Cheltenham tips

Cheltenham Day 1 tips for Tuesday

Are you looking for tips to help you navigate the first day of Cheltenham Festival?

We’re all set for four days of Grade 1 racing and we’ve put together a comprehensive guide to help make your day 1 betting experience a success.

Enjoy the racing, and make your day 1 at Cheltenham an unforgettable one with our Cheltenham day tip guide.

Here’s a quick run-through of the races taking place during Cheltenham Day 1.

Cheltenham Day 1 Tips Tuesday 14th March 2024

Day one of the Cheltenham Festival will always be a thrilling experience. Every year, over 70,000 people gather at Prestbury Park to watch some of the best jump racing action in the world.

Whether you’re a seasoned punter or new to betting on horse racing, it pays to do your research and have an edge when it comes to placing bets. Let’s look at some tips and strategies that can help you get the most out of your Cheltenham festival day 1 betting experience:

Read more about Cheltenham Festival tips at the 2024 Festival here.

  • Do your research: Researching previous winners and form analysis is key for identifying horses with strong chances in each race, as well as narrowing down potential longshots.
  • Research all entrants, pay special attention to trainers who have enjoyed success at the racecourse before, and be sure to check how horses performed against similar going conditions in previous races.
  • Identify key trends: Identifying trends can help you make profitable decisions when betting.
  • Analyse several factors such as jockey form, trainer form and horse age to identify which horses in each race warrant closer inspection.
  • Trends are often reflective of the conditions present on any given day and adjusting accordingly should help boost your chances of cashing out with a profit.
  • Approach with caution: The steeple chase events at Cheltenham bring plenty of excitement every year; however they also carry huge risks if approached without caution. Don’t bet heavily on each race.

Cheltenham Day 1 Races Schedule

Day 1 of the Cheltenham Festival is all about the novices and getting off to a solid start. There are seven races on the opening day and plenty of opportunities for horse racing punters. The day is full of big-priced favourites, with some decent opportunities to make up some ground before Day 2 on Wednesday.

Champion Hurdle Tips

The Champion Hurdle is the most prestigious race of Day 1 of the Cheltenham Festival and is the featured race. Constitution Hill is the current favourite for the race.

Offering an impressive £450,000 in prize money and prestige, it is sure to draw a big field. Here are some tips to help you make the most of this special day at Cheltenham:

Champion Hurdle Jockey Overview

At 4:10pm, the most highly anticipated race of the day takes place; with twelve horses set to compete in the Champion Hurdle for £435,000 in prize money.

This year for this particular race we can look forward to some well-known jockeys including champion jockey Richard Johnson and also Lizzie Kelly riding Sir Erec for 3/1 favourite trainer Joseph O’Brien.

Ahead of this historic event it is always sensible to take a closer look at each respective jockey’s profile so that you can make an informed bet and end your day on a high!

In this case there are some accomplished National Hunt Jockeys set to take part in this years Champion Hurdle – here’s a rundown of their histories:

  • Richard Johnson has been riding professionally since 1996 where he broke several records; he is still currently holding the record for winning four successive jump-jockey championships, claiming an extraordinary total of four titles between 2002 and 2005, as well as being crowned champion jockey 20 times over his career. He also holds national record with 350 successes throughout one season.
  • Lizzie Kelly who notably won her first Grade 1 Race, becoming only the second female jockey in history to achieve such an accomplishment; she will be enjoying her third Cheltenham Festival experience having won with Tell Me All multiple times and firmly establishing herself as renowned racing talent, with notable success stories including riding Dicktation to victory during Welsh Grand National 2017.
  • Paul Townend rides two-time defending Champion Hurdle title holder Espoir D’Allen who’s owner JP McManus usually does not need much introduction regarded as one of most successful owners on racing scene – Townend has been riding for him since 2009 and boasts credentials that include three consecutive Irish Jump Championships between 2017 to 2019 which many believe gives him edge considering his close chemistry with McManus’ horses.
  • To add to his impressive resume Paul was recently crowned champion Jockey (his first ever time) becoming only fourth jockey in history have achieved Triple Crown (to have won British Flat Championship [2015], Irish Flat Championship [2016] & Irish Jockeys Championship[2019])

2024 Champion Hurdle Preview

The 2021 Cheltenham Festival is set to be even more memorable with a Champion Hurdle renewal to savor. 2023 brings a packed field of talented challengers with no real standout in the division yet, though there are plenty in contention.

Buveur d’Air will lead the way, having held his own as a novice chaser during last season’s campaign.

The seven-year-old will come up against stiff competition – view of past triumphs and losses include Sceptical, Silver Streak, Verdana Blue and Apples Jade who graced the Cheltenham track twice last season. All bar Silver Streak showed promise over various distances and at various auctions – so this is potentially a very open division for 2023.

Sceptical may stand the best chance of upsetting Buveur d’Air from his consistent record of notable wins although he remains vulnerable to an upset from one of the younger prospects such as Monksland or even One For Harry.

Wexford winner Ch’Tibello meanwhile has shown strong form without ever putting himself forward as a contender while Hargam could be one to watch come February to add potential quality depth to proceedings.

Le Prezien has been amongst the top five contenders since ever since his win in 2017 and is still tipped for success although it remains a tenuous lead at best with The New One looking like he could resurface if he can put on an incredibly strong show in December and January meetings.

Admittedly this looks slightly unlikely at present given his current lacklustre form which may disappoint loyal followers from past form shown across hurdles and steeplechases alike.

Supreme Novices’ Hurdle Tips

The Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle Race is one of the most anticipated races of the Cheltenham Festival.

With a total prize fund of £125,000, it brings together some of the best novice hurdlers across the UK. Racers come from all corners of the continent and assembled to compete for an unforgettable win.

Spectators will be able to enjoy some competitive racing as inexperienced horses battle it out on two-mile stretch. This race is not just about speed; tact and strength also play a part in determining who takes home first place.

Arkle Challenge Trophy Cheltenham

The Arkle Challenge Trophy Cheltenham is the opening day highlight of the Cheltenham Festival, taking place on Tuesday 16th March 2021. This Grade 1 novice hurdle contest is one of the most prestigious events in National Hunt Racing, with stiff competition and a range of expertly trained horses hoping to take home the coveted trophy.

Firstly, familiarise yourself with the form book. It’s important to check out stats around previous winners of this race in order to gain an understanding of what it takes to win at The Arkle Challenge Trophy Cheltenham.

Look through recent results and try to find horses with similar profiles; if a horse has won at previous festivals it’s likely they have the pedigree and talent required for success in The Arkle too.

Secondly, consider both trainers and jockeys that are known for their expertise in jump races. Trainers who frequently turn out talented jumpers will not only have prepared their charges for this important festival but may also be able to provide invaluable advice on which horse will best suit the challenge laid down by The Arkle.

It’s also worth keeping an eye out for experienced jockeys who will know how best to guide their charges over some tricky obstacles during this gruelling race.

Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle Race Cheltenham

The Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle Race is a Grade 2 National Hunt hurdle race which takes place at the Cheltenham Racecourse on the first day of the annual Cheltenham Festival. The race usually has a field of 20 runners and riders, and each year it is sponsored by Close Brothers.

In order to make sure you’re well-prepared for the big day at Cheltenham, there are some key elements to consider. First up, check out the form of each horse involved in this particular race before placing a bet – this could give you an edge. Analyze what each horse has done previously over hurdles so you can get an idea of how strong they are in comparison to their rivals.

It’s also important to check how different conditions may impact performances during races – be sure to take into account factors such as ground conditions, and whether it’s going to be a good or bad day from a weather perspective.

Rule Four Deductions are also important as this could enable punters to back horses with bigger odds than what would have been initially advertised in the betting markets if these deductions are applicable.

For novice punters interested in getting involved with Cheltenham Races for the first time, an each-way bet is generally recommended, offering protection against your selection not winning whilst still giving punters with potential returns should your selection place instead (odds all depend on number of horses running).

It might be worth checking out some of our latest tips before having a look at what odds you can get online at different bookmakers as well – research can pay off!

National Hunt Challenge Cup Novices’ Steeple Chase

The National Hunt Challenge Cup Novices’ Steeple Chase, run on day one of the Cheltenham Festival, was first introduced in 1995 and offers some of the biggest purses of any race held over the four days. This three miles, two-furlong contest is specifically designed as a test for new jumpers, who must have a seven-year-old age restriction or less.

A course that has uphill and downhill stretches coupled with twenty difficult fences make up this course which trips up some of the younger novice racers. It is a competitive race and certainly one to watch out for.