Richard Johnson’s Day 1 Cheltenham Tips: Former Champion Jockey gives us his views

The Cheltenham Festival is almost upon us, and we recently sent our very own Matt Hulmes from Betfred TV down to see former champion-jockey Richard Johnson.

Richard won 22 races at the Festival, including the Gold Cup twice, the Champion Hurdle, Champion Chase and Stayers Hurdle. He gives us his takes on the upcoming week’s action; describing the buzz and excitement of the Festival, along with his views on some of the talking horses set to turn out at Prestbury Park, beginning with Day 1.

You can watch the full video below or via our YouTube channel which has stacks of Cheltenham Festival content, including stable tours and our Road to Cheltenham Preview.

And on Tuesday, make sure to come back here for Richard Johnson's Day 1 Cheltenham Tips...

Day 1 - Champion Day

Arkle 14:00 Majborough @ 8/15

Marjborough is one of Tuesday’s hotpots in the betting, priced odds-on to land the Arkle. Richard thinks he ticks all the boxes, with last year’s Triumph Hurdle winner bidding to buck the trend of 5-year-olds winning the race since the allowance change. He has course form in the book and looked good at the Dublin Racing Festival last time.

"He’s a good jumper, but can make a mistake, and the only thing if backing a short price, he’s still relatively unexposed to the fences, and Cheltenham is an undulating track where things happen quick."

That said, Johnson doesn’t think the two Dan Skelton-trained horses stack up against him on form. L’Eau du Sud is likely to be second favourite, and he likes it around Cheltenham, so he’d be an obvious danger.

"When Dan thinks he has a good one, he trains him like a good one with targets in mind."

Ultima Handicap Chase 14:40 - Grandeur d'Ame @ 22/1

Mares Hurdle 15:20 - July Flower @ 8/1

Champion Hurdle 16:00 - Constitution Hill @ 8/11

The big race of the day is the Champion Hurdle, and Richard is a huge fan of the favourite, Constitution Hill, who he hopes he’ll regain his crown.

"He looked great at Christmas (the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton) and he’s just a superstar and definitely the one they all have to beat.

"Of all the horses across the Festival I’d love to ride Constitution Hill. I watched him in the Fighting Fifth 18 months ago and it was, almost like he was having a day out. I just couldn’t believe how easy a horse could win a Grade 1, beating other Grade 1 winning horses, almost like he was having a day out. He’s very very talented.

To ride very good horses at speed in the Champion Hurdle is brilliant, so he’s the horse I’d like to ride out of the whole festival."

It was hard for Nicky Henderson last year, with his stable form and Constitution Hill unable to defend his crown. It’s great to see the yard and him back there this season.

Richard will be on the track with us daily on Betfred TV, and we'll be covering his Cheltenham Tips here at Betfred Insights each day of the Festival.