The time is upon the racing community once again, when we saddle up and look to the upcoming events of the Cheltenham Festival. Arguably one of the best displays of the event comes on the very first day of racing, when Cheltenham Racecourse opens its doors; this year that day falls on Tuesday, 10th March.
Revered as one of the high points of National Hunt season, it’s not hard to understand why the first day is known as Champion Day. Day 1 will see seven races take place, most notably the Champion Hurdle, with a grand total of 28 races to be showcased over the entirety of the Festival. During that time, a lot of sports action will unfold across both the ‘Old’ and ‘New’ courses of the circuit, with the former seen as the more challenging.
To properly prepare for the events of Cheltenham Day 1, it’s important for all spectators, both those well versed in the event and newcomers, to know what to expect. If you take the time to educate yourself on the Cheltenham Tuesday tips, you can be sure to have a more fulfilling experience of the Festival from the moment it opens to its 250,000 plus racegoers.
The race line-up is: Supreme Novices at 1:30pm, The Arkle at 2:10pm, Ultima Handicap Chase at 2:50pm, Champion Hurdle at 3:30pm, Mares’ Hurdle at 4:10pm, Novices’ Handicap Chase at 4:50pm, and the National Cup at 5:30pm. As you can see, Day 1 pulls no punches. To help you understand the stakes, here’s a look at the three most unforgettable events.
When it comes to the opening race, the Supreme Novices, the market is already inundated with tips for who will take the title of winner. At the forefront of the market is Shishkin at 4/1, with Nico de Boinville as his jockey. The position as favourite shouldn’t come as a surprise when you consider Shishkin secured Boinville a win at Newbury in mid-January of this year. Of course, there’s more than Shishkin in with a considerable chance to take the title, with both Asterion Forlonge and Fiddlerontheroof sporting odds of 6/1.
The most talked about event of Day 1, however, is undoubtedly the Champion Hurdle. This Grade 1 race sees those who compete become part of legendary racing history. Currently, Benie Des Dieux is favourite to win at 5/2, the favourable odds coming after weekend reports of owner, Rich Ricci, commenting on how the mare could be supplemented for the race. However, as this is extremely fresh news, the market line-up could change. Another strong contender for the Champion Hurdle is Eptante with 5/2 odds as well.
After such excitement, Day 1 only ramps up even further, with the National Hunt Chase ensuring the day ends with a bang. Run on the old course, it provides an unexposed and highly competitive race, which saw Rachael Blackmore win riding A Plus Tard in 2019. But what of this year? According to the market, Willie Mullins trained gelding, Carefully Selected, is pinned as the favourite at 4/1, closely followed by Champagne Classic at 5/1.
There’s still several weeks before the Festival begins, which means that the odds can drastically change in the run-up. Given the fact that Leopardstown is still fresh in fans’ minds, who can dominate Cheltenham is still up for debate.
