Cheltenham Festival Day 1 Tips 2026: Full Card Selections for Tuesday at Cheltenham

Cheltenham Festival 2026 gets underway on Tuesday with a blockbuster opening day at Prestbury Park featuring the Supreme Novices' Hurdle and the Champion Hurdle. The meeting’s first afternoon always sets the tone for the week ahead and this year’s card looks as competitive as ever, with seven fascinating races on the schedule.

Billy Grimshaw has studied the full Tuesday line-up and here are his Cheltenham Festival Day 1 tips for every race on the opening day at Cheltenham.

If you're looking for more selections across the meeting, you can also read our full Cheltenham Festival tips guide where we break down the best bets across all four days.

13:20 Supreme Novices' Hurdle

The Cheltenham Festival traditionally begins with a furious pace in the Supreme and this year’s renewal looks no different. Several leading yards arrive with strong claims and the market has been shifting throughout the winter as form lines from Ireland and Britain collide. The race often rewards speed and slick jumping, especially for novices who can travel comfortably in a big field, but stamina is also crucial given the stiff finish and pace they usually go.

Nicky Henderson knows how to train a superstar for the Supreme and OLD PARK STAR looks another off the conveyor belt. He is a short price, but can give favourite backers the perfect start to the week with a dominant win off the front.

For a full runner-by-runner breakdown, read my Supreme Novices' Hurdle preview below:

14:00 Arkle Chase

The Arkle is a ferocious test of speed and jumping accuracy for novice chasers over the minimum trip and while the market is dominated by a big two, both have questions to answer. KOPEK DES BORDES, last year’s Supreme Novices' Hurdle winner, comes here off just one run over fences back in November and that lack of recent experience over the larger obstacles could leave him vulnerable in such a demanding race.

LULAMBA, on the other hand, already has experience in stronger company but shapes like a horse who may ultimately be better suited by a step up in trip. In this clash between proven speed and potential staying power, I’m siding with the Willie Mullins-trained Kopek Des Bordes to land a second successive Cheltenham Festival success.

14:40 Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle

Always one of the toughest races of the week to find the winner in, with plenty of these four-year-olds having lumps of weight in hand, a chance is taken that Nicky Henderson's JP McManus-owned MANLAGA is a graded horse running in a handicap.

She won in impressive fashion at Haydock last time out and looks to have been let in leniently by the British handicapper, which is not something you can always say for the Irish raiders in the same silks. Her form has improved with every run and I would have given her an each-way squeak in the Triumph had she headed there, so she rates a solid each-way play in this typically puzzling contest.

15:20 Ultima Handicap Chase

A race that has been a graveyard for Irish raiders, the Ultima is always a tough test of stamina for some dour staying handicappers. Even with the weather looking set fair for the week of the 2026 Cheltenham Festival, meaning the ground shouldn't be too testing, there will be no hiding place in here.

With that in mind, a chance is taken on the high class HANDSTANDS to bounce back to his best after a disappointing season. Last campaign he looked one of Britain's best novice chasers and saw of Jango Baie in a battle, which is smarter form than anything else in here can bring. Top weight will make it tough, but at his best he has bundles in hand.

16:00 Champion Hurdle

Willie Mullins is typically giving nothing away regarding whether Lossiemouth will take her chance here, but my suspicion is that the most cautious of connections may instead opt for the penalty kick of the Mares' Hurdle on Thursday.

Should she swerve this contest, Paul Townend would likely be booked for PONIROS and quotes around 9/1 could disappear quickly. I tipped him a few days ago at double-figure odds and have rewatched his Triumph Hurdle victory several times since. The more I study the likely shape of this race, the more I like his chances of outrunning his price and hitting the frame.

For a full breakdown of the race and why I think Poniros could outrun his odds, read my Champion Hurdle preview below.

16:40 Plate Handicap Chase

The price is evaporating almost every hour, but I do rate the Dan Skelton trained MADARA as the most likely winner of this race and would just about still be recommending a bet at the 4/1 available. There is no trainer in the land better at plotting a horse from a long, long way out and it does not take a rocket scientist to see this race has been the plan for Madara for some time.

This looks a weaker than usual renewal of the Plate, with McLaurey the only other horse priced anywhere near the steaming favourite and with a profile I am not keen on for the race while Madara looks tailormade for the contest and this course and distance winner could dominate the race.

17:20 National Hunt Chase

The final race of day one and hopefully we are all rolling in cash after nailing the first six winners, with WADE OUT the most likely winner of the lucky last to my eye. Olly Murphy is yet to have a Festival winner, but it is not through lack of trying and he has plotted out the season for this dour stayer in expert fashion.

He just sneaks in here off a mark of 144 and although carrying twelve stone will not be easy, the drier ground is a huge help to him and with his stamina in bucket loads he could be plugging on when the majority of the field cry enough.