Cheltenham Festival 2023: Tips and best bets for day one including the Champion Hurdle

The Cheltenham Festival is back on Tuesday, with all eyes on the marquee race of the first day of the meeting – the Unibet Champions Hurdle. 

Constitution Hill is set to go off as one of the shortest-priced favourites in the race's history as Nicky Henderson goes in search of a record-extending ninth Champion Hurdle success.

Here Telegraph Sport offers you a full guide to the race along with breakdowns of the remaining six races on the day-one card.

This year's race is on Friday, March 17 at 3.30pm.

ITV will have live coverage fronted by Ed Chamberlin. Alternatively, you can bookmark this page and return on the day to follow the race on our dedicated live blog.

Epatante and Theatre Glory, both trained by Nicky Henderson, have been supplemented for the Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle; that was the headline news when the six-day entries for day one of the Festival were announced.

With the possibility of the field including  two Champion Hurdle winners, Honeysuckle and Epatante (they have both been left in the Champion, too), last year’s winner Marie’s Rock (who still has the Stayers’ option) and some rising stars, the 16th running of the race is looking like the hottest so far.

Theatre Glory, who has a terrific each-way chance at a good price, is owned by Canter Banter Racing, a syndicate set up by Katie Croft and her partner, Dave Fehily, joint-headlads at Henderson’s. “Most of them had never had contact with a horse let alone owned a racehorse,” says Croft, who rides out Theatre Glory every day, of the 20 syndicate members.

“We’ve supplemented, so we’re running regardless, although we’d prefer good ground. She is in fantastic form.”

Canter Banter had a winner at Newbury – Spring Note – and Croft will welcome a new purchase, Irish point-to-pointer Eitheror, which arrives off the boat. There will be 12 shares available in the mare.

This race has been dominated by Willie Mullins over the last decade and there's every reason to think that will continue this year. Facile Vega, the Mullins No 1 this time, is a warm favourite but needs to prove a poor run last time at Punchestown was merely an aberration. His biggest challenger looks to be Marine Nationale, who remains undefeated after four starts under rules, including victory in the Grade 1 Royal Bond at Fairyhouse. Il Etait Temps and Gaelic Warrior also warrant strong consideration as does the Paul Nicholls-trained Tahmuras, who won the Grade 1 Tolworth at Sandown in January.

Best bet: Facile Vega 9/4F

The prevailing sentiment here is that it is a match between El Fabiolo and Jonbon. The pair met at Aintree last season over hurdles with Jonbon prevailing by a neck. Since, both have made seamless transitions to fences, each winning three races over the larger obstacles with a Grade 1 apiece. The Mullins-trained El Fabiolo has nabbed favouritism for now and he could go off shorter still should Mullins get a convincing winner in the opener. Dysart Dynamo is another Mullins contender to consider, while the likes of Banbridge, Final Orders and Saint Roi don't yet have the form in the book to trouble the top two in the market. 

Best bet: Jonbon 13/8

For all the Irish domination at Cheltenham in recent years this has been a race in which the British horses have more than help their own. The last 15 runnings have gone to British-based trainers and they again dominate the market, with last year's winner Corach Rambler the current 8/1 favourite. He's running of 6lb higher this year though and with enhanced each-way terms set to offered by most firms, going for one at a bigger price could well be the strategy. Oscar Elite has hold a huge chance having finished third in the race last year before running out the winner of the Grade 2 Reynoldstown last month..

Best bet: Oscar Elite 12/1

The reality here is that it's very difficult to see past Constitution Hill, who is the most exciting jumps horse in training at present. He's won his last five by an aggregate of over 15 lengths and, put simply, has not raced a rival who is even close to being in his league. This race will go a long way to telling us whether such a rival even exists at present. State Man is perhaps the only horse who could give the favourite something to think about. Unbeaten in six, he has established himself as Ireland's leading challenger in this division with three straight Grade 1 wins. The other entries have a huge amount to find on the formbook and with less than eight runners looking more likely this could the race where you keep your money in your pocket.

Best bet: Constitution Hill 1/3F

The likely redirections of Honeysuckle and Epatante here away from the Champion Hurdle adds a layer of fascination to this one. They may not be the force of old but these are shallower waters than they have been in this season, especially if Marie's Rock goes for the Stayers' Hurdle. There is talent further down the market, with Brandy Love, Echoes In Rain and Shewearsitwell all holding good claims for Mullins. Last season's mares' novice winner Love Envoi has been impressive but was beaten convincingly by Brandy Love at the back-end of last season and she will need to find more, especially if Honeysuckle reproduces the level of her second toState Man at Leopardstown last time.

Best bet: Brandy Love 6/1

Wide open as ever. Only one winning favourite in the last ten runnings but has still become a target for Irish trainers with well-handicapped horses. Tekao, Byker and Nusret all fit that bill but at single figure prices there is better value to be had elsewhere. Further down the market, one horse with a similar profile but almost double the price of that aforementioned three is Metamorpheus. His three efforts in novice company have rendered a win and two further decent efforts. He looks well-weighted on his known form, has plenty of room for progression and at 16/1 looks an intriguing bet.

Best bet: Metamorpheus 16/1

The market is dominated by Irish-trained horses, with both Mullins and Gordon Elliott holding strong hands. Gaillard Du Mesnil is a three-time Grade 1 winner and a one who looks ready to win over a marathon trip such as this. The same is true of both Mahler Mission and Chemical Energy, both of whom have left the distinct impression that they will be seen to their best over trips far in excess of three miles.