Cheltenham Festival: day one

The best of our Tuesday selections

We’re here, day one of the Cheltenham Festival and we have an incredible few days of horse racing ahead. Click here to bet on all the action, or read on as we put forward our best bet in each of Tuesday’s seven races.

1.30pm – Supreme Novices’ Hurdle

Nicky Henderson’s River Wylde gets the gold star to get us off to a flyer. The five-year-old gelding arrives at course with confidence to burn, claiming three wins on the bounce at Ludlow x2 and, most recently, Kempton. He won the Dovecote Novices’ Hurdle last time, and done so in impressive fashion, staying on strongly at the finish. Past efforts suggest he will love the pace this should be run at. 6/1 shot at present with Coral.

2.10pm – Arkle Chase

Another thumbs up for Nicky Henderson and we make Altior the winner of this race. He has done nothing but impress over fences so far, and was seen leading home a talented field at Newbury last month to bank the grade two Betfair Exchange Chase, trailing Fox Norton home by a comfortable margin. Looking for a 10^th win in-a-row, and should get it at a short-price.

2.50pm – Ultima Handicap Chase

An ultra-competitive field – the betting would certainly agree – but we’re giving preference to Noble Endeavor, who goes as 15/2 joint-favourite with Singlefarmpayment at the time of asking. The selection goes for Gordon Elliott, a trainer it pays to keep close at the minute. There’s not a lot to separate much of this list, but Noble Endeavor was runner-up at the festival a couple of years ago, beaten a head by Killultagh Vic. Looks worth another go.

3.30pm – Champion Hurdle

I can’t see past Yanworth in this year’s Champion Hurdle, and it has been like that for some time now. Trainer Alan King holds a strong hand in this race, but the six-year-old gelding arrives in breath-taking form. He is a class horse but has that fight about him when things get serious, and they will certainly get serious here. Boasts seven wins from eight starts over hurdles. Too good to overlook at 11/4.