Four Days of top-class racing awaits, as the 2025 Cheltenham Festival kicks off. I’ve given my through-the-card selections for the opening day – hopefully there’s a few winners in here!
1:20pm – Michael O’Sullivan Supreme Novices’ Hurdle
Punters can get off to the perfect start with the favourite KOPEK DES BORDES in the opener. Willie Mullins’ star was so impressive when winning at the Dublin Racing Festival last month, and providing the atmosphere doesn’t get to him, he should take the world of beating. Henry De Bromhead’s Workahead could be his biggest danger, having comfortably beaten William Munny on his last start.
TIP – KOPEK DES BORDES
2:00pm – My Pension Expert Arkle Novices’ Chase
The bookies could be in trouble early doors on Tuesday, with short-priced favourite MAJBOROUGH looking the one to side with in the Arkle. Eight of the last ten winners have been sent off as favourites, and Majborough has looked a natural over fences so far, winning both races comfortably. His performance at Leopardstown last month was electric and it’s hard to see any of his rivals being able to go with him when Paul Townend pushes the button.
TIP – MAJBOROUGH
2:40pm – Ultima Handicap Chase
Course experience has proved vital in the Ultima in recent years – each of the last 12 winners had previously raced at Cheltenham, with seven of those winning there. With that in mind, Nigel Twiston-Davies’ BROADWAY BOY has to have a big chance. The seven-year-old has a fantastic 121134 record at Cheltenham, never finishing outside the top three when focusing on the old course (record of 213), so he has course experience in abundance. A runner-up effort in the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury earlier this season proved his class this year and he can hopefully run a big race.
TIP – BROADWAY BOY
3:20pm – Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle
Last year’s winner LOSSIEMOUTH should take all the beating in this years renewal. His two defeats since winning this last year saw her finish a close runner-up behind the monstrous Constitution Hill at Kempton, before falling when going well in the Irish Champion Hurdle. Providing she is none the worse for that fall, she should be winning this nicely.
For each way purposes, I think Take No Chances can run well for the Skelton’s, having finished a neck behind Joyeuse at Newbury two starts ago – off level weights, she should be able to reverse that form.
TIP – LOSSIEMOUTH
4:00pm – Unibet Champion Hurdle
Having missed the chance to retain his crown last year through injury, CONSTITUTION HILL has proved he retains all his ability and should be able to reclaim his Champion Hurdle trophy this year. He might not have hit the same heights this year as he has previously, but he hasn’t needed to, and I’m confident he will have the beating of Brighterdaysahead, who looks to be the major danger to him. It should be a cracking race to watch!
TIP – CONSTITUTION HILL
4:40pm – Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle
There’s a few horses I like in here at big odds, but the one who I feel has the best chance is SLURRICANE, who looks massively overpriced in my opinion. The form of his last two races ties in nicely with a lot of those towards the head of the betting and trainer Ross O’Sullivan has been bullish about his chances, stating “I wouldn’t swap him for any other horse in the race”. I’m hoping he can run well at a huge price ahead of the likes of Sony Bill and Quantock Hills, who are the two others I liked.
TIP – SLURRICANE
5:20pm – National Hunt Chase
Patrick Mullins has won two of the last three renewals, and although the race is now opened up to professional jockeys, I still think it could be worth siding with him to ride another winner, this time on board TRANSMISSION. After finishing runner-up behind Haiti Couleurs at Cheltenham in December, the 4lbs swing in the weights and step up in trip should hopefully be enough to reverse that form.
TIP – TRANSMISSION
DAY 1 TIPS
1:20PM – KOPEK DES BORDES
2:00PM – MAJBOROUGH
2:40PM – BROADWAY BOY
3:20PM – LOSSIEMOUTH
4:00PM – CONSTITUTION HILL
4:40PM – SLURRICANE
5:20PM – TRANSMISSION
wRacing Club is set to have our first-ever Cheltenham Festival runner, as WENDIGO lines up in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle on Friday. A limited number of shares are still available – become an owner in a Cheltenham Festival runner for just £75 HERE.
