Cheltenham 2014 : Day One Preview

The Cheltenham Festival gets underway Tuesday (March11th) at 13:30 and here is our guide to the best of the bets from the opening day of action.

13:30: THE SUPREME NOVICES

The race is headed by Irving and Vantour and although both could be future superstars the odds are a little short in a race that has seen a number of bigger priced winners in recent years. Nicky Henderson has had a number of seconds and thirds in recent years and I like the look of his runner Josses Hill, who tops the Racing Post Topspeed figures, to come out on top here.
RECOMMENDATION: Jossess Hill EW, 14/1 (bet365)

14:05: ARKLE TROPHY CHALLENGE CHASE

This is another race that we previewed in more detail so be sure to give that a read. In short form the winner is likely to come from the quartet of Champagne Fever, Rock on Ruby, Trifolium and Dodging Bullets. The selection goes to the latter as the Paul Nicholls runner already has a winner at Cheltenham and has three wins and a second from the last four starts with the runner-up placing only coming after giving up a lot of weight to Module.
RECOMMENDATION: Dodging Bullets to win, 5/1 (bet365)

14:40: HANDICAP CHASE

12 of the last 13 winners of this have carried less than 11 stone so take out of the market two fancied runners in Holywell (8/1) and Hadrian’s Approach (9/1). Favourite Alfie Sherrin has to be respected as owner/trainer combo JP McManus and Jonjo O’Neill have a good record in this race and the horse is a 7/1 chance. The each-way selection is Time for Rupert at 14/1 as the horse is a Cheltenham specialist who has won three times at the venue.
RECOMMENDATION: Time for Rupert EW, 14/1 (bet365)

15:20: CHAMPION HURDLE

The Champion Hurdle is the feature race of the day and this looks a wide open battle between the old timer Hurricane Fly and the new kids on the block Our Conor, My Tent or Yours and the market leader The New One. We have previewed the piece in more details here). The crux of the arguement is that the three younger horses should have too much speed for Hurricane Fly who is now ten-years-old. Of the three I like the chances of Our Conor who won the Triumph Hurdle by 15 lengths last year at the Festival.
RECOMMENDATION: Our Conor to win , 4/1 (bet365)

16:00: DAVID NICHOLSON MARES HURDLE

Quevega is the 4/6 favourite for the race and few would beat against the Willie Mullins landing the race for a sixth consecutive year. So dominant is the horse that this record breaking attempt has been shifted so it fits in nicely with the television schedule. At 14/1 I like the each-way chances of Highland Retreat. The Harry Fry runner has won each of the last three starts and should relish the conditions at Cheltenham.
RECOMMENDATION: Highland Retreat, EW, 14/1 (BET365)

16:40: NATIONAL HUNT CHASE

Foxrock is the market leader after two straight victories and can be backed at 5/2. That being said the price looks too short on a horse that narrowly won a much inferior race at Navan last time out on a race course. I would rather be siding with Shotgun Paddy at 5/1 as the Emma Lavelle runner impressed when winning by six lengths at Warwick in January.
RECOMMENDATION: Shotgun Paddy to win, 5/1 (BET365)

17:15: NOVICES HANDICAP CHASE

The final race of seven on Tuesday is this Handicap Chase. Seven of the last nine winners have been sent off in the first five in the betting so it might not pay to look too far down the field. Pendra is the market leader though a huge disappointment last year at Cheltenham suggest we should look elsewhere. Instead take Ericht who has fifth in the Coral Cup last year and seems to have come on since then with an impressive nine length win at Musselburgh.
RECOMMENDATION: Ericht, EW, 8/1 (BET365)

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11/03/2014     © Frixo 2026