The decision by connections to run Lossiemouth in today’s Unibet Champion Hurdle (4 p.m.), rather than the Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle on Thursday, is good for racing but not ideal for my two ante-post bets in the big race, the highlight of day one of the Cheltenham Festival.
Irish trainer Willie Mullins’ talented mare is unbeaten in her three visits to the Cheltenham Festival, winning a Triumph Hurdle and two Mares’ Hurdles. This will be her stiffest task to date as she is probably even better over two-and-a-half miles than today’s trip of just over two miles. However, she is still going to be very hard to beat today, especially with cheekpieces fitted for the first time.
Unlike Lossiemouth, Brighterdaysahead, the other mare at the top of the market, has saved her best performances for away from Cheltenham, failing to win despite being well fancied on both her visits to the Festival over the past two years.
The New Lion, who won the Grade 1 Turners Novices’ Hurdle at the Festival a year ago, is the other horse at the top of the market with a big chance of winning. Stable confidence seems high but I would expect at least one of the three mares in the line-up to beat him.
I am happy enough with my two ante-post bets in the race: the third mare Golden Ace each way at 16-1 and Tutti Quanti each way at 20-1.
Golden Ace was, of course, lucky to win the Champion Hurdle last year after first Constitution Hill, the 1-2 favourite, and then State Man, who had a commanding lead at the last hurdle, fell. However, according to her trainer Jeremy Scott, Golden Ace comes into today’s race in better form than last year and I wouldn’t put anyone backing her each way now at 10-1.
Tutti Quanti might just be outclassed in such a competitive race but he is an improving horse who is likely to lead and he should, at least, give supporters, including me, a good run for their money.
Today’s superb card kicks off with the Grade 1 Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (1.20 pm), and this is a high-quality version of this race. Once again, this contest is going to be hard to win now that Willie Mullins has chosen it as the target for three of his string, including Mighty Park and Leader d’Allier.
Old Park Star, trained by Nicky Henderson, comes into the race with a formidable reputation but I am, once again, happy enough with my ante-post each-way tip of Sober Glory at 12-1 even though the ground will not be a soft as he would like. Joint trainer Philip Hobbs and Johnson White have stabled plenty of high-class horses over the years and this one could be right up with the best of them.
I am far less happy with my two ante-post tips for Singer Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices’ Chase (2 p.m.). Gordon Elliott has opted to run unbeaten chaser Romeo Coolio in the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase tomorrow even though he is untried at the trip. Equally annoyingly, my second tip in the race, Mambonumberfive became a non-runner yesterday afternoon due to a bruised foot.
If both horses at the top of the market in the Arkle stay on their feet, Kopek Des Bordes is likely to fight out the finish with Lulamba and my preference would be for the former. However, I will simply be watching the race to enjoy it given his short price.
The McCoy Contractors Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (2.40 p.m.), that’s the ‘Fred Winter’ in old money, is an ultra-competitive 22-runner contest for four-year-olds. AMMES is well handicapped on his flat form and has taken well to hurdles winning two of his three starts and running his best race when second to Minella Study. Ammes was considered a Grade 1 JCB Triumph Hurdle candidate at the start of the season so to get into this handicap off a mark of just 128 looks lenient.
Victory for Ammes would be a first Festival for success for both trainer James Owen and champion jockey Sean Bowen. I preferred the price of 11-1 available still on Sunday evening because since then the horse has shortened in the market. Nevertheless, back him one point each way at 9-1 Best Odds Guaranteed (BOG) with bet365 paying six places.
Joint trainers Joel Parkinson and Sue Smith will have only two runners at the Cheltenham Festival and I am happy with my ante-post bet on Konfusion at 20-1 for the Ultima Handicap Chase (3.20pm).
However, I am also going to put up their other runner, GRAND GESTE, in the last race on the card today, the National Hunt Challenge Cup Novices’ Handicap Chase (5.20 pm) over nearly three miles and six furlongs.
He’s an improving stayer who proved his stamina last time out when landing the William Hill Half A Mill Grand National Trial Handicap Chase. Returning to novices’ company is a plus so back him one point each way at 16-1 with bet365, paying five places.
However, I want to go into this race double-handed because the shrewd Irish handler Paul Nolan has laid out ICEBERG THEORY for this race and, although unproven at this distance, he looks a stout stayer too. He has been hammered in the market over the past two days but back him one point each way at 11-2 (BOG) with bet365 or Betfred, paying five places.
The Sun Racing Plate Handicap Chase (4.40 p.m.) is too hard for me to solve so I will leave that with just the three new wagers for today. The opening day of the Festival is almost always a real treat and today should be no exception so enjoy the quality racing even if it proves a difficult to find winners.
Pending:
1 point each way Sober Glory for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at 12-1 NRNB, paying 1/5th odds, 3 places.
1 point each way Romeo Coolio at 16-1 for the Arkle Chase, paying 1/5th odds, 3 places. Non Runner.
1 point each way Mambonumberfive at 20-1 for the Arkle Chase, paying 1/5th odds, 3 places. Non Runner.
1 point each way Ammes at 9-1 BOG in the Juvenile Handicap Hurdle, paying 1/5th odds, 6 places.
1 point each way Konfusion at 20-1 for the Ultima Chase, paying ¼ odds, 4 places.
1 point each way Golden Ace at 16-1 for the Champion Hurdle, paying 1/5th odds, 3 places.
1 point each way Tutti Quanti at 20-1 NRNB for the Champion Hurdle, paying 1/5th odds, 3 places.
1 point each way Iceberg Theory at 11-2 BOG for the NH Novices’ Chase, paying 1/5th odds, 5 places.
1 point each way Grand Geste at 16-1 BOG for the NH Novices’ Chase, paying 1/5th odds, 5 places.
1 point each way Laurens Bay at 25-1 for the NH Novices’ Chase, paying ¼ odds, 4 places. Non Runner.
1 point each way Derryhassen Paddy at 25-1 for the Brown Advisory Chase, paying 1/5th odds, 3 places. Non Runner.
1 point each way La Conquiere at 16-1 for the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle, paying 1/5th odds, 3 places.
1 point each way Helnwein at 33-1 NRNB for the County Hurdle, paying ¼ odds, 4 places.
1 point each way Haiti Couleurs at 14-1 for the Cheltenham Gold Cup, paying 1/5th odds, 3 places.
1 point each way Resplendent Grey at 50-1 for the Grand National, paying ¼ odds, 4 places.
Last weekend + 3.3 points
1 point each way Cinquenta at 16-1 for the EBF Betfair “National Hunt” Novices’ Handicap Hurdle Final, paying 1/5th odds, 5 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Get On George at 33-1 for the EBF Betfair “National Hunt” Novices’ Handicap Hurdle Final, paying 1/5th odds, 5 places. 2nd. + 5.6 points.
2025-26 jumps season: running total – 4.485 points
2025 flat season: + 84.12 points on all tips.
2024-5 jumps season: – 47.61 points on all tips.
2024 flat season: + 41.4 points on all tips.
2023-4 jumps season: + 42.01 points on all tips.
2023 flat season: – 48.22 points on all tips.
2022-3 jumps season: + 54.3 points on all tips.
Total for six full seasons of tipping: + 126 points
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