Cheltenham Festival 2023: Day 1 tips and best bets including Champion Hurdle
of Cheltenham Festival We’re back on Tuesday to focus on the Unibet Champions Hurdle, the marquee race on the first day of the conference.
Constitution Hill is set to start as one of the lowest priced favorites in the history of racing as Nicky Henderson seeks record success in the ninth Championship Hurdle.
Here, Telegraph Sport provides a complete guide to the races and a breakdown of the remaining six races on the day one card.
When does the Cheltenham Festival start?
This year’s race is Friday March 17th at 3:30pm.
What TV channel will the race be on?
ITV will have a live coverage led by Ed Chamberlin. Alternatively, you can bookmark this page and come back in the day to follow the race on his dedicated live blog.
What’s the latest news from Cheltenham?
Epatante and Theater Glory, both trained by Nicky Henderson, were supplemented for the Close Brothers Mares hurdles. This was headline news when his six-day entry was announced for the opening day of the festival.
16 times due to field potential including two Champion Hurdle winners in Honeysuckle and Epatante (both remaining champions), last year’s winner Maryse Rock (still has a Stayers option) and some rising stars In a row or the race seems to be the hottest ever.
Theater Glory is owned by Canter Banter Racing, a syndicate founded by Henderson’s co-headler Katie Croft and her partner Dave Fehily. “Most of them had never had contact with a horse, let alone owned a racehorse,” says Croft, who rides Theater Glory every day, of the 20 syndicate members.
“We’ve replenished, so she’ll run regardless, but she’ll prefer good ground. She’s in great shape.”
Canter Banter take the winner at Newbury – Spring Note – and Croft welcome their newly purchased Irish point-to-pointer, Either. Twelve of his stocks are available for mares.
Cheltenham Festival 2022 First Day Tips
1:30 PM: Sky Bet Supreme Beginner Hurdle
This race has been dominated by Willie Mullins for the past decade. There are good reasons to think it will continue this year. Facil Vega, the Mullins No. 1, is a hot favorite, but he needs to prove that his last downfall in Punchestown was just an anomaly. His biggest challenger appears to be his Marine Nationale, who remains undefeated after his four starts under the rules, including a Grade 1 Royal Bond win at Fairyhouse. Il Etait Temps and Gaelic Warrior also need strong consideration, as did Tahmuras, who trained with Paul Nicholls, who won Grade 1 at Sandown in January.
Best Bet: Facile Vega 9/4F
2.10pm Sporting Life Arkle
The general sentiment here is that it’s a match between El Fabiolo and Jongbon. The pair met last season at Aintree over the hurdles, with Jongbon winning by a neck. Both have since transitioned seamlessly to the fence and he has won three races, each in Grade 1 over large obstacles. Mullins-trained El Fabiolo has been a favorite so far, and he could be cut even shorter if Mullins picks up a convincing winner in the opening round. Dysart Dynamo is another Mullins candidate to consider, but the likes of Banbridge, Final Orders and Saint Roi don’t yet have the form to plague the top two in the market.
Best bet: Jongbong 13/8
