Paddy Power BOG (⅕ odds 1-4)
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2.10 Cheltenham
The Arkle Novice Chase is the second race of the meeting and this year, we have a field of 9. However, over half the field are priced 33/1 or bigger and it really does centre around the front 4. Mullins is again saddling the favourite with El Fabiolo, unbeaten over fences, trading at around 5/4. He’s been impressive in all 3 chase starts and will go close. Jonbon is Nicky Henderson’s hope and is only just behind El Fabiolo in the market, at 6/4. He similarly is unbeaten in 3 starts over fences and, incidentally, was the last horse to beat El Fabiolo, prevailing by a neck in the big novice hurdle at Aintree last spring. It should be similarly close today. Of the other two trading at below 10/1, I prefer the chances of Dysart Dynamo over Saint Roi. He faded into 4th behind the favourite last time out but should finish closer today with the softer ground likely to benefit him more than most. This is more a race to enjoy than one to bet in and there’s a few similar spectacles on the first day.
3.30 Cheltenham
It’s the big one, the Champion Hurdle and we have such a warm favourite for this that the dual champion, Honeysuckle, swerves this for the Mares Hurdle 40 minutes later. Constitution Hill, the very impressive winner of the Supreme on this card 12 months ago, is the 1/3 favourite. 5 out of 5 over hurdles, winning by a combined 77 lengths, he’s hard to oppose given he’s yet to be seriously tested barely coming off the bridle.
Of his 6 rivals, State Man is the most likely challenger having won his last 6 over hurdles including 3 Grade 1’s culminating in the Irish Champion last time out. Of course, his record commands respect but visually he’s nowhere near as impressive as Constitution Hill and therefore his odds of around 3/1 are offputting. Vauban won last year’s Triumph Hurdle but has twice been put in his place by State Man so I Like To Move It is the one I could see filling 3rd. He’s 3 from 3 over this course and distance which is a big positive but he’s surely not good enough to trouble the judge here. Disappointingly, especially for a Championship race, there just isn’t a viable bet.
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4.10 Cheltenham
Favourite
Despite a field of just 9, the Mares Hurdle looks an absolute cracker, so much so that Honeysuckle isn’t even the favourite. Her credentials are well touted and we know she gets the trip but there are plenty of fascinating contenders in opposition. Nicky Henderson saddles two of those in favourite Maries Rock and former Champion Hurdle winner, Epatante. The former won this last year and has won her only start this term, the Relkeel over course and distance in January.
Contenders
The latter is hard to leave out of calculations and does stay this trip well but whether she’ll appreciate the extra distance coupled with the softer ground is a bit of a question mark. Willie Mullins has 3 in this, with Brandy Love being the pick of stable jockey Paul Townend. Her form is a bit in and out whilst Echoes In Rain may not get home under these conditions.
Betting
With a record of 8 wins from 9 starts, I cannot find a reason not to side with Love Envoi. Last time up, she won a Listed hurdle by 13 lengths staying on really strongly on soft ground and her ability to get home on rain softened ground is assured, having a record of 6 from 6 on soft and heavy. She’s also won at a variety of trips from 2 miles up to 2 miles 5 furlongs and has form on stiff tracks with one victory here and 3 at Sandown. Her only defeat came over in Ireland behind Brandy Love but she continues to go from strength to strength so I’m confident she will turn the tables today. She may not have reached the peak yet so looks to be well worthy of each way investment.
Tips
Back Love Envoi (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 8.50 Paddy Power BOG (⅕ odds 1-3)
5.30 Cheltenham
The last race of the day is the Novice Chase for amateur jockeys over a marathon trip of 3 miles 6 furlongs. We have a very warm favourite in Gaillard Du Mesnil and he is ridden by the best jockey in the race, Patrick Mullins. He was 3rd in the Brown Advisory 12 months ago, has finished close behind Mighty Potter in a Grade 1 this year and also won a Grade 1 when stepped up to 3 miles. Expected to be suited by this extra distance and proven on soft ground, he’s hard to oppose and I’m happy to save any money we have left for another day.
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