Cheltenham Festival Day 1 Ante-Post tips and accumulator
The Cheltenham Festival is now less than five weeks away and attention turns to the first day, the Tuesday, of the meeting which sees a multitude of strong favourites. Tom Lunn has gone through the cards, form, going and much more to help guide your horse racing betting choices. talksporttalkSPORT BET have you covered with Tom Lunn’s racing tips[/caption] talkSPORT BET – Bet £10 Get £30 free bets – CLAIM HERE* Tuesday sees seven races to kick off the 2025 Cheltenham Festival with the usual curtain raiser to the famous roar of racegoers occupying the grandstands and every available viewing post. The Supreme Novices’ Hurdle goes off first with a new big favourite who has impressed many on his second start over hurdles for trainer Willie Mullins. The Arkle also sees a big favourite early on and it would be no surprise if two massive favourites rally home to get punters off to a great start at the festival. At 3.20pm we have the Mares’ Hurdle race which could see a couple of contenders for the Champion Hurdle later in the day opt for this instead; Brighterdaysahead and Lossiemouth. The Champion Hurdle is no contest really, if Constitution Hill runs, he wins and will always justify the shortest price of the week if he needs to with that the feature race of the day. Cheltenham Festival Day 1 racing tips SUPREME NOVICES’ HURDLE1.20: Kopek Des Bordes 10/11 ARKLE2.00: Sir Gino 4/6 MARES HURDLE3.20: Brighterdaysahead 4/5 CHAMPION HURDLE4.00: Constitution Hill 1/2 Cheltenham Festival Tuesday Acca: Kopek Des Bordes, Sir Gino, Brighterdaysahead & Constitution Hill to win – 15/2 Kopek Des Bordes This five-year-old out of Willie Mullins yard is one of a few to really stand out this season as a potential future star and it’s no surprise he’s from the Irish trainer’s management. The gelding is unbeaten in all three starts under rules including two hurdle starts which started on December 26th and then justified that potential with a significant victory at Leopardstown in the Grade 1 Ireland Novice Hurdle on February 4th. It’s rare for a horse to go as short as this so early on for the Supreme as it’s a novices’ race there’s so many factors still to consider. What if some horses are just unexposed or haven’t quite figured things out yet? Well he’s much shorter than when Constitution Hill won the Supreme by a comfortable margin back in 2022 and that should paint some of a picture of how impressive a win it was last time. Beating Karniquet by 13 lengths going comfortably to win and that’s despite a few quirks and issues in the running, including being hampered slightly by a loose horse. He’s quite keen but the No Risk At All gelding should justify favouritism to kick off the festival the right way. Sir Gino The first day sees some great races but the one that really stands out early on is Sir Gino in the Arkle. The five-year-old is unbeaten from six races including his first chase start last time out when beating Ballyburn by over seven lengths at Kempton to land the Grade 2 Wayward Lad. He’s already rated 164 over fences based on his hurdle form and subsequent impressive form chasing, and makes clear appeal in a race that doesn’t look to have any notable challengers. The big questions are, will he go for the Champion Hurdle? Will he take on Constitution Hill or if the super star misses that race will the five-year-old take his place again? Tom Lunn’s Horse Racing P/L From November ’24: +64.2pts From May ’24: +218.15pts From July ’23: +430.71pts Brighterdaysahead Brighterdaysahead is a big gamble for the Mares’ Hurdle as she’s been backed in from 5/4 against to as short as 10/11 on. The six-year-old could have her work cut out for her against Lossiemouth who has shown massive potential and progression but has ultimately suggested she may not quite be at 100% this year, falling at Leopardstown really hampering her chances and odds at Cheltenham this year. That said, even if the two mares do go against each other in this mares’ hurdle rather than opt to come second at best in the Champion Hurdle, Brighterdaysahead is well-backed to beat the Rich Ricci-owned grey. The Gordon Elliott-trained horse is unbeaten in her last four outings dominating each hurdle race since her second place finish in the festival last year. She’s now beaten State Man at 9/4 and then Winter Fog by a staggering 30 lengths. She’s certainly got an engine and a very likeable quality that makes her want to win races and should justify the favouritism for what could be the third of the day at some short odds. Constitution Hill Constitution Hill is going to be a legend of the sport and is already a super star having gone unbeaten in all of his 11 hurdle races. He’s always comfortable winning the toughest races and has gone on to prove himself time and time again. Many thought in 2023 he’d have his main competitor in State Man, but t
The Cheltenham Festival is now less than five weeks away and attention turns to the first day, the Tuesday, of the meeting which sees a multitude of strong favourites.
Tom Lunn has gone through the cards, form, going and much more to help guide your horse racing betting choices.
talkSPORT BET – Bet £10 Get £30 free bets – CLAIM HERE*
Tuesday sees seven races to kick off the 2025 Cheltenham Festival with the usual curtain raiser to the famous roar of racegoers occupying the grandstands and every available viewing post.
The Supreme Novices’ Hurdle goes off first with a new big favourite who has impressed many on his second start over hurdles for trainer Willie Mullins.
The Arkle also sees a big favourite early on and it would be no surprise if two massive favourites rally home to get punters off to a great start at the festival.
At 3.20pm we have the Mares’ Hurdle race which could see a couple of contenders for the Champion Hurdle later in the day opt for this instead; Brighterdaysahead and Lossiemouth.
The Champion Hurdle is no contest really, if Constitution Hill runs, he wins and will always justify the shortest price of the week if he needs to with that the feature race of the day.
Cheltenham Festival Day 1 racing tips
- SUPREME NOVICES’ HURDLE
1.20: Kopek Des Bordes 10/11 - ARKLE
2.00: Sir Gino 4/6 - MARES HURDLE
3.20: Brighterdaysahead 4/5 - CHAMPION HURDLE
4.00: Constitution Hill 1/2
Cheltenham Festival Tuesday Acca: Kopek Des Bordes, Sir Gino, Brighterdaysahead & Constitution Hill to win – 15/2
Kopek Des Bordes
This five-year-old out of Willie Mullins yard is one of a few to really stand out this season as a potential future star and it’s no surprise he’s from the Irish trainer’s management.
The gelding is unbeaten in all three starts under rules including two hurdle starts which started on December 26th and then justified that potential with a significant victory at Leopardstown in the Grade 1 Ireland Novice Hurdle on February 4th.
It’s rare for a horse to go as short as this so early on for the Supreme as it’s a novices’ race there’s so many factors still to consider.
What if some horses are just unexposed or haven’t quite figured things out yet?
Well he’s much shorter than when Constitution Hill won the Supreme by a comfortable margin back in 2022 and that should paint some of a picture of how impressive a win it was last time.
Beating Karniquet by 13 lengths going comfortably to win and that’s despite a few quirks and issues in the running, including being hampered slightly by a loose horse.
He’s quite keen but the No Risk At All gelding should justify favouritism to kick off the festival the right way.
Sir Gino
The first day sees some great races but the one that really stands out early on is Sir Gino in the Arkle.
The five-year-old is unbeaten from six races including his first chase start last time out when beating Ballyburn by over seven lengths at Kempton to land the Grade 2 Wayward Lad.
He’s already rated 164 over fences based on his hurdle form and subsequent impressive form chasing, and makes clear appeal in a race that doesn’t look to have any notable challengers.
The big questions are, will he go for the Champion Hurdle? Will he take on Constitution Hill or if the super star misses that race will the five-year-old take his place again?
Tom Lunn’s Horse Racing P/L
- From November ’24: +64.2pts
- From May ’24: +218.15pts
- From July ’23: +430.71pts
Brighterdaysahead
Brighterdaysahead is a big gamble for the Mares’ Hurdle as she’s been backed in from 5/4 against to as short as 10/11 on.
The six-year-old could have her work cut out for her against Lossiemouth who has shown massive potential and progression but has ultimately suggested she may not quite be at 100% this year, falling at Leopardstown really hampering her chances and odds at Cheltenham this year.
That said, even if the two mares do go against each other in this mares’ hurdle rather than opt to come second at best in the Champion Hurdle, Brighterdaysahead is well-backed to beat the Rich Ricci-owned grey.
The Gordon Elliott-trained horse is unbeaten in her last four outings dominating each hurdle race since her second place finish in the festival last year.
She’s now beaten State Man at 9/4 and then Winter Fog by a staggering 30 lengths.
She’s certainly got an engine and a very likeable quality that makes her want to win races and should justify the favouritism for what could be the third of the day at some short odds.
Constitution Hill
Constitution Hill is going to be a legend of the sport and is already a super star having gone unbeaten in all of his 11 hurdle races.
He’s always comfortable winning the toughest races and has gone on to prove himself time and time again.
Many thought in 2023 he’d have his main competitor in State Man, but the Nicky Henderson-trained horse saw him off comfortably going on to win by nine lengths.
It’s rare in horse racing you get spoiled by a horse where you can just guess the distance he’ll win by rather than if they will win.
All odds correct at time of writing
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