Cheltenham Day one betting preview: Race predictions for Cheltenham Festival
THE 2024 Cheltenham Festival is upon us with the 'Greatest Show on Turf' set to deliver four days of star-studded and action-packed racing from Prestbury Park.
In this Cheltenham Day 1 preview, we'll take a closer look at the runners, riders, eye-catching statistics and standout contenders for all seven races, including the feature race of the day - the Grade 1 Unibet Champion Hurdle.
Best horse racing betting sites to bet on Cheltenham 2024
Cheltenham Festival 2024 Day 1 Races
There are seven races scheduled for Day One of the Cheltenham Festival 2024.
Below are the dates, times and everything you'll need to know.
| Date | Time | Race | Distance | Type |
| 12/03 | 13:30 | The Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle Race (Grade 1) | 2m abt ½f | Hurdle |
| 12/03 | 14:10 | The My Pension Expert Arkle Challenge Trophy Steeple Chase (Grade 1) | abt 2m | Chase |
| 12/03 | 14:50 | The Ultima Handicap Steeple Chase (Premier Handicap) | 3m abt 1f | Chase |
| 12/03 | 15:30 | The Unibet Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy (Grade 1) | 2m abt ½f | Hurdle |
| 12/03 | 16:10 | The Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle Race (Grade 1) | 2m abt 4f | Hurdle |
| 12/03 | 16:50 | The Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle Race (Premier Handicap) | 2m abt ½f | Hurdle |
| 12/03 | 17:30 | The National Hunt Steeple Chase Challenge Cup (Amateur Riders’ Novices’ Steeple Chase) (Grade 2) | 3m abt 6f | Chase |
About Cheltenham Festival Day 1
There's nothing quite like Day One of the Cheltenham Festival. The buzz, anticipation and expectation of over 68,000 spectators in attendance and millions more around the world tuning in to witness greatness at Prestbury Park.
The Cheltenham Festival originated in 1860, and is undoubtedly the highlight of the horse-racing calendar. Historically known as Champion Day, Day One of The Cheltenham Festival features seven world-class races, including the Champion Hurdle, which is considered the most prestigious hurdle race in the world.
Cheltenham Day 1 predictions and best odds
Here, we take a closer look at all seven races and provide our best bets, tips and analysis for Day One of the Cheltenham Festival, starting with the featured Grade 1 Champion Hurdle.
Champion Hurdle bets and best odds
The Champion Hurdle is the feature race on Day One of the Cheltenham Festival 2024. The Grade 1 contest is run over a distance of about 2 miles and has been won by some of the greatest hurdlers of all time, including Night Nurse, Persian War, Sea Pigeon and Istabraq.
Reigning Champion Hurdle winner Constitution Hill has been penciled in as the favourite for this contest for a number of months, and remains so at around 1/3 to defend his crown despite his participation being thrown into doubt.
Trainer Nicky Henderson sent Constitution Hill for medical checks after a disastrous workout at Kempton Park, and it transpired that the unbeaten seven-year-old was suffering from a mild lung infection.
Henderson has given punters hope that Constitution Hill will still run, and if he does return to his brilliant best, should easily blitz this field having beaten second-favourite State Man - winner of six Grade 1 races - by nine lengths in this contest last year.
State Man appears the only other entry capable of landing a glove on a fit and firing Constitution Hill, so it's likely that a small field will go to post. He's improved massively this season, seeing off Bob Olinger for trainer Willie Mullins in the Irish Champion Hurdle at the Dublin Festival.
Mullins also has third-favourite Lossiemouth, who annihilated her rivals in the International Hurdle on Cheltenham Racecourse's Festival Trials Day in January. She boasts a 100% record at Cheltenham (2/2).
Champion Hurdle prize money
The prize pot for the Unibet Champion Hurdle on Day One of the Cheltenham Festival 2024 is £450,000. The winner will take home £253,215, while the runner-up receives £95,400.00.
Below is the full breakdown;
1st: £253,215
2nd: £95,400
3rd: £47,745
4th: £23,850
5th: £11,970
6th: £5,985
7th: £2,970
8th: £1,530
Champion Hurdle jockey overview
The runners and riders haven't yet been confirmed for the 2024 Champion Hurdle. However, it's more than likely that Nico de Boinville will saddle Constitution Hill having ridden him to victory in all eight of his Hurdle successes since December 2021. Paul Townend is expected to be on board second-favourite State Man having won nine of his 10 career wins.
Champion Hurdle trainer overview
As mentioned, Nicky Henderson and Willie Mullins rather enjoy themselves in the Champion Hurdle. Henderson (6) and Mullins (4) have trained 10 of the last 15 winners of this contest. It looks likely to be one of them again with their entries both odds-on at the top of the betting markets.
Champion Hurdle previous winners
Below are the last five winners of the Champion Hurdle on Day One of the Cheltenham Festival.
| Year | Winner | Winning jockey | Winning trainer | Starting price | Age |
| 2023 | Constitution Hill | Nico de Boinville | Nicky Henderson | 4/11 | 6 |
| 2022 | Honeysuckle | Rachael Blackmore | Henry de Bromhead | 8/11 | 8 |
| 2021 | Honeysuckle | Rachael Blackmore | Henry de Bromhead | 11/10 | 7 |
| 2020 | Epatante | Barry Geraghty | Nicky Henderson | 2/1 | 6 |
| 2019 | Espoir d'Allen | Mark Walsh | Gavin Cromwell | 16/1 | 5 |
The My Pension Expert Arkle Challenge Trophy Steeple Chase best odds
The Barry Connell-trained Marine Nationale is the current favourite at 9/4 to win the Arkle Challenge Trophy Steeple Chase on Day 1 of the Cheltenham Festival 2024. Marine Nationale powered up the hill to win the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle last year, and is ahead of Found A Fifty and Il Etait Temps in the betting markets.
- Marine Nationale 9/4
- Found A Fifty 4/1
- Il Etait Temps 9/2
- Hunters Yarn 7/1
- Facile Vega 8/1
- Gaelic Warrior 8/1
- Jpr One 8/1
- Quilixios 8/1
- 14/1 bar
*All races at Cheltenham Festival will declare at the 48-hour stage.
The Ultima Handicap Steeple Chase best odds
It's a wide-open field for the Ultima Handicap Steeple Chase with Crebilly the slender 6/1 favourite to win for Jonjo O'Neill.
- Crebilly 6/1
- The Goffer 13/2
- Chianti Classico 7/1
- Meetingofthewaters 7/1
- Theatre Man 8/1
- Stumptown 9/1
- 10/1 bar
*All races at Cheltenham Festival will declare at the 48-hour stage.
The Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle Race best odds
Lossiemouth is available at 8/15 to win the David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle. Although it remains to be seen whether she'll be entered into the Champion Hurdle instead.
- Lossiemouth 8/15
- Ashroe Diamond 4/1
- Brighterdaysahead 8/1
- Love Envoi 10/1
- Maries Rock 12/1
- Echoes In Rain 16/1
- 16/1 bar
*All races at Cheltenham Festival will declare at the 48-hour stage.
The Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle Race best odds
Joseph O’Brien-trained Lark In The Mornin is the favourite at 4/1. Willie Mullins' Batman Girac is next at 6/1, ahead of Milan Tino - who'll bid to give JP McManus a third win in four years in this contest.
- Lark In The Mornin 4/1
- Batman Girac 6/1
- Milan Tino 7/1
- Wodhooh 15/2
- Ndaawi 8/1
- Liari 10/1
- 12/1 bar
*All races at Cheltenham Festival will declare at the 48-hour stage.
The National Hunt Steeple Chase Challenge Cup best odds
Embassy Gardens is favourite to win the final race on Day 1 of the Cheltenham Festival 2024. Emmet Mullins’ Corbetts Cross is next despite falling at Fairyhouse when pressing the leading pair.
- Embassy Gardens 2/1
- Corbetts Cross 5/2
- Salvador Ziggy 5/1
- Broadway Boy 8/1
- Kilbeg King 8/1
- Meetingofthewaters 8/1
- 9/1 bar
*All races at Cheltenham Festival will declare at the 48-hour stage.
How to bet on Cheltenham races for Day 1
- Choose an online bookmaker form our list.
- Visit the site and sign up for an account.
- Verify your account and make a deposit.
- Head over to the horse racing section of the site.
- Select the race you wish to bet on.
- Look through the available markets and select your bet.
Don't miss other Cheltenham Festival previews
- Cheltenham Day 2 preview
- Cheltenham Day 3 preview
- Cheltenham Day 4 preview
FAQ about Cheltenham Day 1
How can I use Cheltenham Day 1 previews to improve my chances of winning bets?
Picking a winning bet involves a lot of things; skill, a bit of luck but also research. Using previews can help you secure the best free bets out there on the market, ensuring you have more in your betting bank heading into the racing on day two. Not just that, you can notice trends in previous winners and recognise a stable's first choice jockey, giving an indication who the yard prefer if a trainer runs more than one horse.
What factors should I consider when choosing which horses to bet on for Day 1 races?
There are several key components to consider when making a selection at Cheltenham. Most importantly though is the horse's form and how they've been faring. Top Jockeys and trainers will also have a huge bearing in any race and the odds so keep an eye on any market movers. As well as that, it's important to consider other horses performances, track conditions, past results and trends in previous winners. Track preference is also key - how do they do running right-hand courses?
Are there any special promotions or offers from bookmakers for Day 1 races?
Yes. For events like Cheltenham there will always be a battle for your custom, so make sure you shop around. Most bookies will have some form of price boost on the big race for the day and even sometimes for most races, particularly containing a big name. These could also take the form of daily doubles or accumulators, where two or more strong favourites for the day are put together in a multiple at bigger odds. There will be an abundance of free bets handed out over the course of the four days too - for runners that fall, lose but finish in the places or when you bet on a certain race - so keep an eye out for those.
Remember to gamble responsibly
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- Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
- Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
- Never chase their losses
- Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry, or depressed
- Gamcare – www.gamcare.org.uk
- Gamble Aware – www.begambleaware.org
Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here.
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