Cheltenham Festival Day 1 betting tips, odds & predictions

Racing Online - Tips - Cheltenham Festival Day 1 betting tips, odds & predictions
Cheltenham horse racing news

The 2020 kicks off on , March 10 with a seven-race card that includes the . There will be intense betting activity at the track, the bookie shops and online, so the odds quoted in this preview are subject to change.

Supreme Novices' Chase betting tips

13:30 GMT – Grade 1 – 2m 1/2f

The Supreme Novices' Hurdle is the Festival opener and the start is accompanied by the Cheltenham Roar. The race over the smaller obstacles for inexperienced horses at the start of the season looks tricky, but favourite backers could start the meeting with a win. The money has come for Asterion Forlonge, trained by who has won the race four times in the last seven years. The current market leader is top rated and can land the odds of +250 with Bovada.

Arkle Chase betting tips

14:10 GMT – Grade 1 – 2m

Notebook is a worthy favourite for the at +300 with Bovada. The horse has the best figures across the board in the ratings, most notably with a respected form organisation in the UK. The Irish-trained runner has progressed in two chases at Grade 1 level and has the best form of the Arkle field. Defeats of Fakir D'Oudairies and in these races give Notebook a clear on ratings over two of the other leading contenders.

The each-way value could be with Rouge Vif, which can be backed at +1400 for the win or at +360 in the place-only market at Bovada. There might not be any flaws in the favourite, but a number of runners have the potential to make the frame. There is some value in Rouge Vif's odds to make the payout places, especially as he acts on soft going.

Handicap Chase betting tips

14:50 GMT – Grade 3 – 3m 1f

The first non-Grade 1 race of the Festival is the Handicap Chase over three miles and one furlong. Bookmakers go +600 the field and eight horses are quoted between that price and +1200. As a handicap with more than 16 runners, bookmakers settle each-way bets at one-quarter the odds for four places. has produced the form and ratings to make the frame and can be backed at +196 with Bovada to finish in the first five.

Champion Hurdle betting tips

15:30 GMT – Grade 1 – 2m 1/2f

Ballyandy can reward each-way backers by making the frame or even winning a moderate renewal of the Champion Hurdle on the first day of the Cheltenham Festival. The race is missing some key players, including the winners of the race in the last three years. Epatante is the pick on ratings and form and will be difficult to beat with the seven-pound mares' allowance, but the expected soft ground means Ballyandy can outrun his best odds of +2000 with Bovada.

Ballyandy is a smart hurdler that showed a pleasing attitude when winning the Haydock Park Champion Hurdle Trial last time out. The horse found plenty to beat by a nose carrying three pounds less. The Champion Hurdle is a level-weights race except for mares, which means Ballyandy has to find something to confirm the form. Rain at Cheltenham over the last few days means Ballyandy will be racing on his preferred soft ground in the opening day feature.

Mares' Hurdle betting tips

16:10 GMT – Grade 1 – 2m 4f

Willie Mullins has a terrific record in the Mares' Hurdle, which he has won nine times in the 12-year history of the race. His Benie Des Dieux is the favourite this time, but Honeysuckle is the tip to win it. The selection is unbeaten and is suited to the trip. She won the Irish Champion Hurdle and would come close to winning the English version, but connections have decided to go down the mares-only route. Honeysuckle is the bet at +275 with Bovada.

Novices' Chase betting tips

16:50 GMT – Listed – 2m 4 1/2f

On any other day you would probably not have a bet in the Novices' Handicap Chase, but this is the Cheltenham Festival and it would be rude to abstain. Imperial Aura has been a buzz horse leading up to the meeting and is a favourite to follow. The horse showed useful form over hurdles and posted a good rating in a key trail at Cheltenham on his last start. Imperial Aura acts on soft going and races prominently so can win from the front at odds of +550 with Bovada.

National Hunt Chase betting tips

15:30 GMT – Grade 2 – 3m 7 1/2f

The National Hunt Chase was an unedifying spectacle last year and the race distance has been reduced by two furlongs. There are also stricter qualification rules for horses and jockeys. is the favourite, but Lord Du Mesnil is close on ratings and can be backed at more than three times the price. The horse will handle the distance and going, so back him in at +650 with Bovada.

Leave A Comment