Cheltenham Day 1 Tips: Owen eyes a bright start to the Festival

It's here, folks. The 2026 Cheltenham Festival is less than 24 hours away, and I for one cannot wait. The best week of the year.

My Cheltenham Day 1 tips comprises of a selection for each and every race - including a 9/4 Nap in the curtain-raiser.

13:20 - Old Park Star @ 9/4

The Cheltenham Festival gets underway with the Supreme Novices' Hurdle - and a fantastic renewal of it too. To celebrate the first race of the day - of all four days in fact - Betfred are offering £10 in Free Bets for every £10+ staked.

There's a case to be made for several of these, but I've been all in on OLD PARK STAR from the second he crossed the line in the trial at Haydock in mid-January.

Nicky Henderson's six-year-old son of Well Chosen was an ordinary bumper horse for Paul Nicholls before joining the ranks at Seven Barrows, and it's fair to say on absolutely nobody's radar for a Supreme.

That was still the case for most after winning on hurdling debut at Kempton in November, but then he went to HQ and bolted up by 12 lengths in a novices' hurdle over 2m1f, creating an almighty impression.

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It's not the strongest form in the world, but he could've won by 20+ lengths if Nico de Boinville asked him to. I'm not comparing their ability, but it was Constitution Hill-esque in the way he powered up that hill.

I was left wanting him to prove it again, which he did and then some on Merseyside, winning the Grade 2 trial by 18 lengths, leaving Listed winner Hurricane Pat (rated 136) in the dust.

He's got sheer power with a high cruising speed, and he's not without a turn of foot either. He's got everything you want in a Supreme horse and I prefer him to Talk The Talk, who's rated just a pound inferior, and the potential of Mighty Park and El Cairos.

This is my Nap of the Day.

14:00 - Lulamba @ 13/8

Reluctantly, as he's one of my favourite horses in training, I'm against Kopek Des Bordes in the Arkle.

'Kevin' is, pun intended, a supreme talent and by all accounts he's been working the house down at Closutton. However, I'm struggling to get over the fact he's only managed the one run over fences, which was 113 days and a setback ago.

On the other hand, last year's Triumph Hurdle runner-up LULAMBA has enjoyed a faultless campaign so far, winning a beginners' chase at Exeter in November and the G1 Henry VIII Novices' Chase at Sandown before Christmas with consummate ease.

Nicky Henderson's five-year-old then took on older horses in the Game Spirit at Newbury last month, giving the 155-rated Saint Segal a pound and a beating, by six-and-a-half lengths.

It was a serious performance as far as I'm concerned and although I don't think he's the most natural two-miler in the world, he'll relish the famous hill and a bit of cut in the ground, which is almost guaranteed on the opening day of the Festival.

Lulamba edges it over Kopek Des Bordes for me, which should be more than another to secure Nicky Henderson a record ninth Arkle, for I think Kargese, who endured a tough battle on bad ground in the Irish Arkle at the Dublin Racing Festival, and the others are a level or two below the market leaders.

14:40 - Winston Junior @ 13/2

Ah, the Fred Winter. I can't decide if I love it, or hate it. The one thing I do know is, it's always a devilishly-tricky puzzle to solve.

I would usually stay well clear of those at the top of the betting in favour of an each-way selection at a bigger price, but I can't get away from them this year - especially WINSTON JUNIOR.

The four-year-old son of Churchill has been brought along brilliantly since joining Faye Bramley's outfit late last year, finishing runner-up on debut at Fontwell before a very eye-catching run behind Triumph hopeful Minella Study at the track in December.

He opened his account at the third time of asking at Ascot in the new year, beating nine rivals - including the 122-rated Talakan - in a common canter.

I thought he'd blown his mark, but 131 is fair enough given how superior he was. He ought to be very competitive under Jack Kennedy, who is allowed to ride despite Gordon Elliott having runners in the race.

15:20 - Konfusion each-way @ 16/1

The Ultima is by far my favourite handicap of the Cheltenham Festival, and I've got a fine record in it too. However, I'm struggling this year. Big time.

Jagwar has a stonking chance if he puts it all together, but he's not the best jumper and this is his first try over three miles and above. Iroko too, but he's got the Grand National in his sights.

Myretown was a mightily-impressive winner of the race 12 months ago, but he doesn't look the same horse. A revival and he'd be very dangerous.

The solid option for me is KONFUSION for Joel Parkinson & Sue Smith.

The eight-year-old has been a revelation this season, rising 30 pounds in the handicap and winning two big Grade 3 handicaps - namely the Rehearsal Chase and Rowland Meyrick - along the way.

He came up short in the Peter Marsh at Haydock last time out, but it was big run nonetheless and his mark of 145 is unchanged.

He's probably the best jumper in the race and prominent runners tend to do well in the Ultima, so he's my pick each-way.

16:00 - Brighterdaysahead @ 9/2

Lossiemouth is unbeaten in four starts at Cheltenham and the fact she's even running in the Champion Hurdle suggests she's been impressing Willie Mullins on the gallops. I appreciate the support for Rich Ricci's mare, but her price in relation to BRIGHTERDAYSAHEAD is based on the theory that Gordon Elliott's seven-year-old doesn't enjoy the track.

The daughter of Kapgarde is 0-2 at HQ, missing out to Golden Ace in the 2024 Mares' Novices' Hurdle and then of course this race last year.

Elliott is adamant she wasn't right 12 months ago - the fact she was nine lengths behind Winter Fog suggests as much - and the previous Festival was a tactical nightmare as far as I'm concerned.

If the theory is wrong and she is able to give the best account of herself in Gloucestershire, she's a big price given she beat Lossiemouth by three-and-a-quarter lengths at the Dublin Racing Festival last time out.

I'm not convinced The New Lion is a two-miler, certainly not at this level, and Golden Ace can't do it again. Can she? The rest are playing for places in my book.

16:40 - McLaurey @ 9/2

In a poor renewal of the Plate, a tentative vote goes to MCLAUREY for Emmet Mullins.

The seven-year-old Jukebox Jury gelding, in the famous green and gold of JP McManus, would be a modest recommendation on the bare form of his four starts over fences this season, but the suspicion is that it's all been about this one day.

His victory in a valuable handicap hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival last year was very smart, and he's shown glimpses of that same ability over fences. See file marked 'Fairyhouse, December 13'.

If there's anything in this field with the proverbial stone in hand, it's him - and for that reason he's worth a bit of my hard earned.

17:20 - Wade Out @ 8/1

If it hasn't already happened by the lucky last, I'm betting champion jockey Sean Bowen will break his Cheltenham Festival duck on Tuesday.

Olly Murphy's WADE OUT was a useful hurdler, but the seven-year-old son of Shantou is proving a better chaser, evidenced on his very first day at school at Worcester in October, beating Brown Advisory hopeful Wendigo by a head. You don't need me to tell you how strong that form is.

He followed up at Cheltenham's November Meeting in dramatic fashion. A poor round of jumping kept Bowen very busy in the saddle from an early stage of the race, but his mount kept finding to eventually get up by three-and-a-quarter lengths to the reopposing One Big Bang.

I'd be inclined to ignore his run in the Hampton Novices' Chase at Windsor in the new year. He needed it to qualify for this, which has been a season-long plan, and that track was never going to suit him either.

I'm encouraged by the introduction of cheekpieces for Tuesday, which hopefully helps him concentrate better. If it has its desired effect, I think he could just be too good and too strong of a stayer in what doesn't look the strongest field. I certainly don't think there's a Haiti Coeulers lurking in the pack.

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