Prepare your tweed and steady your nerves; the Cheltenham Festival is officially back. Tomorrow, Tuesday, March 10th, the Gloucestershire air will be filled with the legendary “Cheltenham Roar” and the distinct scent of optimism meeting reality. Kopeck Des Bordes vs Lulamba in the Arkle is going to be a special spectacle.
Whether you’re there for the sport or the stout, Day One. Champion Day, is a gauntlet of Grade 1 drama. Here is your witty guide to surviving the opening salvos.
🐎 The Heavy Hitters: Timeform Ratings & Naps
🎙️ The “Good Thing” (NAP)
Quebecois (15:20 – Ultima Handicap Chase)
While the Ultima is usually a minefield, Quebecois is currently being shouted from the rooftops by the smart money. Sporting Life’s Andrew Asquith has flagged him as a primary selection. He’s got the profile of a horse that has been “plotted” for this, meaning he’s spent the winter pretending to be slower than he actually is.
🌟 The “Hype Train”
Old Park Star (13:20 – Supreme Novices’ Hurdle)
Timeform and the “At The Races” experts are leaning heavily toward Nicky Henderson’s six-year-old. He’s described as “straightforward”—which in racing terms means he doesn’t panic when 20,000 people scream at him. He’ll face a stiff challenge from Willie Mullins’ Mighty Park, who is being compared to the legendary Faugheen. Choose your park wisely. Watch Leader D’Allier.
👑 The Queen of the Track
Lossiemouth (16:00 – Champion Hurdle)
With the feature race looking slightly less “vintage” than usual, the mare Lossiemouth is the one they all have to beat. She’s 4-for-4 at Cheltenham. If she were a human, she’d have the keys to the city. The ground is currently Good to Soft, which is essentially her preferred red carpet.
🧐 The “Witty” Longshot
Mino Des Mottes (14:40 – Fred Winter/Juvenile Handicap)
Ben Linfoot has tipped this at 25/1. It’s the kind of bet you place if you want to tell everyone at the pub you’re a genius, or if you simply enjoy the feeling of losing £5 with style. He’s unexposed and exactly the type of French import that suddenly remembers how to run when it sees the Prestbury Park hills.
💡 Pro Tips for Day One
• The Ground: It’s currently Good to Soft, drying out. This favors the “zesty” horses over the “mudders.”
• The “Mullins Factor”: Willie Mullins has a habit of winning the first race and ruining the bookies’ week by 2:00 PM. If Mighty Park wins the Supreme, expect the queues at the bar to get very long, very fast.
• Pacing Yourself: It’s a four-day marathon, not a sprint to the Guinness village. If you’re down by the third race, remember: there’s always the Gold Cup on Friday.
🎩 Silks Corner: Over To You
Send us your takes in the comments. Whether it’s a “stone-cold” Cheltenham tip or a rant about the price of a pint at Prestbury Park, we want it for Silks Corner. We’ll publish the best (and most biting) ones next time.
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