See below Andy Newton’s Cheltenham Festival tips ahead of day one of the big four-day meeting, with the action kicking off with a cracking seven-race card that’s spearheaded by the Champion Hurdle at 4pm.
Cheltenham Festival Tips – Day One Best Bets (Tuesday 10th March, 2026) 🏇
- 1:20pm – Supreme Novices’ Hurdle: OLD PARK STAR
- 2:00pm – Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices’ Chase: KOPEK DES BORDES
- 2:40pm – McCoy Contractors Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (Fred Winter): KIZLYAR (e/w) / MANLAGA
- 3:20pm – Ultima Handicap Chase: IROKO / HYLAND
- 4:00pm – Champion Hurdle: THE NEW LION
- 4:40pm –Sun Racing Plate Handicap Chase: McLAUREY / BLAZE THE WAY
- 5:20pm – National Hunt Chase: NEWTON TORNADO
Also see Andy Newton’s Cheltenham Festival trends for day one – giving all the key stats based on past history.
Plus catch Andy’s weekly horse racing views and tips on The Final Furlong podcast with host Emmet Kennedy and guests.
Andy Newton’s 1-2-3 Cheltenham Festival Tips On Tuesday (Plus Three BIG Stats For Each Race)
1:20pm – Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) – 2m
Many promising novices strutting their stuff here, but it was had to not be impressed with the way OLD PARK STAR has won all three starts over hurdles.
The last being an 18-length romp at Haydock in the Grade Two Supreme Trial at Haydock, plus before that was a tidy winner at Cheltenham so we know the Prestbury Park track suits.
Old Park Star is taken to shine again and give trainer Nicky Henderson his sixth Supreme winner.
Of the rest, Champion Bumper 5th El Cairos is noted but is not the best of jumpers, which is the worry.
While we can expect Sober Glory to make a bold bid from the front – but this will be harder than the races he’s been winning.
Talk The Talk was a recent winner at the DRF and looks sure to be well-suited by the Cheltenham Hill.
While Idaho Sun, who was 6th in the Champion Bumper, has done nothing wrong (3-3) over hurdles and looks over-priced.
🥇OLD PARK STAR
🥈IDAHO SUN
🥉TALK THE TALK
KEY STATS 📈
- 25 of the last 29 winners won last time out
- Willie Mullins and Nicky Henderson have won 9 of the last 13 between them
- 12 of the last 13 winners priced in single-figures
2:00pm – Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) – 2m
Another fascinating race and there will be people in many camps here.
Lulamba is a likeable sort, who was just chinned in the Triumph Hurdle last season (2nd). He’s 3-3 since over fences and impressed in the Game Spirit last time.
However, the niggle is he does seem to be better in the second part of his races – so will he be able to keep up in the first half, with his jumping coming under more pressure?
He’s also still only 5 and since 2006 this age are 0-17 in the race – don’t forget Majborough also bombed out as a 5yold last season.
The last Arkle winner aged 5 was Voy Por Ustedes in 2006.
Steel Ally will probably take them along at a lick and is another nice sort – but at 8 is he up to this level?
Coolio Better Over Further?
Romeo Coolio probably wants further for me – his best wins this season have been over 2m4f, plus he’s had some tough races.
Kargese is a solid mare and loves Chelts – she landed the County Hurdle last year and was runner-up in the 2024 Triumph – I think she’ll hit the frame at worse.
But a chance is taken on KOPEK DES BORDES.
Yes, his prep has been far from ideal, having missed the DRF – but on a plus he’ll be fresher than most.
He was a tidy winner on his only start over fences at Navan and is no stranger to the Festival – having won the Supreme last term.
It will be a top training performance from Willie Mullins but there is no better man for the job and so I’ll take Kopek to give the Closutton handler his seventh Arkle.
🥇KOPEK DES BORDES
🥈LULAMBA
🥉KARGESE
KEY STATS 📈
- Willie Mullins and Nicky Henderson have won 11 of the last 14 between them
- Since 2006 5yolds are 0-17
- Only 3 winners aged 8+ in the last 34 runnings
2:40pm – McCoy Contractors Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (Fred Winter) – 2m
Saratoga and Manlaga are respected carrying the JP McManus silks, that won this pot last year.
The former ran the useful Highland Crystal close last time, but the niggle is this former Aidan O’Brien runner is only 1-9 in his career and that win came on heavy ground.
Plus this race hasn’t been great for the Cheltenham favorites – just one winning jolly in the last 15.
This is one of the rare Cheltenham races Willie Mullins is yet to win (0-24) so he’ll be trying to break that duck with Selma De Vary.
Winston Junior impressed at Ascot last time, but that was also his only career win (1-11) so can he back it up?
MANLAGA is noted for Nicky Henderson after beating a fair Paul Nicholls runner Pourquoi Pas Papa last time at Haydock.
Irish Have Top Record
But the Irish stables have also won all of the last eight.
Therefore, Gordon Elliott likes this race too (4/13) so anything he runs is respected.
But another yard that like this prize is Joseph O’Brien – winning three of the last seven.
He could have Dignam, Glen To Glen and KIZLYAR here, with the last-named interesting.
This 4yold has only had three runs and is into a handicap for the first time.
But was a fair third last time at Punchestown and the 5th (Mino Des Mottes) and 2nd (Madness d’Elle) have both franked the form to win since.
He’s been off since (2 months) with this race the likely target and having stayed on well the last day should be well-suited but the Cheltenham hill.
🥇KIZLYAR (e/w)
🥈SARATOGA
🥉MANLANGA
KEY STATS 📈
- The Irish have won the last 8 runnings
- Willie Mullins is 0-24 and never won this race
- 13/21 – had exactly three paste runs (hurdles)
3:20pm – Ultima Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) – 3m 1f
Myretown could be the forgotten horse after a troubled season – he bolted up in the race last season but is 15lbs higher this time.
On a plus the Lucinda Russell yard love this race – winning three of the last four.
If getting in, Quebecois had and ‘interesting’ time at Newbury last time and prior to that was a cracking second here at Cheltenham.
While Handstands and Peter Marsh Chase winner Imperial Saint are others to note.
However, last season’s Grand National fourth IROKO could be a class above this lot – having run second to subsequent King George winner The Jukebox Man earlier this season.
Then last time he impressed at Ascot over shorter and despite being 5lbs higher than his National run this 3m 1f trip looks perfect.
Oh, and he’s also got Festival-winning form – when taking the Martin Pipe back in 2023.
Hendo Has a Fair Record In The Race
Of the rest, I also think HYLAND could be interesting, with the drying ground coming in his favour.
This Nicky Henderson runner has won three times at Cheltenham too and is down to 143 – which is a pound lower than his last win.
He returned to form last time with a close third to Deep Cave at Ascot and should now be spot on for this.
Seven Barrows also won the Ultima in 2000 and 2019, plus with 10 of the last 16 winners having raced at Chelts this season Hyland also ticks this stat.
He was ninth here back in at the October Meeting.
🥇IROKO
🥈HYLAND
🥉HANDSTANDS
KEY STATS 📈
- 10 of the last 16 runners had raced at Cheltenham that season
- 14 of the last 18 finished in the top 4 last time out
- Lucinda Russell has trained 3 of the last 4 winners
4:00pm – Champion Hurdle (Grade 1) – 2m
The big ITV Racing contest on the opening day is the Champion Hurdle and despite the race lacking quality – there will be many Cheltenham Festival day one tips for it.
Impressive William Hill Hurdle winner Tutti Quanti has been supplemented for the Champion Hurdle and was 6th in the Supreme last season.
But it would be a shock if he’s good enough and may have enjoyed deeper ground.
Poniros will be looking to be the first Triumph Hurdle winner since Katchit to follow up in the Champion Hurdle.
Lossiemouth is most likely heading to the Mares Hurdle on Thursday, so that leaves last year’s winner Golden Ace, The New Lion and Brighterdaysahead.
The last-named was a good winner of the Irish Champion Hurdle and gets the mares allowance here – this race has also been won 5 times in the last 12 by the ladies.
But she’s still got it to prove at Cheltenham for me (0-2) and surely she’ll like more cut in the ground.
Can Golden Be Ace Again?
Golden Ace famously picked up the pieces in this race last season and could easily do so again.
She’s Mrs Reliable, barring that poor run this season at Wetherby – having finished in the top two 10 times from 12 over hurdles.
So, by default really – the one to beat looks to be last season’s Turners Novices’ Hurdle winner THE NEW LION.
He’s far from a flashy horse, but keeps getting the job done. His jumping is not always 100% – falling in the Fighting Fifth and he almost tumbled in the Turners at the final hurdle last season.
But got back on track last time in the International Hurdle on Trials Day and the fact he acts on all ground and stays further gives him a few more positives than the others.
🥇THE NEW LION
🥈GOLDEN ACE
🥉BRIGHTERDAYSAHEAD
KEY STATS 📈
- Gordon Elliott is 0-8 in the race
- Mares are 5-12 (last decade)
- 31 of the last 36 won last last time out
4:40pm –Sun Racing Plate Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) – 2m 4f
The Dan Skelton-trained Madara has been one of the talking horses at a lot of the Cheltenham Festival preview nights.
Skelts is a brilliant target trainer and this would have been on his radar for some time.
But as a result, every Tom Dick and Harry seems to be on and he’s certainly no value now at 4/1. Despite this race being okay for the favs – with 50% of the last eight winning.
Will The Wise was 6th in the Pertemps last season but is 5lbs higher this time.
While JP McManus won this last season with Jagwar and his McLAUREY looks interesting too with a low weight (10-6).
Yes, he’s 0-4 over fences but was a Listed winner at the DRF last season – beating Storm Heart – and after some average runs this season, all things could be targeted for this (wink wink).
Emmet Mullins Has Won The Race Before
With his trainer Emmet Mullins also no stranger to this race – winning the pot in 2021 with The Shunter.
Of those at bigger odds BLAZE THE WAY catches the eye too.
Mainly has there’s a big stat that tells us ALL of the last seven winners won at Cheltenham earlier that season.
And this Margaret Mullins runner won at the December Meeting – beating L’Homme Presse.
He’s since been beaten at Naas, but that came on heavy ground and has been freshened up with 44 days off.
The winner of this race for the last 12 years has also been rated 139 to 149, so his 146 mark also fits here.
While Zurich also won at Cheltenham this season – when going in at the October Meeting.
🥇McLAUREY
🥈BLAZE THE WAY
🥉ZURICH
KEY STATS 📈
- Last 7 winners had won at Cheltenham that season
- 12/12 rated 139-149
- 19/22 ran in that calendar year
5:20pm – National Hunt Chase (Novices’ Handicap) (Class 2) – 3m 6f
Backmeorsackme has been another ‘talking horse’ on a lot of the preview nights.
He was a top winner at the DRF last time and unexposed over this longer trip – but is up 10lbs.
I’m not sure he’s much value now, despite this race being a good one for the Irish (10/15).
While his trainer Emmett Mullins won this in 2024 with Corbetts Cross.
Iceberg Theory is noted after an easy win at Cork and is up 13lbs this time.
Wade Out looks sure to be well-suited by the longer trip having needed every inch of the 3m 1f to win at the November Meeting.
I think King Of Answers looks interesting too – up 10lbs for a good Kelso win, but is lightly-raced still and connections prefer this to the Ultima.
But – even though he’s got a fantastic name – NEWTON TORNADO – is the call here to blast home.
The Rebecca Curtis team took this race with Haiti Couleurs last season and have a similar type.
Yes, he fell here at the October Meeting, which is a small worry – but has bounced back to win twice since.
A 6lbs rise for the last of those doesn’t look harsh.
And over this longer trip his jumping will hopefully be also slowed down which will help cut out those mistakes he can sometimes make.
🥇NEWTON TORNADO
🥈BACKMEORSACKME
🥉WADE OUT
KEY STATS 📈
- The Irish are 10/15
- Trainer Rebecca Curtis won this last season
- Patrick Mullins has won 3 of the last 8
