Races

Andrew Hawkins’ Cheltenham Festival Preview: Day 1

Posted on | Posted by Andrew Hawkins

RACE 1

The Cheltenham Roar will be heard for miles around when they jump in the opening of 28 races at the Cheltenham Festival. The G1 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle over just shy of 3300m is a race that has produced future superstars time and time again. Restricted to horses who were not hurdle winners before the start of the current season in May (even though the season proper is really only from October to April), it is generally a springboard to bigger and better things. If FACILE VEGA had not flopped at Leopardstown last time out, he would be a shorter price than he is now – and that’s saying something. A son of Quevega, who won the Mares’ Hurdle on this card a remarkable six times, it would be the first popular victory of the week should he triumph. He looked a star before his last start and he did win the Champion Bumper on the flat here last year. His last-start conqueror IL ETAIT TEMPS, the unbeaten MARINE NATIONALE and G1 performer on the Flat HIGH DEFINITION could all take advantage should Facile Vega run below his best, while INTHEPOCKET – who will stay further – is one for exotics.

Numbers: 5-8-10-9

Suggested Bet: Facile Vega WIN

RACE 2

The G1 Arkle is a novices’ chase over approximately 3200m. This is the equivalent of the Supreme but over the bigger obstacles, meaning that horses are generally older and also generally have more jumping experience under their belts. While it looks on paper like a battle between England’s JONBON and Ireland’s EL FABIOLO, the latter’s stablemate (in the same ownership as the former) SAINT ROI could give them something to think about. Placed in the G1 Champion Hurdle on this card last year, he has graduated to the fences this year. Really liked the manner of his G1 win at Leopardstown on Boxing Day before unseating the rider behind El Fabiolo last time out. He doesn’t win out of turn but this could be the race for him. Behind him, preference is for Jonbon over El Fabiolo in what could be a quinella for owner J P McManus.

Numbers: 7-6-3-2

Suggested Bet: Saint Roi WIN

RACE 3

The first of the handicaps of the week, the Ultima Handicap Chase comes up over the equivalent of about 5030m. This is a race that has been known to highlight horses that have run in the Grand National at Aintree before or those who may head there in the future. Although it’s a competitive race every year, remarkably only two of the last 10 winners have paid more than 10/1 ($11). Still, if there is one who can upset that trend this year, it could be FANTASTIKAS. He ran seventh in this race to CORACH RAMBLER last year, but drops a pound this time around and meets that horse more than a stone better (about 8.2kg!!). The two slight concerns are that he’s not yet proven at the trip and that this has been a trappy race for jockey Sam Twiston-Davies but he looks well placed off an OK run at Wincanton. Last-start G2 novice chase winner OSCAR ELITE looks the main danger against his more exposed rivals.

Numbers: 21-17-15-10

Suggested Bet: Fantastikas EACH WAY

RACE 4

The day one feature is the G1 Champion Hurdle over just shy of 3300m, the same course and distance as the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle. If there’s one headline act of the whole Festival this year, it’s CONSTITUTION HILL. He’s going to be very short but deservedly so. Winner of the Supreme last year, he’s been emphatic in two starts this season – if you can go and watch the Fighting Fifth and the Christmas Hurdle, it is genuinely astonishing to watch him striding away so effortlessly. In a normal year, STATE MAN would probably be a headline act of his own having won the Irish Champion Hurdle but this year is all about Constitution Hill.

Numbers: 1-5-6-2

Suggested Bet: Constitution Hill WIN

RACE 5

The appearance of Constitution Hill in the Champion Hurdle has bolstered the G1 Mares’ Hurdle, over the longer 4000m, significantly. The race now features HONEYSUCKLE, who won this race in 2020 before taking the Champion Hurdle the last two years; EPATANTE, who won the Champion Hurdle in 2020 before being placed in that race last year; and MARIE’S ROCK, who may have gone to the Champion Hurdle if not for the immovable force that is Constitution Hill. Any of the three could win but the preference is for Epatante given she’s probably best suited at this trip and she is coming off a terrific win at Doncaster. Outside of the top three, the best appears to be LOVE ENVOI but this is a tremendous three-mare battle.

Numbers: 3-6-4-5

Suggested Bet: Epatante WIN

RACE 6

Google the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle, registered as the Fred Winter, and you will see thousands of words of copy about how this race is a minefield for punters every year. Run over the Champion Hurdle course for four-year-olds, the average winning starting price over the last 10 years is in the vicinity of 25/1. That includes 2021 winner Jeff Kidder at 80/1. Trying to find this year’s winner will be tough but maybe it’s worth going with SAMUEL SPADE, who has taken to hurdles like a duck to water. He wasn’t much on the Flat but he might have found his calling and he looks well in compared to PERSEUS WAY, getting a one-stone (6.3kg) swing. SIR ALLEN, BYKER and TEKAO are others who you could clearly make a case for in an open contest.

Numbers: 9-4-5-2

Suggested Bet: Samuel Spade EACH WAY

RACE 7

One of the most historic races at Cheltenham is this set weights contest, the G2 National Hunt Challenge Cup over just further than 6000m. This race, strictly for amateur riders, was once the second-most important race on the National Hunt calendar. Even in recent years, winners have included dual Grand National hero Tiger Roll. It does look GAILLARD DU MESNIL’s race to lose as he looks for a first Cheltenham Festival win after G1 placings the last two years. Under the conditions of the race, he looks thrown in and it’s difficult to see him being toppled unless he beats himself. While COOLVALLA is out of his depth on exposed form, the manner in which he has won his last two starts suggests he could run a place at big odds.

Numbers: 4-2-5-1

Suggested Bet: Gaillard du Mesnil WIN

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