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For four days in March the racing world centres on the Cotswolds countryside and the famous Cheltenham Festival. This spectacular showpiece is rightfully labelled ‘the greatest show on turf’ and racing does not have anything quite like it for atmosphere, occasion and pure sporting theatre.
The action gets underway on Tuesday 16th March with Champion Hurdle Day. The feature race is the two-mile Championship contest for older hurdlers, while the Cheltenham Festival gets underway with the always intriguing Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, greeted of course by the famous ‘Cheltenham roar’. There’s also the Arkle Challenge Trophy, a two-mile speed-test for novice chasers, on a seven-race card.
You can watch all the Cheltenham Festival action as it unfolds, with every race across the four days available via live streaming when logged into MansionBet.
Betting Tips & Predictions
The countdown is almost done and racing enthusiasts are all set for day one of the 2021 Cheltenham Festival on Tuesday afternoon.
It will be a different occasion with no crowds but the high-class racing on offer should ensure the sporting theatre is no less thrilling.
The Champion Hurdle (3.05pm) is the feature on day one as Goshen bids for Cheltenham redemption for Gary and Jamie Moore.
You can watch every race from Cheltenham (1.20pm-4.50pm; seven races) via live streaming when logged into MansionBet. Our tipster marks your card for the day one action in the Cotswolds.
For the latest betting tips and predictions click on the relevant race from the first day of the Cheltenham Festival below:
| Time | Race Tips | Distance | Prize Money |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13:20 | Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) | 2m½f | £125,000 |
| 13:55 | Arkle Challenge Trophy Steeple Chase (Grade 1) | 2m | £175,000 |
| 14:30 | Festival Handicap Steeple Chase | 3m1f | £110,000 |
| 15:05 | Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy (Grade 1) | 2m½f | £450,000 |
| 15:40 | Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle (Grade 1) | 2m4f | £120,000 |
| 16:15 | Juvenile Novices’ Handicap Hurdle | 2m4½f | £70,000 |
| 16:50 | National Hunt Steeple Chase Challenge Cup (Grade 2) | 3m6f | £125,000 |
The opening afternoon from Cheltenham features a quartet of Grade 1 contests headlined by the Champion Hurdle. The Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, The Arkle and the Mares’ Hurdle are part of the supporting act.
Race 1 – 13:20 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1)
The traditional curtain-raiser at the Cheltenham Festival is the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and this race is always greeted by the famous ‘Cheltenham roar’ when the tapes go up. The acid test for the seasons’ most promising up-and-coming two-mile hurdlers.
| Year | Winner | Trainer | Jockey | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Shishkin | Nicky Henderson | Nico de Boinville | 6/1 |
| 2019 | Klassical Dream | Willie Mullins | Ruby Walsh | 6/1 |
| 2018 | Summerville Boy | Tom George | Noel Fehily | 9/1 |
Race 2 – 13:55 Arkle Challenge Trophy Steeple Chase (Grade 1)
The first race over fences at The Festival and it’s another two-miler for novices’. The Arkle is a race steeped in racing history and named in honour of one of the all-time greats. Fast, efficient fencing is the order of the day.
| Year | Winner | Trainer | Jockey | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Put The Kettle On | Henry De Bromhead | Aidan Coleman | 16/1 |
| 2019 | Duc des Genievres | Willie Mullins | Paul Townend | 5/1 |
| 2018 | Footpad | Willie Mullins | Ruby Walsh | 5/6fav |
Race 3 – 14:30 Festival Handicap Steeple Chase
A fiercely competitive start to the Cheltenham Festival handicaps with this contest over three-miles and a furlong. There’s no hiding place in these races across the four days at Prestbury Park.
| Year | Winner | Trainer | Jockey | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | The Conditional | David Bridgewater | Brendan Powell | 15/2 |
| 2019 | Beware The Bear | Nicky Henderson | Jeremiah McGrath | 10/1 |
| 2018 | Coo Star Sivola | Nick Williams | Lizzie Kelly | 5/1 |
Race 4 – 15:05 Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy (Grade 1)
The main event on day one and one of the four Festival features, the Champion Hurdle is a real test of speedy, accurate hurdling and has been one by some superstars of the jumping game. Nicky Henderson has trained a record eight winners – including three of the last four.
| Year | Winner | Trainer | Jockey | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Epatante | Nicky Henderson | Barry Geraghty | 2/1fav |
| 2019 | Espoir D’Allen | Gavin Cromwell | Mark Walsh | 16/1 |
| 2018 | Buveur D’Air | Nicky Henderson | Barry Geraghty | 4/6fav |
Race 5 – 15:40 Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle (Grade 1)
A relatively new addition to the Cheltenham Festival programme, the Mares’ Hurdle was won on six occasions by the mighty Quevega from 2009 onwards. Her trainer Willie Mullins has dominated this race but he was denied by the superb Honeysuckle in 2020.
| Year | Winner | Trainer | Jockey | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Honeysuckle | Henry De Bromhead | Rachel Blackmore | 9/2 |
| 2019 | Roksana | Dan Skelton | Harry Skelton | 10/1 |
| 2018 | Benie Des Dieux | Willie Mullins | Ruby Walsh | 4/6fav |
Race 6 – 16:15 Centenary Novices’ Handicap Chase (Listed)
Another fairly new addition, this was introduced to the programme in 2005 and is open to novices with a rating up to 145.
| Year | Winner | Trainer | Jockey | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Imperial Aura | Kim Bailey | David Bass | 4/1 |
| 2019 | A Plus Tard | Henry De Bromhead | Rachel Blackmore | 5/1 |
| 2018 | Mister Whitaker | Mick Channon | Brian Hughes | 13/2 |
Race 7 – 16:50 National Hunt Steeple Chase Challenge Cup (Grade 2)
Day one concludes with an exacting stamina test over 3m6f or Amateur Riders. Endless reserves are a required here, despite the trip recently being dropped from what was the traditional ‘four-miler’.
| Year | Winner | Trainer | Jockey | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Ravenhill | Gordon Elliott | Jamie Codd | 12/1 |
| 2019 | Le Breuil | Ben Pauling | Jamie Codd | 14/1 |
| 2018 | Rathvinden | Willie Mullins | Patrick Mullins | 9/2 |
Betting & Promos for Cheltenham Festival Day 1
You can watch every race from Cheltenham on day one of The Festival via live streaming when logged into MansionBet. We’ll have the latest odds in the lead-up to Cheltenham and special offers and promotions across the four days of the Festival itself; including – extra-place races, best odds guaranteed and new customer offers.
Also be sure to check out our blog for daily tipping advice from our racing experts on all four days of the iconic Cheltenham Festival.
Next: Cheltenham Festival Day 2