Cheltenham Day 1 Tips: Find all Tuesday's best bets here

We are set for a sensational 2023 Cheltenham Festival and you can find a whole host of Cheltenham tips on our dedicated section from a host of racing writers and our resident tipster Raceolly. However, here we focus on day one of the meeting and our man Steve Chambers picks out a tip in each of the seven day one races...

13:30 Cheltenham - Supreme Novices' Hurdle

A fine winner of the Champion Bumper at last season's Cheltenham Festival, Facile Vega will bid to follow up in the Supreme on Tuesday afternoon and the Willie Mullins-trained raider is a warm order for the curtain-raiser. A shock defeat last time out blotted his copybook, but the rain that has hit Prestbury Park has improved his chances immeasurably and he is the one to beat.

Marine Nationale is unbeaten and was a fine winner last time out and has to be another on the shortlist, but the fascinating contender is HIGH DEFINITION, who marks sensational each-way value at double-figured odds. A former ante-post favourite for the Derby when under the stewardship of Aidan O'Brien, he's now housed at Joseph O'Brien's yard and he made a winning debut over timber impressively. He was a faller in Grade 1 company at Leopardstown last time out, so jumping is a real worry, but O'Brien is sure to have schooled him plenty since that tumble at the Dublin Racing Festival. The son of Galileo has a huge engine and could well have a few out of their comfort zones in the middle of the race and he could gallop up the hill in style.

14:10 Cheltenham - Arkle Challenge Trophy

Billed as a match between Nicky Henderson's Jonbon and the Willie Mullins-trained El Fabiolo, the Arkle looks an absolutely stonking renewal, but you'd be silly to completely discount another Mullins-trained duo in the shape of Dysart Dynamo and Saint Roi, who are both classy performers.

However, the cream should rise to the top and it can be the Irish raider EL FABIOLO that can reign supreme, as he was an absolutely stunning winner of the Irish Arkle at Leopardstown last month, where he stormed clear of some really smart performers. On the contrary, Jonbon produced a workmanlike display in the Grade 2 Kingmaker at Warwick and he has had some relatively easy tasks handed to him this season and may just lack the class of El Fabiolo, who can romp clear up the home straight.

Both are real class acts at the head of the betting, but El Fabiolo is more than capable of building on that Leopardstown success and he's the solid punting option in a race that the Cheltenham odds are dominated by this duo.

14:50 Cheltenham - Ultima Handicap Chase

Reigning champion Corach Rambler has to set the standard in this year's Ultima Handicap Chase and Lucinda Russell's charge is entitled to be sitting prominently in the betting alongside the likes of Into Overdrive, who was last seen winning the Rowland Meyrick at Wetherby and Oscar Elite, who was a Grade 2 winner last time out.

It's a fiercely competitive renewal in the first handicap of the week and there's certainly some value to be had lower down the betting and one that catches the eye is Olly Murphy's THE WOLF, who is available at huge odds. Just sneaking in at the bottom of the weights, the nine-year-old finished 10th in this event in 2021, but is now an eye-catching 7lbs lower in the 2023 renewal. He shaped with a lot more promise on his last start when finishing fourth in a hugely competitive event at Ascot, and having been dropped 2lbs for that outing he now lines up off his lowest chasing mark. There's no doubting he has work to do, but with plenty of firms paying six or more places then it would be no shock to see him finish in the frame.

15:30 Cheltenham - Champion Hurdle

Heavily odds-on, Constitution Hill is arguably the banker of the festival for many as last year's Supreme Novices' Hurdle hero aims to follow up in the Grade 1 Champion Hurdle on Tuesday, which is the feature race of the day. Imperious in both the Fighting Fifth Hurdle and Christmas Hurdle this season, Nicky Henderson's superstar should be able to land this prize with relative ease, but he will face some lively opposition and at prohibitive odds offers no value.

The main danger appears to be State Man, who lines up for Willie Mullins and last season's County Hurdle winner has blossomed in Graded company this season and was last seen landing the Irish Champion Hurdle with aplomb. He's yet to reach his ceiling yet, but he could struggle to live with Constitution Hill in the closing stages and it could be a closer that can chase home the red-hot favourite. The horse worth backing in the Betting Without Constitution Hill and in the each-way market is VAUBAN, who was a winner of the Triumph Hurdle last season and is still open to improvement. Well beaten by State Man in the Irish Champion, Vauban could be given a stalking ride in this contest and it would be no surprise to see him picking up the pieces and finish second in this event.

16:10 Cheltenham - Mares' Hurdle

We are set for the finest renewal of the Mares' Hurdle since its inception as a host of former Cheltenham Festival winners take their chance - including a brace of former Champion Hurdle winners in the shape of Honeysuckle and Epatante - but that classy pair can fall to the quality of reigning champion MARIE'S ROCK, who looks a rock-solid option.

Honeysuckle has been regressive this season and was put in her place by State Man in the Irish Champion Hurdle, while Epatante has been struggling to finish anywhere near Constitution Hill this season, so the pair appear to be on a downward spiral. Marie's Rock, however, has been in tremendous form since winning the Mares' Hurdle 12 months ago, and she was last seen bounding to glory in the Relkeel Hurdle at Cheltenham on Festival Trials Day.

That was the eight-year-old's comeback run at Cheltenham on New Year's Day, where she outclassed the likes of Dashel Drasher, First Street and Knappers Hill, so there should be more to come and with stamina assured she should be able to get her head in front again and retain her crown.

16:50 Cheltenham - Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle

One of the hardest punting assignments on Tuesday is the penultimate race at 16:50, the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle, and the likes of Tekao and Byker sit towards the head of the betting for the four-year-old event, which could have a whole host of improving juveniles lining up.

Available at double-figured odds, at the time of writing, is Andrew Slattery's SIR ALLEN, who got the better of the aforementioned Byker last time out at Naas and with some winning form on heavy ground he should relish the rain-softened conditions at Cheltenham on day one. He was well beaten by leading Triumph Hurdle hope Blood Destiny on his hurdles debut, but he's since landed back-to-back wins over timber and he can duly make it a hat-trick here in what should be a real thrilling renewal.

17:30 Cheltenham - National Hunt Chase

For all money it looks like GAILLARD DU MESNIL is a class above his rivals in the National Hunt Chase in Friday's finale, but the betting certainly hasn't missed him and he could easily go off an odd-on favourite for the lucky last. Third in last season's Brown Advisory Novices' Chase he then went and followed that up with a fine third in the Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse. Both of those pieces of form are top notch and if he can repeat them then has to be the one here.

An emphatic Grade 1 winner at Leopardstown over Christmas, he was then a decent third behind Mighty Potter and Adamantly Chosen in Grade 1 company at the Dublin Racing Festival, as he struggled to deal with the shorter trip. The step up to near four miles here should see this relentless galloper blossom and he can end the day on a winning note for favourite backers.

Frequently Asked Questions About Day 1 Of The Cheltenham Festival