You may recall a little while back we looked at some of the key dates coming up for horse racing fans and one of those dates was the Cheltenham Festival.
Well, there’s no need to wonder about who will win at this massively popular event, as tomorrow will see the first of four fantastic days of jump racing, including two huge races in the form of the Arkle Chase and the Champion Hurdle.
Bet365 Sport had a number of ante-post offers for the festival and they are also offering a wide range of bets on the races, as you would expect and all odds shown in this article come from the site, but may have changed in the meantime.
Let’s begin. By taking a look ahead at the full schedule for the four days of racing.
Cheltenham Festival Schedule
Tuesday 15th March – Champion Day
- 1.30pm – Supreme Novices’ Hurdle
- 2.10pm – The Arkle Challenge Trophy
- 2.50pm – The Ultima Handicap Chase
- 3.30pm – The Champion Hurdle
- 4.10pm – The Mares’ Hurdle
- 4.50pm – The National Hunt Challenge Cup Chase
- 5.30pm – The Novices’ Handicap Chase
Wednesday 16th March – Ladies Day
- 1.30pm – The Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle
- 2.10pm – The RSA Insurance Novices’ Steeple Chase
- 2.50pm – The Coral Cup
- 3.30pm – The Queen Mother Champion Chase
- 4.10pm – The Glenfarclas Handicap Chase
- 4.50pm – The Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle
- 5.30pm – The Weatherby’s Champion Bumper
Thursday 17th March – St Patrick’s Day
- 1.30pm – The JLT Novices Chase
- 2.10pm – The Pertemps Network Final
- 2.50pm – The Ryanair Chase
- 3.30pm – The Stayers’ Hurdle
- 4.10pm – The Brown Advisory And Merribelle Stable Plate
- 4.50pm – The Trull House Stud Mares Novices’ Hurdle
- 5.30pm – The Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup
Friday 18th March – Cheltenham Gold Cup Day
- 1.30pm – JCB Triumph Hurdle
- 2.10pm – The Randox Health County Handicap Hurdle
- 2.50pm – The Albert Bartlett Novices’ Chase
- 3.30pm – The Cheltenham Gold Cup
- 4.10pm – The St James’ Palace Foxhunter Steeple Chase
- 4.50pm – The Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Chase
- 5.30pm – The Martin Pipe Conditional Jockey’s Handicap Hurdle
Check back to this article each day of the festival for more previews and tips for all the races above as we will be updating the article each day from Monday through to Thursday to ensure we get the best value prices and latest odds on one of the best horseracing meets of the year.
And if you are enjoying a wager on the festival, good luck to you!
Check out our tips below for each of the days of racing.
Cheltenham Festival Tips
Day One – Tuesday 15th March – Champion Day
- 1.30pm – Supreme Novices’ Hurdle
9-runners have declared for this race which looks to be a very open one. Kilcruit, Jonbon and Dysart Dynamo are the front runners with the bookmakers, but there is also a lot of interest in the 5/2 chance Constitution Hill.
This looks like being a keenly contested opener to the festival and we have seen some longer odds winners over the years but for me, Dysart Dynamo is the favourite to land the win here for a good reason after winning all four of its races in 2021 and 2022. If the ground stays on the softer side, then I think he is the one to back here.
Our Tip – Dysart Dynamo – 9/4 favourite.
- 2.10pm – The Arkle Challenge Trophy
The first of the huge races at the festival sees 11 runners declared for the race and amongst them is the favourite Edwardstone at 11/4, which has won all four of its most recent races.
Riviere D’etel has his supporters after finishing a narrow second to Blue Lord at Leopardstown in February but with Blue Lord in this race, in which it fell last year in the same race at the last fence, this should be a very keenly contested race, but my money is on Edwardstone landing the win.
Our Tip – Edwardstone – 11/4 favourite – WINNER!
- 2.50pm – The Ultima Handicap Chase
A large field of 24 will go for the Ultima Handicap Chase title this year and there are some great value options here. Floueur is the 8/1 joint favourite with Does He Know but in truth any of Frodon, Ben Dundee, Noble Yeats, Tea Clipper, Death Duty, Fastastikas, Corach Rambler, Our Power and Gericault Rogue could count themselves as being in with a great chance.
Given such a wealth of options here, and the relatively longer odds, I’d make this bet an each way one and I think in that case, with bet365 offering up to 6 places on each way bet (7 on enhanced each way bets for this race), I’d perhaps make a surprising selection here. Rapper is 40/1 but has finished second and first twice in its last three races, all of 3m or over.
Our Tip – Rapper (Each Way) – 40/1
- 3.30pm – The Champion Hurdle
For me, the easiest race of the day to tip. There’s some great horses running in this race as you would expect, Appreciate It, Teahupoo and Epatante all have their favourites, while Tommy’s Oscar has won all its last four.
However, Honeysuckle, who won this race last year, is a class apart and having won all 11 races, Rachel Blackmore should have a great chance of landing another Cheltenham Winner on this fantastic Henry De Bromhead ride.
Our Tip – Honeysuckle (Nap) – 8/13 favourite – WINNER!
- 4.10pm – The Mares’ Hurdle
Barring any late non-runners, 12 will go to post in the Mares’ Hurdle in what is a high quality field. Telmesomethinggirl (10/3) and Queens Brook (4/1) are battling to start the race as favourites and if Honeysuckle wins the previous race expect the De Bromhead/Blackmore partnership on Telmesomethingirl to start the race as favourite.
For me though, I think there are so,e other interesting options in this race and my money is going on a longer odds option, Martello Sky who has won four of his five runs since April 2021, including two Class 1 victories and at 16/1, I think that is a great value bet.
Our Tip – Martello Sky – 16/1
- 4.50pm – The National Hunt Challenge Cup Chase
Another big field of 22 runners should start this race barring late withdrawals in what is another very open contest. Gaelic Warrior is the very short 5/2 favourite for the race, but in truth, I can’t see too much to back that up, other than it is a Willie Mullins horse and he has a fantastic record at Cheltenham over the years.
My gut feeling here though is for Champion Green, trained by JP O’Brien and ridden by Rachael Blackmore, who has improved a lot after pulling up at Punchestown in January, to race and win 13 days later at Naas.
Our Tip – Champion Green – 12/1
- 5.30pm – The Novices’ Handicap Chase
With Ontheropes a non-runner, just six horses will compete in the final race of the opening day ad this is a race where I feel there is a clear battle between the two class horses in the field. Run Wild Fred will start probably as the slight favourite, but Stattler is likely to provide stiff competition.
I think the other four horses will be battling it out for the minor places and I think Willie Mullins may be celebrating another winner here.
Our Tip – Stattler – 9/4 – WINNER!
Day Two – Wednesday 16th March – Ladies Day
- 1.30pm – The Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle
Nine runners will contest the Ballymore, but for me this should be a question of by how much Sir Gerhard wins the race. Willie Mullins charge has won both its last outings and four of its last five races and is the quality option in this race.
Journey With Me looks like being a main challenger along with Stage Star and Three Stripe Life, but for me, this is Sir Gerhard’s race to lose.
Our Tip – Sir Gerhard – 8/11 fav. – WINNER !
- 2.10pm – The RSA Insurance Novices’ Steeple Chase
There’s an 11-strong field for the RSA Insurance Novices’ Steeple Chase and this looks like being a very open race indeed. I’d expect Bravemansgame or L’Homme Presse to start the race as the favourite, but Ahoy Senor and Capodanno will also provide good options for punters.
Farouk D’Alene is also running in this race and at 18/1, is well worth considering for an each way punt, and with so many good quality horses in this race with plenty of wins, picking a winner is tough, but based on recent form I am going to go with L’Homme Presse to land the win.
Our Tip – L’Homme Presse – 7/2 – WINNER !
- 2.50pm – The Coral Cup
One of the biggest fields of the meet will contest the Coral Cup with 26 runners declared for the race. This is another very open contest with Drop The Anchor, Camprond and Saint Felicien well-fancied in the early betting markets.
However, with a huge number of horses in the 10/1 – 50/1 price range I have a feeling that this one could be very close indeed and I think Gowel Road is well worth considering here as he’s improved in his last two races and is very nicely priced.
Our Tip – Gowel Road – 12/1.
- 3.30pm – The Queen Mother Champion Chase
The biggest and richest race of the day is the Queen Mother Champion Chase and this is another ace where I feel there is a very obvious selection. While Chacun Pour Soi and Energumene have their backers and Nuba Negra may be a longer odds option, I can’t see anyone bettering Shishkin.
Nicky Henderson knows how to produce Champion Chasers with the likes of Sprinter Sacre and Altior on his CV and Shishkin is cut from the same cloth. Energumene will push him hard, but I think Shishkin lands the big one.
Our Tip – Shishkin (Nap) – 10/11 fav
- 4.10pm – The Glenfarclas Handicap Chase
Double Grand National Champion Tiger Roll is the big name going in the Glenfarclas this year and Gordon Elliott’s famous horse will start the race as the clear favourite. However, after two less than impressive outings so far this season, is this short price more in hope than belief?
Others to watch here include Diesel D’Allier, Delta Work, Prengarde, Shady Operator and Easysland. This is a tough race to pick and while Tiger Roll is the big name here, I can’t really back him with any great faith as I feel there is a better option in Diesel D’Alllier but back the horse each way here.
Our Tip – Diesel D’Allier – 16/1 (each way) – WINNER!
- 4.50pm – The Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle
The Boodles Juvenile should be an outstanding race and there are a number of very talented horses going in this very evenly contested race. In my view, picking a winner in this race is as close to a lottery pick as it gets!
Buddy Rich’s consistent form is eye catching but at 7/1, he is a bit short in value for me.Better value is Editor Du Gite, who apart from unseating their rider in one race, has won the other four. Elixir De Nutz has won its last two while Amarillo Sky has came back from a fall to win its last race. This is going to be very close and we could well see a longer odds winner here.
Our Tip – Elixir De Nutz – 18/1
- 5.30pm – The Weatherby’s Champion Bumper
The Champion Bumper ends the day and it is another very keenly contested race, although Willie Mullins has Facile Vega and Redemption Day both going in the race and both look to have a great chance for the Irish training legend.
Gordon Elliott’s American Mike has great form, winning its last three races and this horse looks like being the main challenger to the Mullins duo, but an Irish win on the eve of St Patrick’s Day is a nice way to end Wednesday and that’s what I’m going for here.
Our Tip – Facile Vega – 11/8 Fav – WINNER!
Check back tomorrow for our Day Three tips below.
Day Three – Thursday 17th March – St Patrick’s Day
- 1.30pm – The JLT Novices Chase
There’s just four runners in the opening race of the day and in truth, it looks like a straight choice between Galopin Des Champs and Bob Olinger, with El Barra (20/1) and Busselton (33/1) very much the outside bets here.
I mean we could have fallers that would ruin the chances of the two favourites, but I can’t see that and I am just backing Bob Olinger to be the one that gets the result here, although in truth it is a coin toss between the two as they look so well matched.
Our Tip – Bob Olinger – Evens
- 2.10pm – The Pertemps Network Final
There’s 24 set to go to the starting post in the Pertemps on Thursday and my big outside bet of the meeting was going to be Kansas City Chief, who is a 33/1 chance but who has excellent form this season and I felt was a very solid each way bet.
However, after a win at Plumpton, he now carries a 5lb handicap and I think that may just rule him out of contention here, although I still feel he’s a class horse, even as the oldest in the race by at least two years.
With the demands of Cheltenham I think Gordon Elliott’s Tullybeg is the one to back here, albeit each way.
Our Tip – Tullybeg (Each Way) – 14/1.
- 2.50pm – The Ryanair Chase
As you would expect, there are some fantastic horses competing in the Ryanair Chase this year but for me, Allaho is the outstanding selection here and in truth, it was the horse I felt (along with Honeysuckle) that stood the best chance of winning in the entire festival.
Willie Mullins is a past master at getting his horses in perfect shape for Cheltenham and Allaho has bounced back from a second place at the start of the year to register two wins in a row and he’s the class act here, with Conflated, Eldorado Allen, Janidil and Shan Blue as those likely to offer most resistance.
Our Tip – Allaho (Nap) – 4/6
- 3.30pm – The Stayers’ Hurdle
There are some very intriguing prospects in the Stayers this year, with Champ, Flooring Porter, Klassical Dream, Thyme Hill, Roual Kahala and Paisley Park all very much in the reckoning in what is a very open race.
You can make a convincing case for and against any of those horses here, but looking at the form and given how well Paisley Park ran last time out at Cheltenham a couple of months ago, when despite a poor start he still beat Champ to win, I am going for the 2019 winner to land a second win here.
Our Tip – Paisley Park – 13/2
- 4.10pm – The Brown Advisory And Merribelle Stable Plate
Perhaps the most open race of the day and certainly one of the most competitive of the entire festival, the 22 runners in this race will all feel that if they can run well then they may well be in with a chance here. Celebre D’Allen, The Glancing Queen, Grand Paradis and Imperial Alcazar are all the shortest priced options and any could be favourite come the start of the race.
However since being fitted with blinkers, Adrimel has won twice at Haydock, admittedly in smaller events than this, but if the ground is to his liking, then I think at 25/1, he is a great value each way option at the very least.
Our Tip – Adrimel (Each Way) – 25/1
- 4.50pm – The Trull House Stud Mares Novices’ Hurdle
Willie Mullins has seven runners in this race and of those horses, Brandy Love and Dinoblue look to be amongst the main contenders here alongside Party Central (trained by Gordon Elliott) and Impervious trained by Colm Murphy.
It is hard to see this going to anyone other than a Willie Mullins mount here though and while Brandy Love may be the favourite at the moment, I think Dinoblue is going to be a great horse and I am backing the five year old to land the win here.
Our Tip – Dinoblue – 5/2
- 5.30pm – The Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup
25 runners are declared for the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Cup with Frontal Assault the favourite heading into the race. The Gordon Elliott trained 7 year old is the top weight but with the ground likely to ease over the week, he is a good value bet at the 4/1 price he is currently at.
However, I am going to go for Lord Accord here. The 25/1 chance has finished no worse than third in every run this season, winning three and his third place came on soft ground. On improving ground at Cheltenham this week, I think he stands a great chance as an each way bet.
Our Tip – Lord Accord (each way) – 25/1
Day Four – Friday 18th March – Cheltenham Gold Cup Day
- 1.30pm – JCB Triumph Hurdle
The JCB Triumph Hurdle features three solid entries from Willie Millins with Vauban likely to be the favourite to win the race. Pied Piper will likely be his closest challenger with the Gordon Elliot trained horse winning both races this season.
Fil Dor is another option here, as is Icare Allen, Porticello and Il Etait Temps, but for me, I think Vauban will bring home the win for Mullins and Townend.
Our Tip – Vauban – 2/1
- 2.10pm – The Randox Health County Handicap Hurdle
28 go to the starting post in what shou;d be an intriguing and very interesting Handicap Hurdle over just over 2 miles. Willie Mullins’ State Man will start the favourite here, but in truth this is a very open race and you could make a case for several other runners in the field.
West Cork is one of the lower priced options, along with Colonel Mustard and Top Bandit, but my bet for this race is an each way punt on the improving Cormier who has won over the course and distance in the past and has won both his last two races.
Our Tip – Cormier (each way) – 18/1
- 2.50pm – The Albert Bartlett Novices’ Chase
19 Run in the Albert Bartlett in what should be a very interesting match up between Ginto and Hillcrest. They appear to be the class acts in the field this year and both are strongly fancied.
However, looking at the field, I think this is a race where we could see one of the longer odds options make a name for themselves, if not by winning the race then certainly finishing in the places and of those longer odds options, Mahler Mission is one that I think has a great chance on this softer ground.
Our Tip – Mahler Mission (each way) – 33/1
- 3.30pm – The Cheltenham Gold Cup
The signature race of the meeting sees a number of fantastic options in the 11-strong field. A Plus Tard and Galvin will likely battle it out as favourites, but you can’t rule out Al Boum Photo, Asterion Forlong, Chantry House, Minella Indo, Protektorat, Royale Pagalle or Tornado Flyer in my view.
However, with the ground likely to be soft or heavy in places, I think that will change this race and instead of speed, I think staying power is key and I think of the field, Royale Pagaille will be most pleased at the rain this week and he’s the one I’m backing here.
Our Tip – Royal Pagaille – 10/1
- 4.10pm – The St James’ Palace Foxhunter Steeple Chase
A high quality field of 20 will line up for the Foxhunter Chase with the runner up the last two years, Bilaway amongst the favourites for the race. He’ll face tough competition from the likes of Bob and Co, Dubai Quest, Pont Aven and Winged Leader.
There are some very good horses at longer odds in this race, with solid form, but a lack of racing against quality opponents means punters seem a bit shy of backing them for this step up in class. As such, for me a proven horse is always a good bet here and I like the look of Senor Lombardy as a very nice 50/1 each way option who has won on this course and at this distance previously.
Our Tip – Senor Lombardy (each way) – 50/1
- 4.50pm – The Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Chase
Eight runners will contest the Johnny Henderson Chase and it does appear to be a three-way decision between Concertista, Mount Ida and Elimay. All three have rock solid credentials, as most runners in this race have, but they look the class acts in the field.
Looking at the trio, there’s little to choose between them and while Mount Ida will probably start the race as favourite, I am backing Concertista to pick up the win here, chiefly because she has better form on heavier ground than her opponents.
Our Tip – Concertista – 3/1
- 5.30pm – The Martin Pipe Conditional Jockey’s Handicap Hurdle
The final race of the festival will see a wide open race with 26 declared for the race. There are a number of contenders including favourite Langer Den, plus the likes of Chemical Energy, I A Connect, The Goffer, Adamantly Chosen and Banbridge.
This is a very open race and is always keenly contested however my money is on Adamantly Chosen to continue the good form he showed last season.
Our Tip – Adamantly Chosen – 7/1
Tags: bet365 Sport Cheltenham Festival
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