The Cheltenham Festival 2023 is now underway and what an intriguing day of racing we had on Champions Day.

Things began well for punters as you can see from the Day One race results below, compared to how our tips performed (which are shown in brackets).

Cheltenham Day One Results

• 1.30 – Marine National – 9/2 – (Facile Vega, 2^nd, 9/4 fav)
• 2.10 – El Fabiolo – 11/10 fav – (E/W – Ha D’Or, 5^th, 66/1)
• 2.50 – Corach Rambler – 6/1 J.fav – (The Goffer, 4^th, 7/1)
• 3.30 – Constitution Hill – 4/11 fav – (Constitution Hill – 1^st, Evens Fav – Using Bet365 Super Boost)
• 4.10 – Honeysuckle 9/4 J-fav – (E/W – Queens Brook, 3rd, 18/1)
• 4.50 – Jazzy Matty – 18/1 – (Bad, 13th, 7/1)v b
• 5.30 –  Gaillard Du Mesnil 10/11 fav (E/W – Mahler Mission, Fell, 15/2)

In fact, it was a bumper day for punters with five favourites or joint favourites winning, plus another finishing second.

My tips saw two returns on Constitution Hill and most pleasingly, the each way on Queen’s Brook.

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Mahler Mission did look great in the final race but fell while leading the race by five lengths just two fences from home.

Anyway, let’s now take a look ahead at the action ahead on Day 2, which is of course Ladies Day.

Cheltenham Festival 2023 Day Two – Ladies Day – 15^th March

Race List

1.30pm – Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle

Field

1. American Mike – 33/1
2. Champ Kiely – 15/2
3. Gaelic Warrior – 7/1
4. Good Land – 3/1
5. Hermes Allen – 9/2
6. Ho My Lord – 22/1
7. Impaire Et Passe – 7/4 fav
8. Marble Sands – 66/1
9. Master Chewy – 150/1
10. Persian Time – 100/1

The unbeaten Impaire Et Passe trained by Willie Mullins could get the Irish trainer off to a great start on Ladies Day. The five-year-old has won all three races it has run, including two this season. Hermes Allen, who has won all three runs this year, as has Gaelic Warrior (another Mullins trained mount) are also in with a shout while Champ Kiely and Good Land cannot be discounted.

While Hermes Allen’s boosted price does make that a tempting option, I can’t go against the unbeaten Impaire Et Passe here, although it will be interesting to see if he has the stamina to last 2 miles 5 furlongs.

Bet365 Bet Boost Available – Hermes Allen – was 9/2 now 5/1

Our Tip – Impaire Et Passe – 7/4 fav

2.10pm – Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase

Field

1. Adamantly Chosen – 20/1
2. Amirite – 66/1
3. Bronn – 33/1
4. Gerri Colombe – 13/8 fav
5. I am Maximus – 50/1
6. Ramillies – 20/1
7. Sir Gerhard – 9/2
8. The Real Whacker – 11/2
9. Thunder Rock – 20/1
10. Thyme Hill – 17/2
11. Galia Des Liteaux – 13/2

Gordon Elliott’s Gerri Colombe is the consensus bet here. Unbeaten in five races so far, the seven year old is the class act in this field. The Real Whacker and Sir Gerhard in particular will have their backers while Thyme Hill and Galia Des Liteaux look decent each way options.

However, for me, this is one of the best horses running today and I can’t back against the favourite here once again.

Bet365 Bet Boost Available – Thyme Hill – was 17/2 now 10/1

Our Tip – Gerri Colombe – 13/8 fav

2.50pm – Coral Cup

Field

1. Fil Dor – 12/1
2. Sporting John – 50/1
3. Run For Oscar – 9/1
4. Scaramanga – 50/1
5. Red Risk – 28/1
6. Beacon Edge – 11/1
7. Call Me Lord – 66/1
8. Icare Allen – 28/1
9. Grand Roi – 40/1
10. Captain Conby – 11/1
11. Good Risk At All – 11/1
12. HMS Seahorse – 10/1
13. Watch House Cross – 18/1
14. Langer Dan – 9/1
15. Bold Endeavour – 25/1
16. The Very Man – 40/1
17. Benson – 14/1
18. Camprond – 8/1 fav
19. San Salvador – 16/1
20. Tax For Max – 33/1
21. An Epic Song – 9/1
22. Sa Fureur – 16/1
23. Riaan – 25/1
24. Nells Son – 40/1
25. Off our Rocco – 66/1
26. Elvis Mail – 100/1

As usual, it is a wide open and expansive field for the Coral Cup and this year’s race is very open. Camprond starts as a lukewarm 8/1 favourite but there are plenty of other horses in with a shout including Sa Fureur, Riaan, Benson, Langer Dan, Bold Endeavour, HMS Seahorse, Captain Conby, Good Risk At All and Fil Dor.

In such an open race and with so many runners, an each way option is always the smarter move and I am going to go with the 25/1 shot Riaan here.

Bet365 Bet Boost Available – Langer Dan – was 9/1 now 10/1

Our Tip – E/W – Riaan – 25/1

3.30pm – Queen Mother Champion Chase

Field

1. Captain Guinness – 50/1
2. Editeur Du Gite – 11/2
3. Edwardstone – 6/4 fab
4. Energumene – 13/8
5. Funambule Sivola – 40/1
6. Greaneteen – 25/1
7. Nube Negra – 20/1

This race is very much billed as a showdown between Energumene and Edwardstone, the former the winner of this race last year, the latter the winner of last year’s Arkle. While both of these horses are strong contenders, you cannot disregard Editeur Du Gite, who has won both its last two races, beating Edwardstone both times.

As the odds suggest, it does look a three way race and it will be very close, but I am backing Energumene to take the win here.

Bet365 Bet Boost Available – Energumene – was 13/8 now 7/4

Our Tip – Energumene – 7/4

4.10pm – Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase

Field

1. Back On The Lash – 18/1
2. Coup De Pinceau – 150/1
3. Deise Aba – 22/1
4. Delta Work – 6/5 fav
5. Diesel D’Allier – 33/1
6. Easysland – 66/1
7. Foxy Jacks – 50/1
8. Francky Du Berlais – 100/1
9. Franco De Port – 8/1
10. Galvin – 9/4
11. Hardline – 100/1
12. Lieutenant Rocco – 66/1
13. Mortal – 50/1
14. Plan of Attack – 40/1
15. Gin On Lime – 18/1
16. Snow Leopardess – 18/1

Delta Work, Galvin and Franco De Port are the trio of shortest priced runners in this week and while it is likely that at least one of these trio will be involved in the places, for me this race is a real opportunity for one of the longer odds horses to make a name for themselves.

Hardline is an interesting one here as a good run of form ended with a 6^th place finish in the last race and at age 11, time is not on his side. So Snow Leopardess is my pick here, with a 7lb mare allowance and very decent each way odds.

Bet365 Bet Boost Available – Galvin – was 9/4 now 5/2

Our Tip – E/W – Snow Leopardess – 18/1

4.50pm – Grand Annual Handicap Chase

Field

1. Andy Dufresne – 6/1
2. Coeur Sublime – 12/1
3. Final Orders – 11/2
4. Third Time Lucki – 10/1
5. Malystic – 40/1
6. A Wave Of The Sea – 50/1
7. Elixir Du Nutz – 14/1
8. Thyme Whyte – 16/1
9. Epson Du Houx – 16/1
10. Midnight Run – 20/1
11. Dads Lad – 11/1
12. Call Me Lyreen – 25/1
13. Dancing On My Own – 40/1
14. Battleoverdoyen – 40/1
15. Before Midnight – 20/1
16. Maskada – 25/1
17. Sizing Pottsie – 25/1
18. Dinoblue – 5/1 fav
19. Global Citizen – 16/1
20. The Last Day – 25/1

Non-Runners – Prince Escalus, Riders On The Storm

Solid form from Dinoblue has the Willie Mullins trained mount the favourite for this race ahead of Andy Dufresne, and Final Orders. I have to say that on form, Final Orders is the pick with five wins on the bounce and a second in its last six races and at 11/2, this looks a very good bet and I would not be surprised to see this 7 year old start as favourite.

Dads Lad could be a solid each way punt, with its form somewhat hit and miss, but for me, Final Orders is the horse to back to win here.

Bet365 Bet Boost Available – Third Time Lucki – was 10/1 now 11/1

Our Tip – Final Orders – 11/2

5.30pm – Champion Bumper

Field

1. A Dream To Share – 7/2 fav
2. Beachcomber – 80/1
3. Better Days Ahead – 12/1
4. Captain Cody – 100/1
5. Captain Teague – 33/1
6. Chapeau Du Soleil – 14/1
7. Chosen Witness – 14/1
8. Encanto Bruno – 12/1
9. Fact To File – 5/1
10. Fascile Mode – 33/1
11. Favour And Fortune – 33/1
12. It’s For Me – 6/1
13. King of Kingsfield – 33/1
14. Lecky Watson – 40/1
15. Loughglynn – 22/1
16. No Time To Wait – 40/1
17. Western Diego – 14/1
18. Westport Cove – 20/1
19. Fun Fun Fun – 8/1
20. Queens Gamble – 18/1
21. D Art D Art – 50/1
22. Fiercely Proud – 40/1
23. Samui – 50/1
24. Shinji – 100/1

Another wide-open race that features a number of potential winners. A Dream to Share, Better Days Ahead, Encanto Bruno, Chapeau De Soleil, It’s For Me, Fun Fun Fun and Western Diego are all horses that should be under consideration for this race.

In such a tough and open race, an each way bet makes sense and for me if the ground is to his liking, then Bruno Encanto could be a big player here.

Bet365 Bet Boost Available – Better Days Ahead – was 12/1 now 14/1

Our Tip – E/W – Encanto Bruno – 12/1

Join us again tomorrow when we look at St Patricks Day of the festival and recap how our Day 2 tips went.

Cheltenham Tips Tracker After Day 1

I placed a bet of £10 on each race, apart from the Mares’ Hurdle where I accidentally did £10 each way (£20 total) bet, but fortunately, Queens Brook landed a third to spare my blushes!

• Total Bet – £80
• Total Returns – £66
• Profit/Loss – -£14 down after day one

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