OFFER: Money back as a free bet if your horse finishes 2nd, 3rd or 4th in the 1.30pm race.
Join 888Sport to get £30 in free bets
Cheltenham Day 1 Tips for the ITV Races
- 1.30pm – TAHMURAS EW
- 2.10pm – JONBON
- 2.50pm – MONBEG GENIUS EW
- 3.30pm – 1 CONSTITUTION HILL 2 STATE MAN F/C
- 4.10pm – LOVE ENVOI EW
- 4.50pm – TEKEO
- 5.30pm – GAILLARD DU MESNIL
1:30 Cheltenham
The opener on Cheltenham Festival week is the first of four Grade 1s, greeted by the traditional Cheltenham roar, the Sky Bet Supreme Novices Hurdle over the extended 2m trip. It’s a wide-open contest and Facile Vega has to be a favourite worth taking on given his run last time out. However, I do fear him now the rain has arrived and the yard seem bullish about his chances. The one I like here is TAHMURAS (10/1 BetUK are paying 4 places) EW. He’s another who will definitely have appreciated the rain in the last week and the more that falls, the better his chance. Paul Nicholls is having a fantastic season but he knows this week will arguably still define that season. His horses continue to remain in fine form as shown as Sandown on the weekend when landing a double in two of the competitive ITV contests. Tahmuras himself, won the Tolworth Hurdle last time out which has been one of the better trials for the Supreme for the English horses. He won that despite belting the last two hurdles and running green on the run in. He’s definitely still on an upward curve and Nicholls has won this race with similar staying types in the past such as Noland and Al Ferof. The form of the Tolworth is working out very well and in an open market, with conditions to suit, I think he’s a great each-way bet.2 Bet £10 on the 1.30pm
3 Get a £10 free bet for each of the next 3 races
[single_affiliate_freespins id=”3225″ ]
2:10 Cheltenham
The 2:10 is a fascinating renewal of the Sporting Life Arkle, a 2m chase for the novice chases. I’ve seen a lot of people advising Saint Roi or Dysart Dynamo each-way here but I do think it’s a match-up between the front two Jonbon and El Fabiolo. We know there is not much between them from Aintree last year and both have took well to novice chasing. I’ve favour JONBON (7/4 with bet365) here though. Underwhelming of course last time out at Warwick, it was a similar effort at Haydock before the Supreme last season where he ended up finishing a good second behind Champion Hurdle favourite Constitution Hill. You can be sure Nicky Henderson will have him spot on now for this and I just think he’s the better jumper. A fast run 2 miles round Cheltenham, you need to jump pretty much perfect and I just think El Fabiolo is more prone to belting one. Jonbon is all guts and I think turning for home, if the pair are together, I’d favour Jonbon’s determination and better jumping ability.2:50 Cheltenham
The 2:50 is the first handicap of the week, the Ultima Handicap Chase over 3m1f, a race the English have a fantastic record in. I think MONBEG GENIUS (12/1 with Betfred paying 6 places) EW is being underestimated in here. A winner on his last three starts including two decent wins at Chepstow, he’s a horse on the upgrade. He’s yet to run over 3m but he wasn’t stopping over an extended 2m7f on soft ground at Chepstow. He’s got a lovely racing weight of 10’13 for this and trainer Jonjo O’Neill knows what it takes to win this having won it with the likes of Wichita Linesman and Holywell in recent times. Monbeg Genius likes to sit up near the pace which is key in these Cheltenham handicap chases a lot of the time and he should give Jonjo Jnr a good spin.3:30 Cheltenham
The 3:30 is the feature on Day 1, the Grade 1 Unibet Champion Hurdle over 2m. I think the front two in the market are well clear of the others here and I expect Constitution Hill to win comfortably with State Man finishing second. They both bring the strongest form from each side of the Irish Sea by a decent margin in my opinion and as boring as it sounds, I’d be surprised if they didn’t finish first and second. I’d be staying away from I Like To Move It as he will sit up near the pace and I think he’ll get past by a few in the home straight. He has jumping concerns too so it would be Vauban for the third spot I think. Forecast – 1st Constitution Hill 2nd State ManGET EVENS FOR CONSTITUTION HILL TO WIN WITH WILLIAM HILL
4:10 Cheltenham
The 4:10 from Cheltenham is arguably the race of the day, the Grade 1 Close Brothers Mares Hurdle over 2m4f. I can’t have Honeysuckle or Epatante here. Honeysuckle is definitely on the downgrade and there has to be stamina concerns for Epatante over this trip on soft ground. I think LOVE ENVOI (9/1 with bet365) EW is definitely being overlooked here especially now the rain has come. She won the Mares Novice Hurdle here at Cheltenham last year and she’s been impressive winning both starts this season at Sandown. She brings form against the boys in which is always encouraging going back against her own sex. She’s a strong traveller who’s proven over this trip. She’s on an upward curve whilst a few of her rivals have certainly peaked. Albeit, they do bring Grade 1 form to the table. Marie’s Rock is the danger but Love Envoi is a great price.4:50 Cheltenham
The 4:50 is the turn of the juveniles and one of the toughest puzzles of the week, the Boodles Handicap Hurdle over 2m known to many as the Fred Winter. I do like TEKAO (9/2 with Coral) here especially with Mctigue running now carrying top weight of 11’12. That means Tekeo will carry 11’5 which is a lot more manageable. I think his mark of 135 was harsh on the form book but he does bring strong juvenile form to the table and there is no way we’ve seen the best of him yet. He was obviously ridden with this race in mind last time out at Grade 1 level when Mark Walsh realised he needed to press the brake button approaching the last hurdle when he was travelling as well as the winner Gala Marceau. Although Mullins hasn’t won this race yet, he’s getting closer every year. Mullins will be eager to add this race to his Festival winners list and this lad looks like he’s been laid out for it to me.5:30 Cheltenham
The finale on Day 1 is the Well Child National Hunt Challenge Trophy over 3m6f and it’s the turn of the amateur jockeys. You’d have to expect GAILLARD DU MESNIL (Evens with bet365) to prove too good here. He’s a Grade 1 winner against handicappers with one of the best amateur jockeys on board in Patrick Mullins. It’ll be no negative either that Patrick will have had a couple of rides earlier in the day too. Gaillard Du Mesnil will be fine over this trip having run a cracker in last years Irish National and he’s pretty versatile ground-wise. Tough to beat.Cheltenham Day 1 ITV7 Tips
| Race | Selection |
|---|---|
| 1 | Tahmuras |
| 2 | Chase A Fortune |
| 3 | Jonbon |
| 4 | Going Mobile |
| 5 | Monbet Genius |
| 6 | Constitution Hill |
| 7 | Love Envoi |
Cheltenham Day 1 Free Bet Offers
[table_list num=”7″ cat=”Homepage” sort=”date” logo_aff_link=”true”]