Cheltenham 2026 - Day 1 Selections

1.20 Supreme Novices' Hurdle 2m1/2f

This is the deepest Supreme in recent memory. We haven't seen the majority of these horses at their best and it's a guessing game as to who will put their hand up on the day. The fourth and fifth here could easily be Grade 1 horses further down the line. If Mighty Park is as good as Closutton say he is then he should go very close - and you would usually take 4/1 for them to be right. A half-brother to Might Bite, he is a big horse who may step forward with a stronger pace to aim at, but he has ultimately achieved little on the track and it is notable that market support has dried up somewhat (quick ground may have gone against him).

Conversely, Old Park Star is a worthy favourite who has been outstanding in his three wins over hurdles, most recently destroying a 136-rated listed winner by 18 lengths. He looks like a very straightforward, point-and-go horse who can maintain a relentless gallop. I have backed him but would be slightly less enthusiastic at the price available, the main concern being the facile nature of his victories thus far. This is going to be an entirely different setup and he will need prove he is as effective when taken on through the middle of a race. His times have been very good and going against him could look very silly by twenty-five past one, but every horse has their price and if he is able match the style of his performances at this level, then he is likely a freak.

Talk the Talk did extremely well to win a slowly run race at Leopardstown despite an uncompromising track position. Interestingly, Joseph O'Brien said after the race that they had planned to ride him cold for educational purposes, which makes winning all the more impressive. Jockey bookings for tomorrow imply that the two horses he managed to beat that day (Ballyfad and King Rasko Grey) are no slouches and his performances in two Grade 1s give him much the strongest form coming into this race. Connections see him as a horse for the future - my only concern would be if they ride him the same way again. The other Irish protagonists warrant respect: El Cairos is a very speedy horse if he can get his jumping together, while Leader D’Allier has French experience and is ridden by Paul Townend in a refitted tongue-tie.

Amid all the complexity, it may be worth taking Mydaddypaddy or Sober Glory as an each-way angle into the race with four places on offer. Mydaddypaddy is the best jumper of a hurdle in the field by some distance and should relish the ground given a strong Flat pedigree running through the dam side. Held in high regard by the Skeltons, he was long-time favourite for this race before succumbing to Idaho Sun at Aintree when hurdles were omitted. If you adopt the old maxim of forgiving a horse one bad race, then Sober Glory looks like an outstanding novice who has barely broken sweat in six racecourse wins, including a hot Newbury bumper which has produced seven subsequent winners. He hasn't beaten much over hurdles yet but his performances have measured favourably on the clock. They will both be given completely different rides, with Sober Glory likely to make the running and Mydaddypaddy stalking the leaders to pick up the pieces.

It will be an amazing race to watch but perhaps not one to be playing your full hand. Make sure to shop around for any bookmaker concessions on offer.

2.00 Arkle Novices' Chase 2m

However good he is, it takes a certain amount of bravery to back Kopek des Bordes after just one run over fences. Schooling reports have been glowing and, as expected, the money has been trickling in for him but that only strengthens the appeal of LULAMBA. Still only a 5-year-old, he is a precocious talent who has rewarded the decision to send him straight over fences having proved himself to be the best of last season's juveniles. He races very maturely despite being physically raw and his performance in the Game Spirit was mightily impressive, coming through a field of good-quality, battle-hardened handicappers to win as he liked.

Many have aired concerns about racing behind the bridle, but Nico will be fully aware of that and trying to get him involved early. He would not be the first Arkle winner to move up in distance further down the line and I think better ground will make the world of difference to his jumping, too. If he is in contention turning for home, nothing will come up the hill better. He finds well for pressure and the ability to win ugly if needed is a bonus.

Bet: Lulamba @ 7/4 1pt win

2.40 Fred Winter Juvenile Hcap Hurdle 2m1/2f

This is race is famously unpredictable and I am going to take a couple of horses against the field for small stakes. The first is AMMES for James Owen, who brings experience from the Flat having run well in some good-quality handicaps at big meetings. He won his first two starts over hurdles before being sent off at odds-on and finishing a 3/4 length second to Minella Study, who has since won a Cheltenham trial and is near the top of the market for the Triumph on Friday. James Owen saddled Liam Swagger to finish third in this last year and Ammes has been given the same prep with a late February spin on the level. He will need to jump better but looks to have been given a serious chance by the handicapper off 128. The other selection is MUSTANG DU BREUIL, who came to Nicky Henderson after winning a juvenile hurdle at Auteuil and did his best work at the finish when finishing third in a Grade 2 last time out. He might look like second-string on bookings but James Bowen has ridden him on both previous occasions.

Bet: Ammes @ 8/1 0.5pt win

Bet: Mustang du Breuil @ 12/1 0.5pt win

3.20 Ultima Hcap Chase 3m1f

The Irish are 0 from 51 in this race since 2006 and that doesn't look like changing any time soon. The claims of Jagwar are well-publicised but he may have gotten away with murder being raised only 3lb for his second on Trials Day, when he and Donnacha pulled 10 lengths clear in a good time. He was given an RPR of 160, 7lb above his revised mark, and it may prove that finishing alongside a highly progressive winner may have provided a smokescreen against a bigger hike up the weights. He looks sure to appreciate a step up in trip and, with Greenall and Guerriero back firing after a strangles outbreak curtailed their early season plans, he will surely be there or thereabouts granted a clear round. He is prohibitively short, though, and I would prefer to side with something at an each-way price.

This could be a productive festival for Ditcheat and it is no secret that QUEBECOIS has been targeted at this for part-owner Max McNeill, who sponsors this race. He was sent off odds-on on chase debut when he never got into the race against a race-fit Skelton frontrunner and he has since finished second in the novice handicap on Trials Day, which is always a good arbiter of festival form. Only 4lb higher, three miles looks to be his trip and he was given an interesting prep race over two miles which was subject to an inquiry at Newbury. Harry Cobden should give him a positive ride and I think he will finish in the frame.

Elsewhere, Hyland definitely has a big race in him on his favoured ground with first-time cheekpieces applied, while Konfusion may not have reached his ceiling for Joel Parkinson and Sue Smith. At a huge price, look out for Filanderer for Hughie Morrison. He is 3lb out of the weights but has been winning his races by wide margins and is sharply progressive for a yard that does well with its home-breds.

Bet: Quebecois @ 10/1 1pt win

4.00 Champion Hurdle 2m1/2f

After months of locomotion the Champion Hurdle looks as puzzling as it did when Golden Ace crossed the line last year. In a field of unknowns my only strong opinion - and my angle into the race - is that The New Lion is too short. Last year's Turners form isn't working out well and I'm yet to be convinced by either his jumping or aptitude for two miles. It seems that many are siding with him simply by default. It would be brilliant if Golden Ace won again but despite her consistency, she is yet to tell us she is any better than a low-mid 150s mare.

The remaining two mares provide the most interest, though trying to prove the superiority of one over the other is perhaps better left at an understanding that they are equally talented in different ways. In my view, the order they finish in will usually be determined by (a) who gets out on the right side of bed and (b) who is best suited by the conditions of that particular race.

Lossiemouth is an athletic, slighter individual with an electric turn of foot, who just happens to be brilliant at Cheltenham. She has a wonderful attitude and always runs her race (I would say a 'banker' for the placepot), though she has suffered recurring back issues and sometimes looks uncomfortable when going a strong gallop. Two-and-a-half miles is probably her best trip but the cheekpieces have gone on to help her and this is effectively a home match for her. If she is travelling well midway through the race, then she is a danger to all.

BRIGHTERDAYSAHEAD is a stronger mare who can maintain a fierce gallop over two miles and is capable of huge performances when there is cut in the ground. A lot has been made of her festival record but I don't think it is sufficient evidence to say she doesn't like Cheltenham. She was whinnying when crossing the line in last year's Champion Hurdle (a back issue transpired) and I don't think she ran at all badly when conceding 5lb to Golden Ace in a slowly run race two years ago. Gordon Elliott is desperate to win a Champion Hurdle and she has been stabled at Olly Murphy's to ensure no stone is left unturned. Provided there is some cut in the ground, she is the value bet at 5/1.

The preliminaries may provide some answers to (a) and I plan to leave it as late as I can before playing my hand. Brighterdaysahead was a standout in the paddock at Leopardstown and it could give an indication again as to whether she has gotten over a hard race. A steady pace will suit Lossiemouth, who will make it clear whether she is happy from the start, so she might be worth a look in-running.

Bet: Brighterdaysahead @ 5/1 1pt win (paddock-dependent)

4.40 Plate Hcap Chase 2m4f

Madara is an obvious plot and potential good thing for the Skeltons, but I'd be willing to take him and McLaurey on. Henry de Bromhead has a strong hand here with a pair of novices and it is interesting that Darragh O'Keefe has opted for DOWNMEXICOWAY over course-and-distance winner Zurich. He is a point winner who didn't show much over hurdles and was sent over fences in August, winning twice and finishing second to Gold Dancer. After a break he was pitched into the Irish Arkle and never got involved in a three-runner race and I suspect the simple aim was to get him qualified and pick up some place money, especially once the front two had set the gallop. A son of Champs Elysees, he wouldn't be the first of his relations to have a strong preference for decent ground.

Bet: Downmexicoway @ 8/1 1pt each-way

5.20 National Hunt Novices' Hcap Chase 3m6f

After switching to a handicap and opening up to professionals in 2025, it is difficult to know where to look in this race. The obvious direction might be last year's winning trainer and NEWTON TORNADO has a very good chance of giving Rebecca Curtis another victory in the colours of festival winner Lisnagar Oscar. He was going extremely well when coming down on chase debut at Cheltenham and has since won two three-mile handicaps very easily. He has been kept for this since winning at Doncaster in a good time, and a mark of 133 is likely to underestimate him with the second having won since. There is plenty of stamina in his pedigree so he should have no problems with the extra distance and he jumps accurately despite what his form figures suggest.

Though many suitable Irish candidates for this race will be aimed at the Irish National, ICEBERG THEORY has clearly been kept for this by Paul Nolan since winning at Cork in November. Six lengths behind him that day was O'Toole who, after two long breaks, showed the handicapper to be too relenting by winning a big Leopardstown handicap last week. The form of Iceberg Theory's beginners chase has also worked out nicely, he shapes like a stayer and l can’t resist a bet on him, too.

Bet: Newton Tornado @ 11/2 1pt win

Bet: Iceberg Theory @ 15/2 1pt win

Selections:

1.20 -

2.00 Lulamba @ 7/4 1pt win

2.40 Ammes @ 8/1 0.5pt win

Mustang du Breuil @ 12/1 0.5pt win

3.20 Quebecois @ 10/1 1pt win

4.00 Brighterdaysahead @ 5/1 1pt win (paddock-dependent)

4.40 Downmexicoway @ 9/1 1pt each-way

5.20 Newton Tornado @ 11/2 1pt win

Iceberg Theory @ 15/2 1pt win