Cheltenham Festival Day 1 Tips

Day 1 of the 2025 Cheltenham Festival will take place on Tuesday 11th March. It’s set to be a fabulous day’s racing with the likes of the Champion Hurdle, Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and Arkle Challenge Trophy all taking place on day one. You can check out all the Cheltenham Festival Day 1 Tips from our plethora of tipsters here. 

GG Weekend Watch Day 1 2024

Cheltenham Festival Day 1 Tips

These tips highlight key contenders based on form and previous performances leading up to the Cheltenham Festival 2024.

Andrew Mount’s Day 1 Tips

Andrew has always been more focused on finding value from a wealth of stats than sticking blindly to the top of the market. His strongest fancy of the day is Ashroe Diamond in the Mares’ Hurdle at 4.10pm, while he has two each-way selections for the feature race, the Champion Hurdle.

That pair are Nemean Lion and Colonel Mustard who were first and second at Wincanton last time. With eight runners, only one of them would require a top three finish for you and he to return in profit.

Matty Sutcliffe’s Day 1 Tips

Matty Sutcliffe’s NAP of the day comes in the Ultima Handicap Chase courtesy of top-weight Eldorado Allen for Joe Tizzard. The grey is the class horse in the race having previously contested Grade 1 feature races at the Festival in the Ryanair Chase and Cheltenham Gold Cup. He also believes Zarak The Brave can make the frame in the Champion Hurdle against stablemate State Man.

Dave Young’s Day 1 Tips

Dave’s selections were all provided ante-post or during the Cheltenham Festival Weekend Watch videos. He is particularly keen on Matata as a horse who could cause an upset in the Arkle at 2.10pm, while he also has two each-way fancies in both the Mares’ Hurdle and Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (4.50pm).

Steve Chambers’ Day 1 Tips

Steve is keeping it simple in the big races, but believes one of the handicap masters can come to the fore in the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle in race six on the card. Both Milan Tino and Nara are owned by JP McManus, who loves a winner at the Cheltenham Festival, with the pair representing the chances of France and Ireland respectively.

Joe Napier’s Day 1 Tips

Joe is also certain that no shocks will be caused in the Champion Hurdle or Mares’ Hurdle, but is keen on Jeriko Du Reponet to upset the Irish contingent, and bely Nicky Henderson’s stable form, in the opening race, the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at 1.30pm.

Our Team’s Ante-Post Selections

Date	Time	Race	Dave Young Tips	Matty Sutcliffe Tips
12/3/24	13:30	Supreme Novices’ Hurdle	It’s For Me (10/1 AP) Read More Ballyburn (5/2) GG Weekend Watch	Jango Baie (33/1 AP) Read More
12/3/24	14:10	Arkle Challenge Trophy	Facile Vega (9/2 AP) Read More Matata (25/1) GG Weekend Watch	Djelo (33/1 AP) Read More
12/3/24	14:50	Ultima Handicap Chase	Victtorino (25/1 AP) Read More	No Tip
12/3/24	15:30	Champion Hurdle	No Tip	No Tip
12/3/24	16:10	Mares’ Hurdle	Luccia (16/1 AP) Read More Marie’s Rock (16/1) Telmesomethinggirl (20/1) GG Weekend Watch	No Tip
12/3/24	16:50	Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle	Kourosh (66/1) Nara (16/1) Eagle Fang (14/1) GG Weekend Watch	Ose Partir (40/1 AP) Read More
12/3/24	17:30	National Hunt Chase	Minella Cocooner (16/1 AP) Read More Salvador Ziggy (8/1 AP) Read More	No Tip

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Cheltenham Day 1 Races

As with every day at the Cheltenham Festival, there are seven races for punters to focus their minds on. 

Supreme Novices’ Hurdle

The day opens with two novice events, the first being the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at 1.30pm, home of the famous “Cheltenham Roar”.

Arkle Challenge Trophy

Following soon after is the Arkle Challenge Trophy, the first race over fences, run over the shortest chase trip of 2m.

Ultima Handicap Chase

The same obstacles are used again 40 minutes later as the first handicap, the Ultima Handicap Chase, takes place. This has been the one race in which Britain has consistently repelled the strong Irish challenge with no away victories since 2006.

Champion Hurdle

The feature race of the day is the Champion Hurdle. Run over two miles, the speediest horses in National Hunt racing compete for the ultimate hurdling prize. Unfortunately, the unbeaten defending champion, Constitution Hill, was ruled out due to injury in 2024, allowing State Man to claim the prize. Both will have their sights set on the 2025 renewal.

Mares’ Hurdle

The Mares’ Hurdle, which has often competed for quality with the Champion Hurdle in recent years, takes centre stage at 4.10pm.

Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle

Afterwards, the final two races are both restricted to certain participants. The Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle is four-year-olds only, just like the Triumph Hurdle.

National Hunt Chase

The National Hunt Chase is exclusive for amateur riders and is run over a gruelling 3m6f of the chase course for novice chasers.

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Cheltenham Festival Day 1 Betting Tips

More than any other day, this is usually the time to strike against the bookmakers. Our Cheltenham tips for Tuesday (day 1) will help you improve the odds of betting on the winning horse. 

The layers were spared a £50 million payout by Annie Power’s fall in the Mares’ Hurdle in 2015 which goes to show the power of the punter on the opening day. This is because there are often short-priced favourites abound.

These usually run in the novice or open contests. As such, multiples on the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, the Arkle, the Champion Hurdle and the Mares’ Hurdle can pay dividends.

For those seeking value, exercise caution with the odds on Irish-trained horses at this year’s Festival. Their overwhelming success at the previous event may lead bookmakers to offer less favourable odds, anticipating their strong performance.

Cheltenham Free Bets For Tuesday

You can claim the best Free Bets for the Cheltenham Festival 2025 ahead of time. For example, BetMGM have a superb new customer offer running that entitles you to £40 in Free Bets when you first bet £10. As yet, there are no offers specifically for the Tuesday at the Cheltenham Festival, but that does not mean you cannot claim free bets elsewhere and use them on Tuesday’s races.

The Cheltenham Festival offers so many different markets to bet on with your free bets. As well as the races themselves, you can bet on who will win the Prestbury Cup between Great Britain and Ireland, or wager on who will be crowned top jockey or top trainer.

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Finding The Best Odds On Day 1 Of The Cheltenham Festival

It’s not all about finding winning Cheltenham Festival Tips on Day 1, it’s also about finding the best odds on offer for your horses.

You will be able find the best odds on our website, by clicking the odds on the Cheltenham racecards. It will give you the latest odds from multiple bookmakers, and gives you the option of choosing which bookies you have access to.

The other way of finding the best bets is to follow the tips of our leading expert tipsters. Our man Dave Young will provide some of his best ante-post selections throughout the season.

The other way you can win big is by claiming odds boost offers at the Cheltenham Festival. In the past, these have included A Plus Tard at 50/1 for the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 2022, and Constitution Hill at 40/1 for the Champion Hurdle in 2023, ensuring you big wins on the strongest favourites. When we know of the best odds boosted runners, we will post them here and throughout the site.

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Cheltenahm Day 1 Trends:

Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (1:30 PM)

• The top three in the market have been a good indicator of success, with nine of the last ten winners found within this group. Labaik (2017) is the only exception since 2014, also being the only winner rated lower than 148

Arkle Novices’ Chase (2:10 PM)

• Winners in the last decade, except for Western Warhorse (2014) and Put The Kettle On (2020), were rated 151 or higher. Additionally, having at least two wins over fences is a common trait among winners

Ultima Handicap Chase (2:50 PM)

• This race has been dominated by British-trained horses, with all of the last ten winners having at least one previous run at Cheltenham

Champion Hurdle (3:30 PM)

• A key trend is that nine of the last ten winners were unbeaten for the season leading up to the Champion Hurdle

Mares’ Hurdle (4:10 PM)

• Horses aged between five and seven have won most of the renewals in the last decade, except for Quevega (2014) and Honeysuckle (2023). A rating of 147 or higher is also a common characteristic among winners

Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (4:50 PM)

• Winners typically have not won a Grade 1-3 hurdle, have never run at Cheltenham, and did not run in a handicap or maiden hurdle last time out

National Hunt Challenge Cup Amateur Jockeys’ Novices’ Chase (5:30 PM)

• Since significant changes to the race in 2020, the last four winners have been trained in Ireland

What’s On Cheltenham Day 1:

The festival has seen remarkable achievements like Golden Miller’s historic wins in 1934 and memorable performances by jockeys like Ruby Walsh. The Cheltenham Festival on day 1 features exciting races including the Champion Hurdle and other Grade 1 events like the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, Arkle Novices’ Chase, and Mares’ Hurdle. Notably, State Man is a strong contender in the Champion Hurdle following Constitution Hill’s absence

The Ultima Handicap Chase tends to favor British-trained horses with previous Cheltenham experience. Trends show that most Champion Hurdle winners enter the race unbeaten for the season. In the Mares’ Hurdle, horses aged between five and seven have dominated recent renewals. For the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle, winners typically have specific profiles like no Grade 1-3 hurdle wins and no previous runs at Cheltenham.

Prize Money

The prize money for day 1 races at the Cheltenham Festival varies across different events, with some of the most notable races offering substantial rewards. The Champion Hurdle, one of the feature races on day 1, has a total prize fund of £441,135, with the winner receiving £253,215. To give a broader perspective, the Cheltenham Festival as a whole has a record prize money offering, with over £4,590,000 available across the four-day event, averaging over £1,000,000 per day

Cheltenham 2025 Day 1 Weather

The weather forecast for day 1 of the Cheltenham Festival will become clearer as the meeting approaches.

Other Days of The Cheltenham Festival 

The Wednesday will (hopefully!) be a chance for punters to beat the bookies for a second day in succession. The feature is the Queen mother Champion Chase.

Day 3 involves two feature races, with the Ryanair Chase and Stayers’ Hurdle vying for top billing.

Lastly, Day 4 is the showstopper, with the Cheltenham Gold Cup down as race four on the card.

• Cheltenham Festival Day 2
• Cheltenham Festival Day 3
• Cheltenham Festival Day 4