You may recall a little while back we looked at the forthcoming Cheltenham Festival 2023.

Well, it is now the first day of the festival and in the first of a series of four articles, we are going to bring you all the most up to date tips for all seven races each day.

We will of course be focusing on some of the great betting available at bet365 Sport for the festival, including a look at some of the site’s available Bet Boosts for each day of action.

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So let’s get straight down to the action starting with the first of the races on the opening Champion’s Day of the festival.

Cheltenham Festival 2023 Day One – Champion’s Day – 14^th March

Race List

1.30pm – Supreme Novices Hurdle

1. Chasing Fire – 28/1
2. Dark Raven – 28/1
3. Diverge – 22/1
4. Doctor Bravo – 25/1
5. Facile Vega – 2/1
6. Fennor Cross – 100/1
7. High Definition – 20/1
8. Il Etait Temps – 5/1
9. Inthepocket – 17/2
10. Matine Nationale – 11/2
11. Palace Boy – 250/1
12. Rare Edition – 28/1
13. Strong Leader – 40/1
14. Tahumuras – 11/1

Facile Vega (2/1 with bet365 bet boost) seems to be the fan favourite heading into the first race of the festival, but this is a high quality field to kick off Cheltenham this year. Il Etait Temps, Inthepocket and Marine Nationale all have good form heading into the race and for me, the winner is likely to come from this four.  

However, it’s hard to see past the Willie Mullins trained favourite here for the opener, so Facile Vega is my pick to land this one.

Bet365 Bet Boost Available – Facile Vega – was 15/8 now 2/1

Our Tip – Facile Vega – 2/1

2.10pm – Arkle Chase

Field

1. Ballybreeze – 150/1
2. Dysart Dynamo – 6/1
3. El Fabiolo – 11/8
4. Ha D’Or – 66/1
5. Hollow Games – 40/1
6. Jonbon – 15/8
7. Saint Roi – 8/1
8. Straw Fan Jack – 80/1
9. Effernock Fizz – 150/1

This Arkle Chase looks to be a battle between El Fabiolo and Jonbon according to the bookies, with both horses winning all three of their races this year, as well as having a first and second last year too. El Fabiolo may be the slight favourite here but I think it is likely a toss up between the Willie Mullins and Nicky Henderson trained pair to land the win.

However, at those short odds, I think there’s a better option available each way and as such, my tip here is to back Ha D’Or at 66/1. Willie Mullins would not have entered this horse if it didn’t stand some chance and with two seconds and a win in four runs this year, he looks a solid each way bet.

Bet365 Bet Boost Available – Jonbon – was 7/4 now 15/8

Our Tip – Ha D’Or – 66/1 – Each Way

2.50pm – Ultima Handicap Chase

Field

1. Fanion D’estruval – 33/1
2. Happygolucky – 16/1
3. Remastered – 25/1
4. The Big Breakaway – 16/1
5. Threeunderthrufive – 22/1
6. Fastorslow – 8/1
7. The Goffer – 12/1
8. Tea Clipper – 40/1
9. Into Overdrive – 10/1
10. Corach Rambler – 13/2
11. Cloudy Glen – 25/1
12. Nassalam – 9/1
13. Karl Philippe – 66/1
14. Top Ville Ben – 28/1
15. Monbeg Genius – 7/1
16. Good Boy Bobby – 33/1
17. Oscar Elite – 12/1
18. Iceo Madrik – 66/1
19. Laskalin – 40/1
20. Harper’s Brook – 40/1
21. Fantastikas – 16/1
22. The Wolf – 28/1
23. Glamorgan Duke – 66/1

There’s a real mixed bag of talent in this year’s Ultima Handicap Chase. Form suggests Monbeg Genius and Into Overdrive as the two horses to watch, but the bookies also have Corach Rambler, Nassalam and Fastorslow as real contenders in this race.

For me, I like the look of The Goffer. Gordon Elliot’s horse has won two races this season and not finished outside the top four in any race. He’s been well-backed in from 16/1 to 12/1 and I think he is as good a bet here as any.

Bet365 Bet Boost Available – Into Overdrive – was 10/1 now 11/1

Our Tip – The Goffer – 12/1

3.30pm – Champion Hurdle

Field

1. Constitution Hill – 4/11
2. I Like To Move It – 28/1
3. Jason The Militant – 200/1
4. Not So Sleepy – 150/1
5. State Man – 10/3
6. Vauban – 18/1
7. Zanahiyr – 80/1

Nicky Henderson’s Constitution Hill is arguably the best horse running today at Cheltenham. He has won all five races contested so far and looks a high quality option. State Man will be his main opposition with the Willie Mullins trained horse also winning its five starts here, but he will have to improve a bit more to really challenge the favourite.

Bet365 Super Boost Available – Constitution Hill – was 4/11 now Evens

Our Tip – Constitution Hill – Evens (with Super Boost from bet365)

4.10pm – Mares’ Hurdle

Field

1. Brandy Love – 15/2
2. Echoes in Rain – 10/1
3. Epatante – 9/1
4. Honeysuckle – 5/2
5. Love Envoi – 17/2
6. Marie’s Rock – 11/4
7. Non Runner
8. Queens Brook – 18/1
9. Shewearsitwell – 33/1
10. Theatre Glory – 40/1

Non Runner – Midnight Ginger

A very competitive Cheltenham Festival race sees Honeysuckle, Brandy Love, Love Envoi, Marie’s Rock and Epatante the bookmakers favourites. Form suggests Love Envoi and Marie’s Rock are the smart picks both winning their two races so far this season.

However, my tip here is an each way bet in the shape of Queens Brook, with the Gordon Elliott trained horse having two wins, a second and third this season and it has been quietly backed in the markets this morning.  

Bet365 Bet Boost Available – Brandy Love – was 7/1 now 8/1

Our Tip – Queens Brook – 18/1 – Each Way

4.50pm – Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle

Field

1. Mctigue – 100/1
2. Tekao – 3/1
3. Perseus Way – 10/1
4. Sir Allen – 11/1
5. Byker – 6/1
6. Risk Belle – 12/1
7. Punta Del Este – 16/1
8. Bad – 7/1
9. Samuel Spade – 20/1
10. Jazzy Matty – 16/1
11. Metamorpheus – 20/1
12. Action Motion – 100/1
13. Non-Runner
14. Mighty Mo Missouri – 40/1
15. Fils De Roi – 66/1
16. Afadil – 20/1
17. Gordons Aura – 66/1
18. Shared – 50/1
19. Ludus – 33/1
20. Sundial – 16/1
21. Mr Freedom – 40/1
22. Romancero Le Dun – 40/1
23. Non Runner
24. Non Runner

Non-Runners – Morning Soldier, Zanndabad, Arclight

A very open field of 21 starters sees a number of each-way backed outsiders shortening in the market including Jazzy Matty (16/1 from 18/1), Shared (50/1 from 66/1) and Mr Freedom and Romancero Le Dun (both 40/1 from 50/1).

Sir Allen is an interesting option with the Bet365 Bet Boost offering 11/1 especially with wins in his last two runs, but my bet here is Rachael Blackmore’s mount Bad.

Bet365 Bet Boost Available – Sir Allen – was 10/1 now 11/1

Our Tip – Bad – 7/1

5.30pm – National Hunt Chase

Field

1. Chemical Energy – 10/1
2. Coolvalla – 25/1
3. Fakiera – 40/1
4. Gaillard Du Mesnil – Evens
5. Mahler Mission – 13/2
6. Malinello – 100/1
7. Minella Crooner – 7/1
8. Mister Coffey – 9/1
9. Tenzing – 8/1
10. Bellatrixsa – 125/1

Gaillard Du Mesnil has drifted in the early betting here moving from 10/11 to even money, while there has been money for both Tenzing (11/1 in to 8/1) and Coolvalla who has come in from 33/1 to 25/1 on the back of four straight wins.

Mahler Mission (15/2 with bet365 Bet Boost) doesn’t have a great record at Cheltenham, but recent form suggests he can overcome that here and this may well be a solid each way option.

Bet365 Bet Boost Available – Mahler Mission – was 13/2 now 15/2

Our Tip – Mahler Mission – 15/2 – Each Way

Join me again tomorrow when we go through the Ladies Day card on Day two of the Cheltenham Festival and check back on how all my Day One tips turned out!

*All odds shown were correct at the time of writing with bet365 Sport but may change in the run up to each race.

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