Tuesday Cheltenham Festival Racing Tips: State Man and Milan Tino top picks for day one

The talking now stops. It is time for action. Four days, twenty eight races and it all begins here. The 2024 Cheltenham Festival. Bring it on.

Here are our Tuesday Cheltenham Festival racing tips! 

13.30 – Supreme Novices Hurdle -  Jeriko Du Reponet @ 15/2

The Supreme has a much more open look to it since the defection of Ballyburn to Wednesday’s opener, but it is still Wilie Mullins who holds the key, saddling half of the dozen strong field.

Mystical Power is out of the super mare Annie Power and is unbeaten in three starts so far, impressing with a turn of foot at Punchestown but needs to brush up on his hurdling. Tullyhill is the other Closutton contender towards head of the market who hasn’t looked back since a defeat at 1/8f on his hurdling debut.

Firefox has beaten Ballyburn this season so many will latch onto that form, but I am going take a big chance on the Nicky Henderosn stable form and go for JERIKO DU REPONET.

Four from four including a point win, he was workmanlike at Doncaster in January but that was on decent ground and the form worked out well with he second and third filing the top two spots in the Dovecote. He travels strongly and softer conditions should suit this French bred five-year-old.

14.10 – Arkle Novices Chase - Jpr One @ 8/1

Call me crazy, but I am thinking that Britain can take the opening two contests as I have been a long time admirer of JPR ONE for this year’s Arkle, ever since he tipped up at the last over track and trip in November. He was going to beat a small but select field that day and a late mistake proved costly at Sandown in December but he got back on track at Lingfield in January and won’t mind the soft conditions.

I prefer Hunters Yarn of the Mullins trio. He should be two from two but for a final fence fall on chasing debut and doesn’t have the form lines of the other Irish runners who have all been running against and beating each other.

I can’t have Gaelic Warrior on my mind at Cheltenham as he is a better horse going the other way and any jumping to the right here will leave him exposed.

14.50 – Ultima Handicap Chase - Chianti Classico @ 13/2

Ok, crazy is now replaced by sheer absent mindedness, but the Irish have a dreadful record in the Ultima, Dun Doire the last winner in 2006, so this too can stay at home. In fact, it can stay very local as Kim Bailey holds the key.

I have liked his CHIANTI CLASSICO for a long time for this race, looking to have the perfect profile. He was brilliant at Chepstow on his chasing debut and was giving a lot of weight away when narrowly winning at Ascot. He covered plenty of ground out wide at Kempton when second behind a course specialist in January and back going left-handed off will suit. He is the pick of the stable pair for David Bass but I wouldn’t discount the yards other runner Trelawne.

Trelawne was wayward at Wetherby but was still only beaten less than two lengths by the talented Colonel Harry and again by Crebilly at Exeter a month ago. He also has course form when a close third to Ginny’s Destiny and Harry Cobden takes the ride.

The Irish dominate the market despite their poor record with Leopardstown Christmas winner, Meetingofthewaters, last year’s Ultima fourth The Goffer and 2 23 Kim Muir runner-up Stumptown who scored at the track on New Years Day.

15.30 - Champion Hurdle - State Man @ 1/3

The first Irish winner of this year’s Cheltenham Festival is STATE MAN in the Champion Hurdle.

With Constitution Hill out of the way, the way is clear for him to finally be crowned king of this division and it would be a huge surprise if he fluffs his lines.

He has 10lb upwards in hand of his rivals, with Irish Point the next best, having been rerouted from the Stayers’ Hurdle and softening ground will aid his cause. The market suggests he will be second, but JP McManus spending £18k to supplement Iberico Lordis eye catching and although the Greatwood is a handicap, the form has worked out all season and the owner has a great record in the race.

16.10 - Mares' Hurdle - Love Envoi (EW) @ 4/6

The Mares’ Hurdle centres around Lossiemouth after her imperious victory in the International Hurdle on trials day.

Last year’s Triumph Hurdle heroine is many people’s banker of the week and it is hard to crab her, but she has to prove herself over the extra half mile, although with connections eyeing a tilt at the French Champion Hurdle over three miles, that shouldn’t be a problem.

She will take the world of beating but she has an admirable rival from her own yard in Ashroe Diamond, already a Grade 1 winner over two and a half miles. She won well at Doncaster in her warm up contest and is not to be underestimated.

The percentage call though must be last year’s runner-up LOVE ENVOI and she rates a solid each way bet. She has no Honeysuckle to beat this time around (although Lossiemouth could be an even tougher rival) and the step back up to two and a half miles should see her in a better light. She has nine lengths to find on the favourite but at a double figure price, she looks a decent each way proposition.

16.50 - Boodles Fred Winter - Milan Tino @ 5/1

Another wide open renewal of this juvenile contest.

It looks like MILAN TINO could’ve got in here very lightly. He has run well twice at the track already this season under Jonjo O’Neill Jr. and connections decided to come here following what looks like a fair assessment from the handicapper dropping him 10lb lower than his French mark.

He has chased home both Burdett Road and Sir Gino in his two British starts but shouldn’t face anything of that calibre in this race.

This is a race Gordon Elliott has done well in and Ndaawi looks the best of his although he does also have both reserves lurking.

Eagle Fang beat Bright Legend in what is usually the best trial for this contest so both are considered strongly, while Roaring Legend could go well at a decent price. He was beaten at odds on at Market Rasen but that race got him qualified here, and he can get closer to Liari than on their Musselburgh meeting.

17.30 National Hunt Chase - Mr Vango @ 20/1

Only seven runners go to post for Tuesday's finale but Betfred are paying three places each way if six or more face the starter.

It is a lovely touch by the racecourse to name this race after the late Maureen Mullins which would result in an emotional success for son Willie and grandson Paddy if they can land their fourth renewal in the last seven running’s courtesy of Embassy Gardens.

He has won two three mile heavy ground chases with the minimum of fuss and looks laden with stamina for this three mile six furlong contest, but did bomb out here and at Punchestown last spring.

Corbetts Cross ran out in last years Albert Bartlett and comes here on the back of a tumble (admittedly not his fault) while Salvador Ziggy would ideally want better ground.

Just a head separated Henry’s Friend and Kilbeg King at Ascot with Apple Away two lengths back in third, so they are again hard to split.

If the rain continues to fall and with three places on offer, I recommend a small each way play on MR VANGO in what would also be an emotional victory coming just a few days after the passing of Gold Cup winning trainer Mark Bradstock.

He won the Devon National by a fence recently over this marathon trip in bad ground. although he faces much better opposition here, being prove in conditions it’s a huge plus and any 20/1 or thereabouts is worth chancing.

 Check out our other Cheltenham Tips here.