Cheltenham Day 1 Tips: 7/4 shot tops Tuesday’s selections

Here we go, folks. At 13:30 on Tuesday, the famous Cheltenham roar will echo around Prestbury Park as they jump off for the Festival's curtain-raiser - the Supreme Novices' Hurdle.

A further six races, running until 17:30, follow and I've got a selection for each one to form my Cheltenham Day 1 tips.

13:30 Supreme Novices' Hurdle - Jeriko Du Reponet @ 7/1

With no Ballyburn (sigh) in the opener, a chance is taken on Nicky Henderson's unbeaten JERIKO DU REPONET.

Like many, I was disappointed by the manner of his victory in the G2 Rossington Main at Doncaster last time out and in a 'normal' year he probably wouldn't be on my mind for a Supreme, but this is a weak renewal in my book and there's good reason to expect a much-improved performance from the five-year-old.

He was notably weak in the market at 'Donny' - with Henderson later admitting he wasn't fully tuned up for it - and crawling round on good ground won't have suited. The end-to-end gallop of a Supreme in easier conditions ought to bring out the best of this horse, however.

It'll have to, for he's got a good bit to find on the likes of Tullyhill, Mystical Power, Slade Steel and perhaps even Firefox, but none of them are bombproof by any means and Jeriko Du Reponet has always been a horse connections have thought a lot of. It's time to show why.

14:10 Arkle Challenge Trophy - Hunters Yarn @ 13/2

This also doesn't look a vintage renewal of the Arkle and I must admit I struggled to land on one of the 10 runners.

Gaelic Warrior is undoubtedly the best horse in the race and it'd be no great surprise were he to prove exactly that, but his record going left-handed is poor and if he found everything happening too quickly over 2m5½f at the Dublin Racing Festival last month, then you'd have to imagine he'll struggle here.

Found A Fifty and Il Etait Temps are solid yardsticks but there's very little to separate the pair, who both have questions to answer at Cheltenham. My Mate Mozzie's form also ties in closely with that duo, while I give nothing more than a slim chance to the four British-trained runners in the field.

Of the other two, Quilixios and HUNTERS YARN, it's the latter who gets a tentative vote.

He lacks experience at this level and is prone to a mistake or two, but he's blessed with plenty of ability and doesn't have much at all to find on official ratings, so he's worth chancing at the prices.

14:50 Ultima Handicap Chase - Chianti Classico @ 6/1

The Ultima is my favourite handicap of the week and I've long had CHIANTI CLASSICO in mind for this year's renewal.

Kim Bailey's seven-year-old won impressively on his chasing debut at Chepstow back in October and was raised eight pounds, from 133 to 141, for doing so. Since then, he's carried a huge weight to victory on ground quicker than ideal at Ascot and finished runner-up in a fair race at Kempton.

Those exploits have seen his rating climb to just 143, which rates an attractive mark for this lightly-raced son of Shantou who I'm confident has a lot more to give.

His prep run at Kempton last time out was perfect. Kept wide throughout, it looked very much like a case of protecting that all-important mark and the form isn't too shabby either, with the winner Flegmatik going well off 140 in a valuable handicap over course and distance the following month.

Per Mr. Bailey himself, this has always been the plan for Chianti Classico, who has an excellent chance in suitable conditions.

15:30 Champion Hurdle - State Man @ 4/11

By any measure, STATE MAN should win the Champion Hurdle.

The seven-year-old, who already has eight Grade 1s to his name, is far superior to his seven rivals and barring disaster he's fancied to provide trainer Willie Mullins with his fifth - and jockey Paul Townend's first - success in this race.

If like me you've got no interest in backing him favourite at such short odds, my ultimate advice is to sit back, relax and enjoy the spectacle, because the battle for places looks messy.

16:10 Mares' Hurdle - Love Envoi e/w @ 14/1

Lossiemouth is another odds-on favourite for Willie Mullins, but she's slightly more opposable than her stablemate in the feature given she's never raced over this trip before - and this time there's some worthy each-way alternatives.

The one that most appeals to me is last year's runner-up LOVE ENVOI for Harry Fry.

She has a lot of ground to make up on the favourite based on their respective efforts in the International Hurdle here on Trials Day in January, but a combination of a longer trip an easier surface will certainly help the eight-year-old daughter of Westerner go about doing so.

If Lossiemouth does indeed encounter trip-related troubles, you can bet the selection will be there to capitalise - and even if Lossiemouth is the good thing the odds suggest, Love Envoi must have every chance of making the frame.

16:50 Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle - Palamon e/w @ 20/1

Is there a tougher race at the Cheltenham Festival than the Boodles? Not in my book.

I like to find one at a bit of a price in these devilishly-tricky handicaps, and this time it's PALAMON for Paul Nolan.

Rated 70 on the flat for Richard Hannon, he joined new connections late last year and looks to have been campaigned with this very much in mind. His latest effort behind Gordon Elliott's fancied Ndaawi, who is 13lbs worse off here, I thought was particularly eye-catching.

Off a lowly mark of 121, he looks set for the big day and with any luck I'd be rather hopeful about him being competitive at the business end.

17:30 National Hunt Chase - Embassy Gardens @ 7/4

Per our Cheltenham Festival Betting Guide, Corbetts Cross is my 'Lay' of the meeting. He's not without ability, but he's a poor jumper of a fence - there's 18 to clear - and his preparation has been far from ideal.

On the other hand, Willie Mullins' EMBASSY GARDENS has taken to fencing like a duck to water and comes into this on the back of two wide-margin victories, including a Grade 3 last time out.

I think this horse is much better than people are giving him credit for. The fact Paul Townend recently admitted to putting his hand up to ride the eight-year-old son of Shantou in the Brown Advisory speaks volumes.

The Mullins' have won the last two renewals of this and I fancy them to complete the hat-trick - and with the race being run in honour of the late Maureen, wouldn't that just be lovely?

This is my best bet of Day 1.

Find more Cheltenham Tips here at Betfred Insights