Cheltenham Day 1 tips for Tuesday 10th March

Cheltenham Tips Day 1 (Tuesday 10 March 2026) covers a seven-race card that traditionally sets the tone for the entire Festival. Often billed as Champions Day, it begins with the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and builds towards the feature, the Unibet Champion Hurdle, with Grade 1 quality alongside deep handicaps where small margins decide big outcomes.

Cheltenham Festival 2026 Day 1 – overview

Day 1 of the 2026 Cheltenham Festival takes place on Tuesday 10 March, opening four days of racing with a seven-race card at Cheltenham Racecourse. The programme is built around Grade 1 class at the top of the bill, but it is the depth of the handicaps that often makes Tuesday such a punter’s puzzle.

Often referred to as Champions Day, the action begins with the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and reaches its peak with the Unibet Champion Hurdle at 4:00pm. The card also includes the Arkle Novices’ Chase and the Ultima Handicap Chase, both capable of producing defining Festival moments. Six-day confirmations for Tuesday’s races were made on Wednesday 4 March, with final declarations scheduled for Sunday 8 March.

Cheltenham Day 1 2026 – race times and schedule

Time	Race	Tip	Trainer	Best odds
13:20	Supreme Novices’ Hurdle	Old Park Star	Nicky Henderson	9/4 (Paddy Power)
14:00	Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices’ Chase	Lulamba	Nicky Henderson	7/4 (Sky Bet)
14:40	Juvenile Handicap Hurdle	Saratoga	—	4/1 (Paddy Power)
15:20	Ultima Handicap Chase	Jagwar	Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerreiro	5/1 (Bet365)
16:00	Unibet Champion Hurdle	The New Lion	Dan Skelton	9/4 (Ladbrokes)
16:40	TrustATrader Plate Handicap Chase	Madara	Dan Skelton	5/1 (Bet365)
17:20	National Hunt Novices’ Handicap Chase	Newton Tornado	Rebecca Curtis	7/1 (Ladbrokes)

Cheltenham Day 1 – Top 5 picks ranked

Cheltenham Tips Day 1 – race-by-race

13:20 – Supreme Novices’ Hurdle

Selection: Old Park Star
Best odds: 9/4 (Paddy Power)
Trainer: Nicky Henderson

Old Park Star arrives with strong hurdle form and looks suited to the fast pace usually seen in this Festival opener. The Henderson yard often targets novice hurdle races at Cheltenham and conditions should suit, with around 20 runners still in contention following the confirmation stage.

The main rival, Talk The Talk, arrives with Grade 1 success from Leopardstown and brings a serious Irish challenge, ensuring the opener has depth rather than a straightforward complexion.

14:00 – Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices’ Chase

Selection: Lulamba
Best odds: 7/4 (Sky Bet)
Trainer: Nicky Henderson

Lulamba has an unbeaten chasing record and a profile that fits the demands of this two-mile contest. If he settles into a good rhythm, his pace and jumping could prove decisive in a race where one mistake can flip the finishing order.

Key challengers include Kopek Des Bordes, along with Gordon Elliott’s Romeo Coolio and Irish Panther from the Eddie and Patrick Harty yard, giving the Arkle its usual blend of reputation and jeopardy.

14:40 – Juvenile Handicap Hurdle

Selection: Saratoga
Best odds: 4/1 (Paddy Power)

Saratoga brings useful experience on testing ground and has placed in his last two runs at Naas. A mark of 130 could prove workable in a race that often rewards the right blend of toughness, position and timing.

Irish runners tend to feature strongly in this contest and Winston Junior and Manlaga are among those expected to play major roles in a competitive handicap.

15:20 – Ultima Handicap Chase

Selection: Jagwar
Best odds: 5/1 (Bet365)
Trainer: Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerreiro

Jagwar has attracted strong support in early handicap markets and his staying chase profile reads well for the demands of Cheltenham. In a race that rarely falls to a single narrative, a clear round of jumping is often the deciding factor.

Handstands and Myretown are among the other runners catching the eye, underlining why the Ultima can feel like a Festival in miniature—crowded, chaotic, and unforgiving.

16:00 – Unibet Champion Hurdle

Selection: The New Lion
Best odds: 9/4 (Ladbrokes)
Trainer: Dan Skelton

The New Lion heads the betting following the withdrawal of Constitution Hill, a development that has redrawn the market and sharpened the focus on those waiting for a championship opening. His speed and sharp hurdling style look well suited to a two-mile test that demands accuracy and ruthlessness.

Depth remains. Brighterdaysahead sits close in the market, while Lossiemouth and Golden Ace add further class, meaning the Champion Hurdle retains its pull even after late-season setbacks elsewhere in the division.

16:40 – TrustATrader Plate Handicap Chase

Selection: Madara
Best odds: 5/1 (Bet365)
Trainer: Dan Skelton

Madara has built a solid record over fences, including five wins and several placed finishes from 19 runs. Stamina for the 2m4f trip could be a major asset in the closing stages, particularly if the race becomes a test of who can still find after the last.

The Plate typically attracts a large field and any previous injury concerns will be watched carefully, but on pure profile he reads as a strong contender if arriving in one piece.

17:20 – National Hunt Novices’ Handicap Chase

Selection: Newton Tornado
Best odds: 7/1 (Ladbrokes)
Trainer: Rebecca Curtis

Newton Tornado made his chasing debut in October and impressed when winning at Doncaster in January. His stamina and previous form at Cheltenham offer encouragement in a closing race that often rewards a horse still willing to fight when the day has taken its toll.

Backmersackme and Wade Out also bring strong credentials and look obvious dangers in a handicap where positioning and jumping can be just as important as raw ability.

With several wide-open races on the opening day, Champions Day promises a strong start to the 2026 Cheltenham Festival—Grade 1 quality at the top, and the kind of hard-edged handicaps that can turn reputations on their head in a matter of strides.

Cheltenham Day 1 tips – FAQs

When is Day 1 of the Cheltenham Festival 2026?

Day 1 takes place on Tuesday 10 March 2026.

What time is the first race on Day 1?

The Supreme Novices’ Hurdle is scheduled for 1:30pm, with the card listing it at 13:20 in this schedule format.

What is the feature race on Day 1?

The Unibet Champion Hurdle at 4:00pm is the headline event.

When are final declarations for Day 1?

Final declarations are scheduled for Sunday 8 March, following six-day confirmations made on Wednesday 4 March.