Cheltenham Day one betting preview: Race predictions for Cheltenham Festival
THE 2024 Cheltenham Festival is upon us with the 'Greatest Show on Turf' set to deliver four days of star-studded and action-packed racing from Prestbury Park.
In this Cheltenham Day 1 preview, we'll take a closer look at the runners, riders, eye-catching statistics and standout contenders for all seven races, including the feature race of the day - the Grade 1 Unibet Champion Hurdle.
There are seven races scheduled for Day One of the Cheltenham Festival 2024.
Below are the dates, times and everything you'll need to know.
There's nothing quite like Day One of the Cheltenham Festival. The buzz, anticipation and expectation of over 68,000 spectators in attendance and millions more around the world tuning in to witness greatness at Prestbury Park.
The Cheltenham Festival originated in 1860, and is undoubtedly the highlight of the horse-racing calendar. Historically known as Champion Day, Day One of The Cheltenham Festival features seven world-class races, including the Champion Hurdle, which is considered the most prestigious hurdle race in the world.
Here, we take a closer look at all seven races and provide our best bets, tips and analysis for Day One of the Cheltenham Festival, starting with the featured Grade 1 Champion Hurdle.
The Champion Hurdle is the feature race on Day One of the Cheltenham Festival 2024. The Grade 1 contest is run over a distance of about 2 miles and has been won by some of the greatest hurdlers of all time, including Night Nurse, Persian War, Sea Pigeon and Istabraq.
Reigning Champion Hurdle winner Constitution Hill had been penciled in as the favourite for this contest for a number of months, but has now been officially ruled out by trainer Nicky Henderson.
Last year's emphatic winner will not defend his title. His participation hinged on the results of a blood test taken on Monday (4th March) and those indicate 'that he has not fully recovered' from whatever was ailing him.
Henderson said: "Very sadly we are going to have to admit defeat in the battle to get Constitution Hill ready for the Champion Hurdle and therefore have to declare that he will not be running there this year.
"He has undoubtedly improved over the weekend and seems noticeably brighter than he was at the end of last week and I really did thing he was much perkier when ridden this morning. Unfortunately, the all-important blood test shows that although the figures have also improved they are quite a way from being satisfactory for a horse to commence serious training and to race in a week’s time."
So, there will be a new name engraved on the Unibet Champion Hurdle trophy next week and State Man is the likeliest recipient.
State Man was considered the only other entry capable of landing a glove on a fit and firing Constitution Hill. He's improved massively this season, seeing off Bob Olinger for trainer Willie Mullins in the Irish Champion Hurdle at the Dublin Festival.
Mullins also has now second-favourite Lossiemouth, who annihilated her rivals in the International Hurdle on Cheltenham Racecourse's Festival Trials Day in January. She boasts a 100% record at Cheltenham (2/2).
However, she is an intended runner in the Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle on the same day, while the Gordon Elliott-trained Irish Point is also priced at 7-2 and could be sent to the Champion Hurdle instead.
The prize pot for the Unibet Champion Hurdle on Day One of the Cheltenham Festival 2024 is £450,000. The winner will take home £253,215, while the runner-up receives £95,400.00.
Below is the full breakdown;
- 1st: £253,215
- 2nd: £95,400
- 3rd: £47,745
- 4th: £23,850
- 5th: £11,970
- 6th: £5,985
- 7th: £2,970
- 8th: £1,530
The runners and riders haven't yet been confirmed for the 2024 Champion Hurdle. However, Paul Townend is expected to be on board favourite State Man having won nine of his 10 career wins.
As mentioned, Nicky Henderson and Willie Mullins rather enjoy themselves in the Champion Hurdle. Henderson (6) and Mullins (4) have trained 10 of the last 15 winners of this contest. It looks likely to be Mullins this year with his entries top of the betting markets.
Below are the last five winners of the Champion Hurdle on Day One of the Cheltenham Festival.
The Barry Connell-trained Marine Nationale was the favourite at 9/4 to win the Arkle Challenge Trophy Steeple Chase on Day 1 of the Cheltenham Festival 2024, but has been ruled out after suffering a 'suspensory strain'. Found A Fifty and Il Etait Temps are now joint-favourites at around 7/2.
- Found A Fifty 7/2
- Il Etait Temps 7/2
- Gaelic Warrior 4/1
- Facile Vega 5/1
- Hunters Yarn 6/1
- Jpr One 7/1
- Quilixios 7/1
- 14/1 bar
*All races at Cheltenham Festival will declare at the 48-hour stage.
It's a wide-open field for the Ultima Handicap Steeple Chase with Crebilly the slender 6/1 favourite to win for Jonjo O'Neill.
- Crebilly 6/1
- The Goffer 13/2
- Chianti Classico 7/1
- Meetingofthewaters 7/1
- Theatre Man 8/1
- Stumptown 9/1
- 10/1 bar
*All races at Cheltenham Festival will declare at the 48-hour stage.
Lossiemouth is available at 8/15 to win the David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle. Although it remains to be seen whether she'll be entered into the Champion Hurdle instead.
- Lossiemouth 8/15
- Ashroe Diamond 4/1
- Brighterdaysahead 8/1
- Love Envoi 10/1
- Maries Rock 12/1
- Echoes In Rain 16/1
- 16/1 bar
*All races at Cheltenham Festival will declare at the 48-hour stage.
Joseph O’Brien-trained Lark In The Mornin is the favourite at 4/1. Willie Mullins' Batman Girac is next at 6/1, ahead of Milan Tino - who'll bid to give JP McManus a third win in four years in this contest.
- Lark In The Mornin 4/1
- Batman Girac 6/1
- Milan Tino 7/1
- Wodhooh 15/2
- Ndaawi 8/1
- Liari 10/1
- 12/1 bar
*All races at Cheltenham Festival will declare at the 48-hour stage.
Embassy Gardens is favourite to win the final race on Day 1 of the Cheltenham Festival 2024. Emmet Mullins’ Corbetts Cross is next despite falling at Fairyhouse when pressing the leading pair.
- Embassy Gardens 2/1
- Corbetts Cross 5/2
- Salvador Ziggy 5/1
- Broadway Boy 8/1
- Kilbeg King 8/1
- Meetingofthewaters 8/1
- 9/1 bar
*All races at Cheltenham Festival will declare at the 48-hour stage.
- Choose an online bookmaker form our list.
- Verify your account and make a deposit.
- Head over to the horse racing section of the site.
- Select the race you wish to bet on.
- Look through the available markets and select your bet.
Picking a winning bet involves a lot of things; skill, a bit of luck but also research. Using previews can help you secure the best free bets out there on the market, ensuring you have more in your betting bank heading into the racing on day two. Not just that, you can notice trends in previous winners and recognise a stable's first choice jockey, giving an indication who the yard prefer if a trainer runs more than one horse.
There are several key components to consider when making a selection at Cheltenham. Most importantly though is the horse's form and how they've been faring. Top Jockeys and trainers will also have a huge bearing in any race and Cheltenham odds so keep an eye on any market movers. As well as that, it's important to consider other horses performances, track conditions, past results and trends in previous winners. Track preference is also key - how do they do running right-hand courses?
Yes, you can find special Cheltenham betting offers and free bets. For events like Cheltenham there will always be a battle for your custom, so make sure you shop around. Most bookies will have some form of price boost on the big race for the day and even sometimes for most races, particularly containing a big name. These could also take the form of daily doubles or accumulators, where two or more strong favourites for the day are put together in a multiple at bigger odds. There will be an abundance of free bets handed out over the course of the four days too - for runners that fall, lose but finish in the places or when you bet on a certain race - so keep an eye out for those.
Remember to gamble responsibly
A responsible gambler is someone who:
- Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
- Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
- Never chase their losses
- Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry, or depressed
For help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or go to www.gamstop.co.uk to be excluded from all UK-regulated gambling websites.
