Adrian Mills’ selections for the first day of the 2025 Cheltenham Festival include a star mare to beat Constitution Hill in the Champion Hurdle.
The Cheltenham Festival is finally here and we provide selections for every race on the opening day of the meeting.
Tuesday’s card will feature four short-priced favourites with Kopek Des Bordes in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, Majborough in the Arkle, Lossiemouth in the Mares’ Hurdle, Constitution Hill in the Champion Hurdle, while the three handicap races will offer some intriguing Cheltenham Festival betting opportunities.
For more Cheltenham tips, check out Richard Hoiles’ best bets for Day 1 and read our ultimate Cheltenham guide for everything you need to know about the Festival.
Cheltenham Festival Day 1 tips
13:20 – Supreme Novices’ Hurdle
Kopek Des Bordes has the strongest form in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, but the occasion may get to him given his buzzy nature. Preference at the prices is for WORKAHEAD 11/2 , who ran an almost identical time to Kopek Des Bordes over Christmas in the other maiden hurdle on that Leopardstown card despite carrying 8lb more. He is more of the finished article.
14:00 – Arkle Chase
Majborough’s jumping is a concern in the Arkle and perhaps JANGO BAIE 7/1 can spring a surprise for Nicky Henderson. He steps in off the subs’ bench for absent stablemate Sir Gino, but has made an excellent transition to chasing and should have the speed to cope with this drop in trip. He has never finished out of the first two and has an engine.
14:40 – Ultima Handicap Chase
WHISTLE STOP TOUR 11/1 appears to have been laid out for a crack at the Ultima. Lucinda Russell has landed this twice in recent years with Corach Rambler and Whistle Stop Tour can enhance the good record of novices in the handicaps at Cheltenham. He caught the eye over a trip that was too sharp in the novice handicap on festival trials day.
15:20 – Mares’ Hurdle
Lossiemouth is rerouted to the Mares’ Hurdle and that suggests she may not be firing on all cylinders. She took a nasty fall at the Dublin Racing Festival and perhaps KALA CONTI 11/1 can cause an upset. Last season’s four-year-olds were a strong bunch and Kala Conti, who has been kept fresh for the meeting, has untapped potential over this longer trip.
16:00 – Champion Hurdle
It remains to be seen whether Constitution Hill is the force of old and a return to his 2023 levels is needed to repel a thriving BRIGHTERDAYSAHEAD 15/8 in the Champion Hurdle. She produced a world-class performance at Leopardstown last time and mares have a decent record in this race with their 7lb allowance.
16:40 – Fred Winter Hurdle
East India Dock is widely regarded as the season’s best juvenile and STENCIL 7/2 can frank the form of the Triumph Hurdle favourite in the Fred Winter. The French raider was the only one to get anywhere near East India Dock in the Grade 2 on festival trials day and, as a son of Derby winner Masar, may even step forward for a faster surface on his handicap debut.
17:20 – National Hunt Chase
The stars could be aligning for TRANSMISSION 9/2 in the National Hunt Chase. He can draw upon a wealth of positive course experience from his four starts this season and this strong stayer should be well at home in a stamina-sapping race like this. With the prospect of more to come in marathon chases, he gets the vote with Patrick Mullins back on board.