The Cheltenham Festival 2025 kick-starts today with the greatest show on turf set to dazzle again.
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The gates are OPEN!
After a disappointing year since running at Cheltenham last year, Stay Away Fay needs one more run to qualify for the Grand National.
The handicapper looks to have been relatively kind for his run in the Ultima today and could do well at a big price having schooled well.
Nicholls told his Betfair blog: "He needs one more run to qualify for the Grand National and a decent show in the Ultima could see him join our team for Aintree.
"But it's fair to say his performances have fallen off a cliff since he ran so well in the Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham last season.
"He was pulled up in two subsequent races later that season and again didn't finish on his return over hurdles at Wincanton on Boxing Day. But I'm encouraged that he worked nicely the other day and has been schooling well."
Teahupoo will face 14 rivals in Thursday's feature - the Stayers' Hurdle.
Langer Dan is amongst them and with Spring in the air, you wonder if he'll have perked up...
These shots taken a short time ago by Cheltenham Racecourse's social accounts showing Constitution Hill arriving.
After missing last year's festival, what a treat to have him back here!
A look at the seven races today, with ITV now showing six races a day!
1.20pm: Michael O’Sullivan Supreme Novices’ (Grade 1) – ITV
2pm: My Pension Expert Arkle Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) – ITV
2.40pm: Ultima Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) – ITV
3.20pm: Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle (Grade 1) – ITV
4pm: Unibet Champion Hurdle (Grade 1) – ITV
4.40pm: Hallgarten And Novum Wines Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) – ITV
5.20pm: National Hunt Novices’ Chase – Racing TV
NO Gaelic Warrior in the Ryanair and he looks set to miss the Festival altogether.
A real shame having won the Arkle just 12 months ago!
Just Fact To File for Willie Mullins then...
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More on the 'big four' today and William Hill are fearing a hammering if all four come in.
Spokesperson for William Hill, Lee Phelps, said: “Anticipation is building for the first day of the Cheltenham Festival, and we’re expecting the Kopek Des Bordes, Majborough, Lossiemouth and Constitution Hill four-fold to be incredibly popular.
If those four all go in, it could easily be a seven-figure loss for William Hill and a horrendous start to the week.
“The betting markets are starting to liven up for the first day of the meeting too, and we’ve already seen good money for Workahead in the Supreme."
While we're on selections and tips, our man Templegate has gone through today's card with his Placepot selections.
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Ruby Walsh has been a terrific addition to the television coverage and he's a much-respected voice in the game.
He's given his day one tips to Paddy Power and explained why he's taking who he has - including Brighterdaysahead.
Gordon Elliott says he couldn't be happier with Brighterdaysahead ahead of that clash with Constitution Hill later today.
He told ITV's Opening Show: "She's traveled over well and we're absolutely thrilled with her.
"Constitution Hill is going to be very hard to beat but hopefully she won't be far away. We just can't wait to get going.
"There's only one Champion Hurdle and it'd be a dream come true. We've had a few goes and been placed a few times but this is the best horse we've had going into it."
Constitution Hill has just arrived at the racecourse and the camera phones are all out from the members of staff around.
What a race it should be.
Constitution Hill vs Brighterdaysahead comes up at 4pm and is likely the match-up of the week in the Champion Hurdle.
But Nicky Henderson says he wouldn't swap Constitution Hill for anything, despite the weight allowance for Brighterdaysahead.
He wrote in his Unibet blog: "The talking has all been done, as has the work and schooling, so it’s just up to him to go out there and show what we all know he can do.
"Everything has gone well since the Unibet Hurdle in January and he enjoyed an away day at Kempton a couple of weeks ago, which will have sharpened him up mentally and physically, and he was electric in a schooling session last week; he was breathtaking really!
"It’s hard to say he’s better than ever, but I do think he’s as good as we’ve had him and I really hope he can regain his crown having been forced to miss last year.
"Brighterdaysahead is a formidable mare, and receives a handy weight allowance, but I wouldn’t swap Constitution Hill for anything."
What's tougher - a 9-darter, a hole-in-one or a 147 break in snooker?
Maybe it's starting the Festival as a jockey on a 100/1 shot!
Well for Harry Cobden, there was a sporting mix in the warm-up to this week as Paddy Power’s newest horseracing ambassador found himself at the mercy of five of darts’ biggest names.
Stephen Bunting, Rob Cross, Luke Humphries, Michael van Gerwen and Simon Whitlock gave the jockey a "crash course in sporting superstardom" which included some questionable nicknames, a new wardrobe and new hairdo!
You can watch it all on Paddy Power's social platforms.
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Jon Pullin - who must surely have had some sleepless nights in the run-up to this - added on ITV's Opening Show: “We’re in really good shape. We were forecast 1mm rain but got 3.5mm.
“It’ll be good to soft. We’re very happy with where we are.
“We’ve been dry since the end of February and it was drying up so we started watering late last week. It’s a dry forecast for this week too so we got the water on early to get us in a good position.”
This is just some of the Willie Mullins contingent here for Cheltenham.
They were out and about a short while ago and it's quite an incredible operation.
When you take into account he has six of the 12-runner field in the Supreme, it's quite the task ensuring they're all up to speed.
Just to add to the big 4, Sir AP McCoy was asked by William Hill which of the four could possibly let it down.
He said: "Maybe Lossiemouth for me.
"Only because of how heavy her fall was last time out.
"Looking at it, I think Willie [Mullins] has a few other good mares and there's that little element of how might that fall have affected her."
I'll mention this several times today and make no apology for it.
Only because three quarters of the punting community are on the big four on day one.
If it lands, the bookmakers are in for a hefty first day hit.
Some reports suggesting a £50MILLION doing if it happened. Yikes...
There was a bit of a social media frenzy last night as the rain started to fall in and around Cheltenham.
But clerk of the course, Jon Pullin says the ground will be GOOD TO SOFT come the opening race despite that rain.
He says the team 'couldn't be happier' with how it looks.
Jon Pullin, clerk of the course, told the Racing Post: "We've had 3.5mm of rain from the late afternoon into the evening, but the track has taken it really well.
"We finished irrigating it on Saturday and we had a dry and warm Sunday, which helped, and we couldn't be happier with how it is.
"It'll be a degree or two cooler for the rest of the meeting and there is still a little risk of overnight frosts, but temperatures will rise enough during the day so we've no concerns racing-wise."
How good do these pictures look? Really dramatic.
The Gordon Elliott team out first thing this morning as the sun came out.
A good stretch of the legs to start the day.
Here’s what’s coming up on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival:
1.20pm: Michael O’Sullivan Supreme Novices’ (Grade 1) – ITV
2pm: My Pension Expert Arkle Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) – ITV
2.40pm: Ultima Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) – ITV
3.20pm: Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle (Grade 1) – ITV
4pm: Unibet Champion Hurdle (Grade 1) – ITV
4.40pm: Hallgarten And Novum Wines Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) – ITV
5.20pm: National Hunt Novices’ Chase – Racing TV
SunSport’s very own Steve Mullen has put together a complete guide for all 28 races at the Cheltenham Festival.
Whether you’re new to racing or looking for some pointers, Templegate’s Tips is not one to miss.
Heading to Cheltenham this week? Here are the drinks prices to expect at Prestbury Park.
A pint of Guinness, always a big favourite at Cheltenham, will set you back £7.80.
Love Guinness but not drinking? No problem, Guinness 0.0 is on the menu. However, you might feel like you've been drinking when you look at your bank account the next day.
