Cheltenham Day 1 Lucky 15 Tips: Feel the power in the Festival opener

We're here. Day 1 of the annual Cheltenham National Hunt Festival, from that incredible natural amphitheatre in the delightful Cotswolds spa town. I hope you enjoy the racing, which will be sensational, as per. It always is.

We'll be with you every day, reflecting on what's to come and how we think things might just play out. So, without further ado, here's the Cheltenham Day 1 Lucky 15 tips. If you're playing, have fun, and good luck.

13:30 Cheltenham - Mystical Power @ 7/2

The traditional curtain-raiser, the Supreme Novices' Hurdle. This is all about the embarrassment of riches at master trainer Willie Mullins' Closutton base, as he looks to add to his tally of seven winners of this great race already.

Willie's Flemensfirth gelding Ballyburn was all the rage for this until deciding it would be the longer Gallagher on Wednesday for him instead, for which he's firmly odds-on. In his absence though Mullins still fields two at the head of the market and several more chasing each-way possibilities.

It's to one of those fancied horses I'm drawn - the JP McManus-owned Mystical Power. The five-year-old is regally bred, by Galileo out of Annie Power, and is unbeaten in three starts. One bumper, and two novice hurdles - the latest of which was a Grade 2.

One slight concern - it's been noted that Mystical Power hasn't been super-slick at some of his hurdles, but one hopes the team will have been working on that. Otherwise the profile looks most progressive.

His main market rival looks to be stablemate Tullyhill, with Paul Townend aboard. Mark Walsh, retained rider for JP, rides 'Power' so it's not unusual that Townend is on the Cheveley Park gelding. We're paying four places each-way in this absolute cracker, a fantastic-looking contest to start the ball rolling for 2024.

Wait for that roar to roll towards the stands from the direction of Cleeve Hill ...

14:50 Cheltenham - Trelawne @ 7/1

It's to the home side I'm looking now, in the shape of trainer Kim Bailey's Trelawne. He gets a step up in trip in this Ultima Chase, and the inestimable benefit of the brilliant Harry Cobden in the plate.

He's already a better chaser than he was hurdler, and I love the booking of red-hot Cobden. Trelawne ran well here in December over a trip of around half-a-mile shorter, and his trainer, lest we forget, handled the great Master Oats to win the Gold Cup nearly 30 years ago.

Trelawne's education continued with a fine Grade 2 effort at Wetherby in the Towton in January, and was again narrowly denied at Exeter a month ago. All vital experience and fencing exposure for a test such as this.

We're paying six places each-way and of course the Irish are providing a powerful challenge, but I'm hoping the Cobden magic can work the oracle and land this coveted prize.

16:50 Cheltenham - Lark In The Mornin @ 6/1

Another enhanced each-way race - we're paying five places. The selection is a 'Joey O' inmate making his handicap debut after three respectable maiden hurdle spins, and this opening mark of 122 doesn't look too onerous, potentially. One that a trainer of Joseph O'Brien's calibre could well exploit on this glittering stage.

JJ Slevin rides, one of Ireland's finest, and he's been on top for all those recent efforts over timber. 'Lark' has had a little rest (57 days) since appearing at Punchestown, another proper championship venue, and the winner is a Mullins-trained outsider for the Triumph on Friday.

The O'Brien yard is in form right now and this one runs in the familiar colours of Sean & Bernardine Mulryan, who have plenty of firepower generally housed with Martin Brassil, but their Embassy Gardens is a warm fancy for today's 17:30, trained by a certain WP Mullins ...

17:30 Cheltenham - Embassy Gardens @ 2/1

Talking of which - amateur riders now for the National Hunt Challenge Cup, run this time in honour of the late Maureen Mullins, Willie's Mum, who sadly passed away recently.

Son Patrick rides, and along with the likes of Derek O'Connor (Corbetts Cross) in this contest, are every bit as good and in many cases more experienced than the majority of professionals riding.

Marathon trip here of 3m 6f, and the selection warmed up for this beautifully at Naas 44 days ago over 3m 1f, staying on powerfully to take a Grade 2 in the hands of Paul Townend. Patrick will know him very well I'm sure from the home gallops and won on him on debut in a Leopardstown bumper in December 2021.

This will be attritional, and patience can be key. The horse can race prominently but I'll trust Patrick to plot his way around as he sees fit and strike for home at the optimum moment.

Cheltenham lends itself beautifully in my eyes to creating an each-way Lucky 15 - white-hot competition, and very often some additional places on offer. If you can improve upon my selections (of course you can), then go for it!

The odds can fluctuate between publishing our pieces and race-time. As a guide, a £0.25p each-way Lucky 15 on today's selections, at the prices, and assuming all four won, would return around £413 for your total £7.50 stake.

Fred, 'The Bonus King,' invented the 'Lucky' series of bets and their bonuses. My colleague Adam has set out all you need to know with this handy guide - take a look by clicking here.

Cheltenham tips from Betfred Insights.