Cheltenham Day 1 Betting Tips: Preview of the Best Races to Bet On

Cheltenham Festival is the biggest horse racing event in the world, attracting thousands of fans and bettors every year. The opening day of the festival, known as Champion Day, features some of the most exciting races of the entire event. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at three of the top races on Day 1, as well as provide you with a recommended Lucky 15 bet for the day’s action.

Race 1: Supreme Novices’ Hurdle

The Supreme Novices’ Hurdle is the first race of the Cheltenham Festival schedule, and it sets the tone for the rest of the week. This Grade 1 race is open to novice hurdlers aged four and over, and it covers a distance of 2 miles and 87 yards.

One of the top contenders for this race is Appreciate It, trained by Willie Mullins. This six-year-old gelding has won all six of his hurdle races so far, including a Grade 1 race at Leopardstown in December. 

Another contender is Metier, trained by Harry Fry. This five-year-old gelding has won all three of his hurdle races this season, including a Grade 1 race at Sandown in December.

Race 2: Arkle Challenge Trophy

The Arkle Challenge Trophy is a Grade 1 race open to novice chasers aged five and over, and it covers a distance of 2 miles. This race is named after the famous racehorse Arkle, who won the Cheltenham Gold Cup three times in the 1960s.

One of the top contenders for this race is Shishkin, trained by Nicky Henderson. This six-year-old gelding has won all six of his chase races so far, including a Grade 1 race at Kempton in December. 

Another contender is Energumene, trained by Willie Mullins. This six-year-old gelding has won all three of his chase races this season, including a Grade 1 race at Leopardstown in February.

Race 3: Champion Hurdle

The Champion Hurdle is the highlight of Day 1 of the Cheltenham Festival, and it is one of the most prestigious races in the entire event. This Grade 1 race is open to horses aged four and over, and it covers a distance of 2 miles and 87 yards.

One of the top contenders for this race is Honeysuckle, trained by Henry de Bromhead. This seven-year-old mare has won all 10 of her hurdle races so far, including a Grade 1 race at Leopardstown in December. Another contender is Epatante, trained by Nicky Henderson. This seven-year-old mare won the Champion Hurdle last year and has won both of her races so far this season.

Betting on Cheltenham Festival is as popular as the event itself and for those looking for a Lucky 15 bet for Day 1 of the Cheltenham Festival, we recommend the following:

Tekao – Ultima Handicap Chase

Tekao is an eight-year-old gelding trained by David Bridgwater and is one of the top contenders for the Ultima Handicap Chase. He has won two of his four chase races so far this season, including a victory at Cheltenham in December. He is a good jumper and has plenty of stamina, making him a solid pick for this race.

Epatante – Champion Hurdle

Epatante is a seven-year-old mare trained by Nicky Henderson and is the defending champion of the Champion Hurdle. She has won six of her seven hurdle races so far, including a Grade 1 race at Kempton in December. She is a strong front-runner and has plenty of speed and stamina, making her a top pick for this race.

Marine Nationale – Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle

Marine Nationale is a six-year-old mare trained by Paul Nicholls and is one of the top contenders for the Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle. She has won four of her five hurdle races so far this season, including a Grade 2 race at Wincanton in January. She is a strong front-runner and has a lot of speed and stamina, making her a formidable opponent in this race.

Happygolucky – National Hunt Chase

Happygolucky is a seven-year-old gelding trained by Kim Bailey and is one of the top contenders for the National Hunt Chase. He has won three of his five chase races so far this season, including a victory at Cheltenham in November. He is a strong jumper and has plenty of stamina, making him a good pick for this grueling race.

These four horses represent some of the top contenders in their respective races and offer a solid chance of success. 

Remember: A Lucky 15 bet consists of 15 individual bets across four horses, including four singles, six doubles, four trebles, and one four-fold accumulator. With a Lucky 15 bet, you only need one of your four horses to win to receive a payout, although the more winners you have, the higher the payout will be.

Our Lucky 15 tip for Tuesday’s Cheltenham Festival offers a good mix of solid contenders across different races. As always, please remember to gamble responsibly and enjoy the excitement of the Cheltenham Festival. Good luck!