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Megan Nicholls Cheltenham Festival Day 1 Tips – Supreme Novices', Champion Hurdle & more

TUESDAY RACING TIPS

Cheltenham 1.20 – Michael O'Sullivan Supreme Novices' Hurdle

Firstly, it’s a great touch from all involved to commemorate Michael O’Sullivan in this race. Hopefully the usual Cheltenham Roar is even louder than usual in his honour.

Willie Mullins has won this seven times and Kopek Des Bordes (10/11 fav) has very much been the talking horse for this race for some time and, based on jockey bookings, is clearly the first string.

If he jumps as well as he did at Leopardstown he’ll be very hard to beat. He’s got a hood on for the first time to help him settle and there is also plenty of pace on which should help him do that too.

Henry de Bromhead has targeted this race for Workahead (7/1) and he has to be of interest given how lightly raced he is.

There could be bundles of improvement to come and he’d be the one I’d be looking at in terms of those at bigger prices.

Meg’s Tip: Kopek Des Bordes WIN

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Cheltenham 2.00 – The Arkle

It was expected but nevertheless it’s frustrating to see such a small field for this year’s Arkle.

Majborough (8/15 fav) needs to brush up on his jumping but he’s clearly a horse with a huge engine. If he doesn’t jump himself out of it, he’s most definitely the one they’ve all got to beat.

L’eau Du Sud (9/2) is a fair horse and is the one for the forecast.

He did what he needed to at Warwick and he has form at Cheltenham, so he has to be respected.

However, he needs to raise his game to a whole new level to beat Majborough and I don’t see it happening.

Meg’s Tip: Majborough WIN

Cheltenham 2.40 – Ultima Handicap Chase

This is so competitive and there are loads you can give good chances to.

BetMGM is paying six places on this race and, with that in mind, I’ve narrowed it down to three.

The first one I like is The Short Go (14/1). He fell too early to make a judgement last time at Navan but he ran really well over course and distance behind a stablemate in October.

He’s got a nice low weight and likes good ground, so I thought he was interesting.

I’ll also be keeping an eye on Grandeaur d’Ame (28/1).

I really liked the way he stuck on last time at Cheltenham despite the winner looking like he’d win by a long way.

The way he stayed on suggested the step up to 3m 1f might not be a bad thing and it could bring about some improvement.

He won on good ground at Chepstow at the start of the season and could easily surprise a few at a big, big price.

Crebilly (13/2) is very interesting too. He’s 2lbs lower than when second in the Plate last year and, while he does have stamina to prove, if he can bounce back to his best he’s got a good chance.

He tends to go well at this time of year and he’s the one towards the head of the market I like most.

Meg’s Tips: The Short Go EW; Grandeur d’Ame EW; Crebilly EW

Cheltenham 3.20 – Mares’ Hurdle

The big news around this race was that Lossiemouth (8/13 fav) has been declared to run here rather than the Champion Hurdle and I think that’s right by the horse.

Fans will be frustrated but it’s the right decision, especially after that fall at Leopardstown last time.

Everything will happen a bit slower for her over a farther distance and that should help her jumping.

Lossiemouth is only a six-year-old and can always come back for a Champion Hurdle further down the line.

She’s the best mare in this race, in my opinion, and she’s another short-priced favourite I expect to win.

At a nice price, I think Joyeuse (11/1) has been a bit underestimated.

We saw how talented she was when she won at Newbury, where she showed a really potent turn of foot.

She might not be good enough to beat Lossiemouth but I do think she’ll run really well.

Meg’s Tips: Lossiemouth WIN; Joyeuse EW

Cheltenham 4.00 – Champion Hurdle

I just can’t have Constitution Hill (4/7 fav) beat.

I know there’s been plenty of talk about Brighterdaysahead (2/1) — and there is plenty of confidence around her — but for me the more the Irish big her up her the better price we’ll get on Constitution Hill. And that’s more than fine with me!

I saw him while I was working at Kempton over Christmas and he was carrying plenty of condition, so to win like he did was very impressive and he’s always going to have come on from it for the remainder of the season.

Bar that slight mishap at Cheltenham last time – a mistake Nico de Boinville said was his fault – he was pretty much foot-perfect.

Constitution Hill is just a brilliant racehorse and the best in this division comfortably. If he’s at his best there isn’t anything that can get close to him – that’s just a fact.

I expect him to win this and win it well.

Meg’s Tip: Constitution Hill WIN

Cheltenham 4.40 – Fred Winter

BetMGM is paying five places each way on this race and I’m going to go with Hot Fuss (12/1) here.

He’s got blinkers on for the first time and was fourth in the Finale Hurdle at Chepstow, which wasn’t a bad effort. I think he could be a lot better than a mark of 122.

His Flat form is to a pretty strong level and, based on that, there could be loads more to come.

The other I think is well-treated is Beyond Your Dreams (6/1). She was in behind Total Look (5/1) earlier in the season, where he was perhaps a little unlucky.

Her jumping was only OK when winning last time at Fairyhouse and her trainer Joseph O’Brien has a good record in this race, so knows the type needed to win it.

Megan’s Tip: Beyond Your Dreams EW; Hot Fuss EW

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Cheltenham 5.20 – National Hunt Chase

Again BetMGM is paying five places each way on this race so I’d definitely give Olly Murphy’s Resplendent Grey (11/1) a chance here.

The trip at Cheltenham last time was clearly too sharp but he flew home and, while this extended trip is an unknown, his form from Sandown earlier in the season behind Handstands reads very well now.

He’s got other solid pieces of form this season and I’d like to think this 3m 5f trip will help him jump better as they’ll be going that yard slower.

He might be a big price but I think he’s got a big chance.

Megan’s Tip: Resplendent Grey EW

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Odds correct at time of publication but subject to fluctuation

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