Cheltenham Festival 2025 – Day 1 Tips and Betting Preview

The biggest race meeting over the jumps begins on Tuesday when the attention of the racing world descends on Gloucestershire for the Cheltenham Festival, where as ever the opening day of the four is eagerly anticipated.

Usually we would look to bring a bet in every race but the four non-handicap races on the card all have very hot favourites which will be popular in an accumulator so rather than potentially having to settle for places at our sort of prices we’ll focus on the much more open handicaps for day one.

2.40 Cheltenham: Ultima Handicap Chase

The first handicap is as competitive as they come with a maximum field of 24 for this 3 mile 1 furlong chase.  The British have saddled the last 10 winners & that would be a concern for the leading Irish trio of Malina Girl, The Short Go & Sequestered.  Chances can be given to many but there’s 2 I’m keeping on side, the first in the shape of Whistle Stop Tour.   His trainer has saddled the winner twice in the last 3 years with Corach Rambler having landed the spoils in both 2022 & 2023, and this is one of two good chances for the stable this year.  The selection has had only 4 starts over fences, winning two of those, & looks in need of a decent stamina test.  He’s only twice run at around 3 miles or more, recording his best run over hurdles over the longest trip he’d faced & then recording both his wins over fences.  He likes to race prominently, which is a plus in a race like this, & typically jumps well & efficiently.  Admittedly, he disappointed at this track last time out but was outpaced over a trip too short.   The stiff finish will draw out his stamina & having been eased 1lb in mark, looks a solid each way bet.

Last year’s 4th, Famous Bridge, is impossible to leave out of calculations.  He loves a stamina test, as underlined when winning last month’s Grand National Trial at Haydock, & if he’s on his game, looks to hold a good chance off just a 4lb higher mark.  He has a good record of 5 wins from 13 starts over fences and, whilst this is a career high mark, he was so impressive last time out that another is not out of the question.   He was a bit too far back last year & I expect he’ll resort to his normal tactics of being up with the pace.   Proven in top company, I’d argue he’s in easier company than recently so provided the ground doesn’t dry up too much, I think another good Ultima run is on the cards.

Tips

Back Whistle Stop Tour (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 13.00 William Hill (⅕ odds 1-6)

Back Famous Bridge (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 23.00 William Hill (⅕ odds 1-6)

Back them here:

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4.40 Cheltenham: Juvenile Handicap Hurdle

An absolute minefield full of unexposed 4 year olds & not a race I’d be taking a short price about.  The Irish have had the last 7 winners but interestingly none of them have fallen to Willie Mullins so I’d definitely exercise caution if fancying one of his runners.    Joseph O’Brien & Gordon Elliott would be the yards to focus on but the market hasn’t missed O’Brien’s & this year’s Elliott contingent looks to be sub par.   I do like the each way chances of another Irish raider, from a lesser yard, in the shape of Holy See.  Winless in 3 starts of hurdles, he’s performed better than the figures suggest on each run.   First up, he was 4th behind Out For A Stroll over Christmas and, but for a better jump at the last, might have tasted victory.  He was then 2nd to a Mullins hotpot at Naas before finishing 4th when sent off favourite for a race at Naas that has proved to be a good trial for this.  A couple of late mistakes have cost him in his races but I feel like there’s more to come, especially on the predicted better ground.  On a line through Out For A Stroll, he has the beating of a couple of shorter priced fancies here so, at the likely odds, he’s the best each way bet of the race.

Tips

Back Holy See (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 17.00 Bet365 (⅕ odds 1-6)

5.20 Cheltenham: National Hunt Novices Handicap Chase

The first year in which this is a handicap & open to professional jockeys gives the race a completely different feel.   First up, we have a maximum field of 18 & most of them are stepping up to the longest trip they’ve ever faced, with this being run over 3 miles 6 furlongs.  Haiti Couleurs & Transmission are both very well fancied & looks set to go well but I’m going double handed with a couple of well fancied but longer priced runners.   Captain Cody is the first of them & my first Willie Mullins trained bet of the week.  He has run well at this track before, finished 6th in the Bumper in 2023, & should go well on just his 4th start over fences.  Stepped up in trip to 3 miles last time, he ran his best race in finishing 3rd, 1 place ahead of the reopposing Now Is The Hour.  He stayed on all the way to the line that day & this extra distance & stiffer track could bring about bundles of improvement.  Assuming his jumping holds up, I see him running a massive race here.

Will Do is the 2nd bet & another horse that is sure to benefit from this extra distance.  Winless in 6 chase starts, he has some eyecatching form after finishing 5th in the Paddy Power, 6th in the Thyestes & 2nd in the Grand National Trial.  He typically jumps well, likes to race prominently & is a thorough stayer so should go well here, especially on the better ground that is expected.  Kennedy takes over in the plate & has a good record on this horse so all looks in place for a big run at a nice each way price.

Tips

Back Captain Cody (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 10.00 William Hill (⅕ odds 1-5)

Back Will Do (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 17.00 Betfair Sportsbook (⅕ odds 1-5)

Back them here: