The Cheltenham Festival is finally upon us after much recent scare due to the weather, coronavirus and the world being stunned by Man United looking like a half-decent side at last! Here at ODDSbible we've previewed all of the action with Paddy Power on Day 1 of what many call the 'Greatest Show On Turf' to give you some insight which should hopefully save you from listening to that 'national hunt expert' hanging by the water cooler all week.
Paddy Power are offering MONEY BACK as a free bet on ALL RACES on Day 1 of Cheltenham if your horse finishes 2nd, 3rd or 4th.
13:30 - Supreme Novices' Hurdle
The opening race of the meeting is an intriguing affair with plenty of contenders with big chances. Shishkin, Asterion Forlonge, Abacadabras and Chantry House all come into the race off of impressive wins but we're sweet on the chances of FIDDLERONTHEROOF.
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Colin Tizzard's charge won with ease in the Tolworth Hurdle at Sandown back in January and will relish the soft ground that's expected the first day of the festival whilst some of the others have question marks over their stamina.
ODDSbible Tip - Fiddlerontheroof 9/2
14:10 - Arkle Chase
Next up is the Arkle where the Irish hold strong chances with Notebook, Cash Back and FAKIR D'OUDAIRIES. Despite our selection having been beaten by Notebook this season we're confident that he'll reverse the form based on solid course form at Prestbury Park and a liking for the inevitably soft ground unlike his rivals.
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Brewin'upastorm is 2-2 over fences and ran well at The Festival last year but he's not raced since November and this is a huge step up in class so only worthy of an each-way punt.
ODDSbible Tip - Fakir D'Oudairies 4/1
14:50 - Ultima Handicap Chase
The third race of the day is an intriguing contest with VINNDICATION at the head of the market in a fiercely competitive renewal of the Ultima Handicap Chase. Kim Bailey's horse was victorious at Ascot back in November under a confident ride from jockey David Bass and we're backing him to follow up at Cheltenham.
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It certainly won't be an easy affair with many strong contenders, most notably Kildisart who has been prepped for this race and he's been running well enough since making his seasonal reappearance behind Lostintranslation at Carlisle and has been subsequently dropped 6lb by the handicapper.
ODDSbible Tip - Vinndication 11/2
15:30 - Champion Hurdle
The feature race on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival is the Champion Hurdle and this year's contest is one of the most wide-open affairs we've seen in some time. Last year's renewal was a fascinating one with 16/1 chance Espoir d'Allen, ridden by Mark Walsh and trained by Gavin Cromwell taking the prize after two-time winner Buveur d'Air fell at the third hurdle.
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The strongest form in this year's renewal surely comes from Nicky Henderson's charge EPATANTE who blew away her opposition in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton, showing a stunning turn of foot to put the race to bed. We're sweet on the mare's chances of following that up with another victory on Tuesday to take the lion's share of the £450,000 prize money on offer.
ODDSbible Tip - Epatante 3/1
16:10 - Mares' Hurdle
Next up is a fascinating clash between the sport's two supermares with BENIE DES DIEUX, looking to make amends after her dramatic fall at the final hurdle in last year's contest, coming up against Honeysuckle who has been in imperious form so far this season.
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Despite the worry of Benie's fall in 2019, she won the contest in 2018 when having her first run over hurdles for Willie Mullins and looked as good as ever in her prep run at Gowran Park back in January, taking the Galmoy Hurdle in a stunning 21-length victory.
ODDSbible Tip - Benie Des Dieux 4/7
16:50 - Northern Trust Company Novices Handicap Chase
The penultimate race of the day sees a wide-open contest with plenty of runners in with a chance of taking this handicap. The fact that useful horses such as Whatmore and Sensulano are only reserves is testament to the quality that this novices' handicap has attracted.
ESPOIR DE GUYE has impressed at Exeter & Ascot since finishing second to Simply the Betts at Chepstow and is our tentative choice for the race but we wouldn't be surprised to see a host of runners in with a chance in the final furlong.
ODDSbible Tip - Espoir De Guye 7/1
17:30 - National Hunt Chase
The final race on Day One is the one that will be run over the furthest distance with 3m6f the test for this group of chasers looking for a piece of the £125,000 purse. Willie Mullins and his son Patrick team up with the favourite Carefully Selected expected to go well.
LORD DU MESNIL looked sure to win the Grand National Trial at Haydock until reeled in close home but we're sticking with Richard Hobson's charge to hopefully cap off a profitable first day at the 2020 Cheltenham Festival.
ODDSbible Tip - Lord Du Mesnil 11/2
Paddy Power are offering MONEY BACK as a free bet on ALL RACES on Day 1 of Cheltenham if your horse finishes 2nd, 3rd or 4th.
