15.30 Cheltenham tips: Experts on best bets and 13 horses to watch in 2023

Cheltenham Festival is back for 2023 with a thrilling week of racing lined up in what is known as ‘The Greatest Show on Turf’.

Look out for the finest in the sport in the Cotswolds with a feverish anticipation for the Gold Cup, Champion Hurdle and other Grade 1 races.

The Irish trainers will hope to triumph once again after landing the Prestbury Cup 12 months ago with a mighty 18 wins compared to just 10 for British-trained horses.

It was all about Rachael Blackmore last year and the queen of Cheltenham is back after claiming the Gold Cup in one of sport’s defining moments in 2022. Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the 2023 Cheltenham Festival with tips and best bets to take on Day 1 on Tuesday:

The 2023 Cheltenham Festival starts on Tuesday 14 March and runs until Friday 17 March. There are seven races each day, beginning from 1.30pm GMT and concluding at 5.30pm.

Cheltenham Festival Day 1 tips from Ruby Walsh, Alex Hammond, Oli Bell and Ed Chamberlin

Paddy Power ambassador Ruby Walsh– who was the leading jockey at Cheltenham on 11 occasions between 2004 and 2017 – has provided his thoughts and selections for day 1.

Meanwhile, speaking on behalf of Sky Bet, presenters Alex Hammond, Oli Bell and Ed Chamberlin have also given the lowdown on their race-by-race tips.

13.30 - Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle

Ruby Walsh tip: Facile Vega

“I’ve said it a few times now and I’m not going to change my mind – the best horse in the race is Facile Vega. He has that shocker to overcome at Leopardstown at the Dublin Racing Festival when he was beaten 20 lengths by Il Etait Temps, but the real Facile Vega ran at Christmas when he beat the same horse by four lengths. Facile Vega is the most likely winner, there’s no way I’m going against him currently.”

Oli Bell tip: Marine National

“Marine National has looked impressive this season and the race is cutting up.”

Alex Hammond tip: Facile Vega

“Facile Vega bombed out at the Dublin Racing Festival but that has just made him more appealing on price. Willie [Mullins] will get him back!”

14.10 - Arkle Chase

Ruby Walsh tip: El Fabiolo to win, but the value each-way is Saint Roi

“El Fabiolo has shown us he can clout one and knows exactly how to save himself, so you’d have to be with that. El Fabiolo will win the race, but as regards to having a bet I’d prefer Saint Roi each-way at 8/1 with the nine runners. With Dysart Dynamo in there, the three of these are going to go hard and there’s no way the three of them are going to keep going and I think Saint Roi will come and pick up the pieces.”

Ed Chamberlin tip: Jonbon

“[On Jonbon] The best jumper in the field and El Fabiolo had a hard race in his prep.”

Oli Bell tip: Jonbon

“[On Jonbon] Despite his Warwick win not blowing people away I think he will improve off the back of it and be hard to beat.”

Alex Hammond tip: El Faibolo

“[On El Fabiolo] Jonbon didn't impress at Warwick and this lad did at the Dublin Racing Festival. He'll do for me.”

14.50 - Ultima Handicap Chase

Ruby Walsh tip: Fanion D’Estruval each-way

“With regards to picking one [of the horses], I have a sneaky suspicion for Fanion D’Estruval with Lucy Turner claiming five. He has top weight but that brings him back down to 11st 9lb and at 33/1 [now 25/1] each-way in a race I don’t have a massive strong opinion on. I’d prefer to be having something each-way on him and be hoping he’ll be staying on past plenty of tired rivals.”

15.30 - Champion Hurdle

Ruby Walsh tip: Constitution Hill beats State Man

“I think he’s [Constitution Hill] the best horse, although I wasn’t sure leaving Cheltenham last year. I thought ‘is that real or was it just the make-up of the race?’ making him look spectacular when Dysart Dynamo and Jonbon went too quick. But what he’s done this season would make you believe that in last year’s Supreme, my eyes weren’t lying, it was spectacular. I think he’ll win, but State Man will chase him home.”

Ed Chamberlin tip: Constitution Hill

“[On Constitution Hill] Set to do something spectacular.”

Oli Bell tip: Constitution Hill

“[On Constitution Hill] The best hurdler I have ever seen in my life!”

16.10 - Mares’ Hurdle

Ruby Walsh tip: Brandy Love and Shewearsitwell each-way

“Honeysuckle is what my heart wants to win here, even though I’m in the Willie Mullins camp, it most definitely is for everybody that’s associated with Honeysuckle and the year they’ve had. I think Brandy Love at 13/2 [5/1 now] is a great each-way play. But the one at a massive price, who’s very lightly-raced and has turned the corner completely in recent times at a massive price is Shewearsitwell at 25-1 [now 16-1]. She was really good at Christmas when she beat Queens Brook in Leopardstown. She has a rating of 148 which puts her above Theatre Glory, puts her above Queens Brook, puts her above Love Envoi and a pound behind Brandy Love and she’s 25/1. I’d be going with the two Willie Mullins’ mares each-way; Brandy Love and Shewearsitwell.”

Oli Bell tip: Honeysuckle

“[On Honeysuckle] She's the best mare in training and her Cheltenham record is faultless.”

16.50 - Boodles Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle

Ruby Walsh tip: Tekao but Sundial is also interesting each-way

“Tekao had a cracking run at the Dublin Racing Festival behind Lossiemouth and Gala Marceau or Gala Marceau and Lossiemouth actually, so that’s rock-solid form. I think Tekao, if he gets up the hill is a decent horse so I’d be with him, as regards each-way I think with cheekpieces on for the first time Sundial could be interesting.”

17.30 - National Hunt Chase

Ruby Walsh tip: Gaillard Du Mesnil

“You’re hoping Gaillard Du Mesnil is far too good for these, his run-in last year’s Brown Advisory might be good enough. It’s all set up for Gaillard Du Mesnil and he’ll be hard to beat in the lucky last. If Willie Mullins has had a blow out before then, this fella will get him out of trouble.”

Oli Bell tip: Gaillard Du Mesnil

“[On Gaillard Du Mesnil] Best horse in the race, dropping in class, be hard to beat!”

Cheltenham Festival race schedule

Four days, 28 races and action aplenty - here’s the full schedule for Cheltenham in 2023 (All times GMT)

Champion Day – Tuesday, March 14

• Supreme Novices’ Hurdle - 1.30pm
• Arkle Challenge Trophy - 2.10pm
• Handicap Steeple Chase - 2.50pm
• Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy - 3.30pm
• Mares’ Hurdle - 4.10pm
• Juvenile Handicap Hurdle - 4.50pm
• National Hunt Steeple Chase Challenge Cup - 5.30pm

Ladies Day – Wednesday, March 15

• Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle - 1.30pm
• Brown Advisory Novices’ Steeple Chase - 2.10pm
• Coral Cup Hurdle - 2.50pm
• Queen Mother Champion Chase - 3.30pm
• Cross-Country Steeple Chase - 4.10pm
• Grand Annual Handicap Chase - 4.50pm
• Champion Bumper - 5.30pm

St Patrick’s Thursday – Thursday, March 16

• Turners Novices’ Chase - 1.30pm
• Pertemps Network Final Hurdle - 2.10pm
• Ryanair Chase - 2.50pm
• Stayers’ Hurdle - 3.30pm
• County Plate Chase - 4.10pm
• Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle - 4.50pm
• Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup - 5.30pm

Gold Cup Day – Friday, March 17

• Triumph Hurdle Jump - 1.30pm
• Country Handicap Hurdle - 2.10pm
• Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle - 2.50pm
• Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase - 3.30pm
• Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters’ Chase - 4.10pm
• Mares’ Chase - 4.50pm
• Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle - 5.30pm

How to watch the 2023 Cheltenham Festival?

Viewers in the United Kingdom will be able to watch the best action on ITV, with live coverage on the channel on each of the four days. Registered users can watch online via ITVX.

Weather forecast

Expect a little drizzle on day one at Cheltenham on Tuesday, with 19-25 percent chance of rain throughout the day. Temperatures vary from 7-8C across the day.

Fans can factor in the likelihood of a ‘soft’ ground for Day 1’s races.

Cheltenham Festival Day 1: Race schedule and latest odds

4:50 Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle

Tekao 4/1

Byker, Nusret 5/1

Risk Belle 6/1

Perseus Way, Sir Allen 8/1

Bad, Common Practice, Punta Del Este 12/1

Bo Zenith, Cougar, Jazzy Matty, Metamorpheus, Morning Soldier, Samuel Space, Zanndabad 16/1

Afadil, Jolly Nellerie, Might Mo Missouri Pont Audemer, Shared, Thetys 20/1

BAR 25/1

5:30 National Hunt Chase

Gaillaerd Du Mesnil Evens

Mahler Mission, Ramillies 6/1

Chemicle Energy, Churchstonewarrior 7/1

Minella Crooner, Mister Coffey 8/1

City Chief 10/1

Tenzing 20/1

Fakiera, Frontal Assault, Gold Cup Bailly, Idas Boy 25/1

Iron Bridge, Jon Snow 33/1

Cheltenham Festival Day 2: Race schedule and latest odds

1:30 Ballymore Novices Hurdle

Impaire Et Passe 2/1

Hermes Allen 11/4

Gaelic Warrior, Good Land 5/1

Champ Kiely 7/1

Il Etait Temps 10/1

Inthepocket 12/1

Ho My Lord, Tahmuras 14/1

Absolute Notions, Favori De Champdou, Irish Point 16/1

Doctor Bravo, In Excess, Parmenion 20/1

American Mike, Dark Raven, Deep Cave, Diverge 25/1

BAR 33/1

2:10 Brown Advisory Novices Chase

Gerri Colombe 13/8

Mighty Potter 3/1

Sir Gerhard, The Real Whacker 4/1

Thyme Hill 11/2

Gaillard Du Mesnil 6/1

Ramilles 10/1

Galia Des Liteaux, Stage Star 12/1

James Du Berlais, Thedevilscoachman, Thunder Rock 14/1

Bronn, Kilcruit, Minella Crooner 25/1

BAR 33/1

2:50 Coral Cup

Camprond 6/1

HMS Seahorse, Run For Oscar 7/1

Haut En Couleurs 9/1

Langer Dan 10/1

Ballyadam, Winter Fog 11/1

Beacon Edge, Brandy Love, Captain Conby, Fil Dor, Might I, Three Card Brag 12/1

Irish Hill, Theatre Glory 14/1

Benson, Imagine, No Ordinary Joe, San Salvador, Scaramanga, Spanish Harlem, Watch House Cross Yorksea 16/1

3:30 Champion Chase

Edwardstone 13/8

Energumene 15/8

Gentleman De Mee 8/1

Blue Lord 9/1

Nube Negra 20/1

Chacun Pour Soi, Greaneteen 25/1

Funambule Sivola 33/1

Captain Guinness 50/1

Coeur Sublime 100/1

4:10 Cross Country Chase

Delta Work 11/10

Galvin 15/8

Franco De Port 7/1

Back On The Lash 14/1

Aeise Aba, Gin On Lime, Snow Leopardess 16/1

Easysland, Foxy Jacks 25/1

BAR 33/1

4:50 Grand Annual Handicap Chase

Andy Dufresne, Dinoblue 6/1

Last Orders 7/1

Aucunrisque 8/1

Saint Roi 9/1

Third Time Lucki, Unexpected Party 10/1

Coeur Sublime 12/1

Dads Lad, Magic Daze, Rouge Vif, Saint Segal 12/1

Red Rookie , Thyme White 14/1

Elixir De Nutz, Riviere D’etel 16/1

BAR 20/1

5:30 Champion Bumper

A Dream to Share, It’s For Me 7/2

Fun Fun Fun 13/2

Chapeau De Soleil 9/1

Fact To File, Western Diego 10/1

Better Days Ahead, Encanto Bruno, Pour Les Filles, Favour And Fortune, Queens Gamble 14/1

Fascile Mode, Westport Cove 16/1

Loughglynn 18/1

BAR 20/1

Cheltenham Festival Day 3: Race schedule and latest odds

1.30 Turners Novices Chase

Mighty Potter 5/4

El Fabiolo 5/2

Banbridge 3/1

Appreciate It 4/1

Sir Gerhard 7/1

Balco Coastal, Stage Star 10/1

Dysart Dynamo, Journey With Me 12/1

Adamantly Chosen, James Du Berlais 14/1

Hollow Games, I Am Maximus 20/1

Bronn, Fil Dor 25/1

Ha D’or, Kilcruit 33/1

2:10 Pertemps Network Final

Shoot First 3/1

Thanksforthehelp 11/2

Maxxum, Perceval Legallois, Walking On Air 7/1

The Bosses Oscar 8/1

An Tailliur, Salvador Ziggy 9/1

Shewearsitwell 11/1

Captain Morgs, Good Time Jonny, Steal A March 12/1

Bear Ghylls 14/1

Botox Has, Hector Javilex 16/1

Coltor 20/1

Glimpse Of Gala, Green Book, Itchy Feet, Mill Green, Wakool 25/1

BAR 33/1

2:50 Ryanair Chase

Shishkin 8/11

Blue Lord, Conflated 5/1

Janidil 7/1

Fury Road 8/1

Envoi Ellen 10/1

Fakir D’Oudairies, French Dynamite, Haut En Couleurs 14/1

GA Law 16/1

Hitman 20/1

Chacun Pour Soi, Funambule Sivola 25/1

Fanion D’estruval 50/1

3:30 Stayers’ Hurdle

Blazing Khal 11/4

Maries Rock, Teahupoo 7/2

Flooring Porter, Home By The Lee 11/2

Klassical Dream 9/1

Gold Tweeet, Sir Gerhard 12/1

Ashdale Bob, Paisley Park 16/1

Asterion Forlonge, Henri Le Farceur 20/1

Dashel Drasher, Haut En Couleurs, Hewick, Sharjah 25/1

4:10 Magners Plate Handicap Chase

So Scottish 3/1

Adamantly Chosen, Il Ridoto 15/2

Haut En Couleurs 8/1

Stage Star 9/1

Balco Coastal, French Dynamite, Frero Banbou, Midnight River 10/1

Datsalrightgino, Fastorslow, Fugitif 12/1

I Am Maximus, Kilcruit 14/1

War Lord 16/1

Mars Harper 18/1

Bold Endeavour, Call Me Lyreen, Champagne Gold, Dads Lad, Elixir Du Nutz, Embitered, Fil Dor, Fusil Raffles, Gemirande, Midnight Run 20/1

BAR 25/1

4:50 Mares Novices Hurdle

Luccia 11/8

Ashroe Diamond 10/3

Lot of Joy 7/1

You Wear It Well 8/1

Magical Zoe, Princess Zoe 9/1

Halka Du Tabert, Under Control 12/1

Jetara 14/1

Ahorsewithnoname, Foxy Girl, Harmonya Maker, Kateira, Ladybank, Nikini 16/1

Endless Escape, Mullenbeg, Saylavee, Zefania, Zenta 20/1

BAR 25/1

5:30 Kim Muir Challenge Cup

Stumptown 10/3

Mr Incredible 5/1

Angels Down 7/1

Dunboyne 10/1

Iron Bridge 11/1

Amirite, Idas Boy, Royal Thief 12/1

Anightinlambourn, Monbeg Genius, Next Destination 14/1

Annual Inviticus, Beauport, Guetapan Collonges 16/1

Fakiera, Folcano, Punitive, Rapper 20/1

Cheltenham Festival Day 4: Race schedule and latest odds

1:30 Triumph Hurdle

Blood Destiny 7/4

Lossiemouth 15/8

Gala Marceau 9/2

Comfort Zone 10/1

Bo Zenith 20/1

Rightsotom, Scriptwriter, Tekao, Zenta 25/1

Afadil, Fils De Roi, Jackpot De Choisel, Je Garde 44/1

BAR 40/1

2:10 County Hurdle

Filey Bay 5/1

Gin Coco, Hunters Yarn, Pembroke 8/1

Path D’oroux, Sharjah, Winter Fog 9/1

Colonel Mustard, Pied Piper 12/1

Aucunrisque, Fil Dor, Il Etait Temps 14/1

First Street, Icare Allen, Magnor Glory, Petit Tonnerre, Soul Icon 16/1

Ballyadam 20/1, Fils D’oudairies, Hacker Des Places, Might I, Sa Fureur, Wonderwall 20/1

BAR 25/1

2:50 Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle

Corbetts Cross 10/3

Embassy Gardens 6/1

Hermes Allen, Hiddenvalley Lake, Three Card Brag 7/1

Sandor Clegane 8/1

Favori De Champdou 9/1

Money’s Star 10/1

Letsbeclearaboutit 11/1

Absolute Notions, Cool Survivor, Dawn Rising, Shanbally Kid 12/1

Rock My Way, Search For Glory 14/1

American Mike, Regal Blue, Seabank Bistro, Stay Away Fay 16/1

BAR 20/1

3:30 Gold Cup

Galopin Des Champs 6/4

Gravemansgame 6/1

A Plus Tard 15/2

Noble Yeats 8/1

Statler 9/1

Shishkin 10/1

Conflated, Protektorat 12/1

Ahoy Senor 14/1

Hewick, Minella Indo, Sounds Russian 20/1

Capodanno, Fury Road 33/1

The Real Whacker 40/1

Royale Pagaille 50/1

Eldorado Allen, Envoi Allen 66/1

Franco De Port, GA Law, Galvin 100/1

Angels Breath 150/1

Coole Body 250/1

4:10 St James’ Place Festival Hunters Chase

Vaucelet 2/1

Ferns Lock 7/2

Winged Leader 9/2

Famous Clermont 5/1

Billaway, Chris’s Dream 7/1

Bob and Co, Secret Investor 8/1

Its On The Line 11/1

Dorking Cock, Rocky’s Howya 12/1

Brain Power 14/1

Cat Tiger, Law Of Gold, Le Malin, Not That Fuisse 16/1

Black Op Dandy Dan, Dubai Quest, Go Go Geronimo, I K Brunel, Premier Magic, Shantou Flyer, The Storyteller 20/1

BAR 25/1

4:50 Mares Chase

Allegorie De Vassy 11/1

Impervious 9/4

Jeremys Flame 9/2

Magic Daze 10/1

Galla Des Liteaux 12/1

Elimay, Riviere Detel 14/1

Zambella 16/1

Dolcita 20/1

Fantastic Lady 22/1

Dinoblue, Pink Legend, Telmesomethinggirl 33/1

Maskada 40/1

Darrens Hope, Kapga De Lily, Kissesforkatie 66/1

5:30 Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle

Imagine, Spanish Harlem 6/1

Cool Survivor, Langer Dan 7/1

Three Card Brag 15/2

Iroko, Might I 12/1

Favori De Champdou, Sa Fureur, San Salvador 12/1

Hacker Des Places 14/1

Benson, Hauturiere, Irish Hill, Riaan, Zoffany Bay 16/1

Blue Sari, Buddy One, Da Capo Glory, Felix Desjy, Firm Footings, Grozni 20/1