Cheltenham Day 1 predictions: Preview for Champions Day 2025

THE WAITING is finally over, as the 2025 Cheltenham Festival hits our screens this week. We’ve got four days of high-octane sport ahead of us, beginning with arguably the best fixture of the lot on Tuesday afternoon.

Known as ‘Champions Day’, the opening day of the festival is also perhaps the most popular, with no less than four Grade 1 races on the card. The feature race is the Champion Hurdle, a fast and furious two-mile contest, though it’s also the day where we get the chance to see potential champions of the future. 

All eyes will be on the Nicky Henderson-trained Constitution Hill in the feature, who boasts a perfect 10-10 record under Rules and will be hoping to make up for lost time after missing the big race last year. State Man won it in his absence 12 months ago and is back for more, alongside the super mare Brighterdaysahead.

We’ve put together an in-depth Cheltenham Day 1 preview, featuring plenty of our predictions, tips, and insight on the big races, for you below. 

Cheltenham Festival free bets for day 1🕐 Cheltenham day 1 race scheduleThere are seven races scheduled on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival, with no less than four top-level races on the line-up. The feature is the Grade 1 Unibet Champion Hurdle, which is due off at 4pm, and you can find full details below: 

TimeRaceDistanceGrade13:20Michael O’Sullivan Supreme Novices’ Hurdle2m½f Grade 114:00My Pension Expert Arkle Challenge Trophy2mGrade 114:40Ultima Handicap Chase3m1fHandicap15:20Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle2m4fGrade 116:00Unibet Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy2m½f Grade 116:40Hallgarten And Novum Wines Juvenile Handicap Hurdle2m½f Handicap17:20Princess Royal National Hunt Novices’ Handicap Chase3m6fHandicapCheltenham Festival day 1 predictions: The runners and ridersThe opening day of the Cheltenham Festival is one of the most popular betting days of the entire year, with four top-level contests on the card.

It could be something of a bloodbath for the bookies, too, with four odds-on favourites across the Grade 1 races at the time of writing – opening the door to a four-fold of shorties for punters!

The curtain-raiser is the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, which often provides clues for next year’s Champion Hurdle. Willie Mullins has won the race an eye-watering seven times and has the odds-on jolly once again with Kopek Des Bordes, though it’s worth noting that only three of the last 10 winners have been favourites.

Mullins also has the short-priced favourite for the Arkle, which like the Supreme serves as a pointer for a championship race (the Queen Mother Champion Chase). Majborough won last year’s Triumph Hurdle and hasn’t put a hoof wrong in two starts over fences.

Meanwhile, Lossiemouth will bid for a second straight Mares’ Hurdle victory. She is a 4-6 favourite at the time of writing and there’s certainly good reason for that, seeing as Willie Mullins has won 10 of the 17 renewals to date!

The feature is the Unibet Champion Hurdle, which is dominated by Constitution Hill. Nicky Henderson’s charge missed last year’s race after a disappointing build-up, but he has since won twice at the top level. He’s yet to find his brilliant best, though, and the Irish raiders State Man and Brighterdaysahead will fancy their chances.

Constitution Hill will likely go off odds-on for a yard that has won this a record nine times. Favourites have won each of the last five renewals of this race, though punters had their fingers burned in 2019, when favourites Apple’s Jade and Buveur d’Air both disappointed.

Looking for some tips on the big races? We’ve put together some of our best Cheltenham Day 1 predictions for you below, along with Cheltenham betting offers and free bets from our favourite horse racing betting sites.

Constitution Hill to win the Champion Hurdle at 8/13It’s impossible to look past Constitution Hill, who is aiming to make up for lost time by taking this for a second time.

Nicky Henderson’s charge missed the spring campaign last year after a disastrous build-up, though he was sensational when accounting for Lossiemouth when returning from a year off in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton on Boxing Day. It’s difficult to gauge just how good his victory on Festival Trials Day was against inadequate opposition, but there’s a feeling that he’s yet to recapture his devastating form from two years ago.

A promising workout at Kempton last month suggests he’s back to his best, but the fact Gordon Elliott and co have opted to send super mare Brighterdaysahead to this race is ominous. The six-year-old has a bit to find on the form figures at the favourite’s peak, but she couldn’t have been more impressive at Leopardstown over Christmas and is dangerous in receipt of the 7lbs mares’ allowance – especially if Constitution Hill is off colour.

With Lossiemouth heading for the Mares’ Hurdle, it would be folly not to mention last year’s winner State Man. The eight-year-old was no match for Constitution Hill when the pair met here two years ago, but he’s a class act and got back to his best in the Irish version of this race back in February.

It will likely come down to the shape of the favourite, but the suspicion is that he will have come on for his two runs this term and will likely take some kind of stopping.

➡️ Bet on Constitution Hill to win the Champion Hurdle at 8/13 with Betway

William Munny each-way in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at 12/1The curtain-raiser for the festival almost always proves to be a frenetic affair and as usual, there is a short-priced Willie Mullins horse at the top of the market. Mullins has won this a record seven times and is represented this year by Kopek Des Bordes, who arrives here unbeaten in three starts. 

The five-year-old couldn’t have been more impressive when winning a Grade 1 contest at the Dublin Racing Festival last month on just his second hurdling start, powering clear for a 13-length success. That performance puts him clear on the form figures, and while he’s the likely winner he’s a little on the short side as a 5/6 favourite.

At the prices, it may be worth having a small bet on William Munny each-way, who’s available at around 12/1 at the time of writing. The seven-year-old took three tries to get off the mark over timber, but he’s improved for each outing and showed plenty of class to open his account in a Listed race at Punchestown last month. He’s got plenty of tactical speed, which could serve him well in what’s likely to be a fast and furious affair. 

A good performance would certainly be a poignant moment, as he represents the same connections as the 2023 winner Marine Nationale. He was brilliantly ridden to success by the late Michael O’Sullivan, who is honoured in this year’s race after his tragic death last month. 

➡️ Bet on William Munny each-way in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at 12/1 with bet365

Majborough to win the Arkle Trophy at 13/25A favourite of plenty, the Arkle Trophy often serves as a key pointer for the following year’s Queen Mother Champion Chase and has been won by some classy horses over the years, including Altior and Sprinter Sacre to name just two. 

Each of the last four winners of this race have been favourites and with that in mind it’s very difficult to oppose Majborough for the all-powerful Willie Mullins team. Last year’s Triumph Hurdle winner has made a flawless transition to fences so far, looking a class act when tearing apart the field in the Irish equivalent of this race at Leopardstown last month. 

The son of Martinborough wasn’t completely flawless with his jumping, but he sets a gallop that’s very difficult to live with, stomping to a nine-length success last time. He will face a different kind of test from the more-experienced L’Eau du Sud here, who arrives here unbeaten in four and impressed when winning a Grade 1 contest at Sandown in December. 

However, it’s hard to think that there’s not more to come from Majborough after just the two starts over fences. He’s 6lbs clear of the field on official ratings and should he kick on again here, it’s very difficult to oppose him. 

➡️ Bet on Majborough to win the Arkle Trophy at 13/25 with SBK

Famous Bridge each-way in the Ultima Handicap Chase at 16/1Following hot on the footsteps of the opening two Grade 1 races is the Ultima Handicap Chase, which is one of the most competitive heats of the week. It generally requires a mixture of class, stamina and a good racing weight to win this, though a whole host fall into that category this time around. 

Broadway Boy is the narrow favourite at the time of writing. He disappointed slightly in a handicap here on New Year’s Day, but that might have come too soon after his excellent run behind leading Grand National fancy Kandoo Kid in the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury. He has every chance, as does Katate Dori, who bolted up in a competitive-looking contest at Kempton at the end of last month. 

Plenty deserve respect, though it could be worth taking a chance on Famous Bridge each-way at around the 16-1 mark. The nine-year-old carries the instantly recognisable silks of Hemmings Racing, who won this with Vintage Clouds in 2021. The nine-year-old plugged on for fourth in this last year and has enjoyed an excellent campaign this term, winning last year’s Grand National Trial at Haydock Park by three lengths. 

That run game on uncharacteristically quick ground for Haydock’s standards and there was plenty to like with the way Famous Bridge jumped and stayed that day. It’s a shame that he won’t be in next year’s Grand National barring a miracle, but it would be no surprise to see him hit the frame here at a double figure price. 

➡️ Bet on Famous Bridge each-way in the Ultima Handicap Chase at 16/1 with Tote

Gericault Roque each-way in the National Hunt Challenge Cup at 12/1The closing race on Day One is the National Hunt Chase, which is one of the sternest tests of stamina of the entire week. Exclusively for novices, this race regularly turns into a war of attrition, with the 2017 winner being a certain two-time Grand National winner in Tiger Roll.

Now Is The Hour was a Grade 2 winner over hurdles and has been cannily campaigned over fences so far by the shrewd Gavin Cromwell team, qualifying for a mark when fourth in a beginners’ chase at Navan in January. With stamina in abundance, he’s highly respected, as is Haiti Couleurs, who won a staying novice here in December. 

Each of Transmission, Captain Cody and the unbeaten chaser Aworkinprogress all deserve respect to name just three, but the eye is firmly drawn to the David Pipe-trained Gericault Roque, who boasts a fascinating profile. 

The nine-year-old is still a maiden after seven chase starts, though that doesn’t tell the full story, as he was off the track for more than two years through injury. He was a classy type prior to his setback, placing in both the Classic Chase at Warwick and the Ultima here in 2022. He made a highly pleasing return when third in a handicap at Windsor in January and with that run likely to have brought him on plenty, he’s lurking on a very dangerous racing weight. 

Trading at around the 12/1 mark with BetMGM at the time of writing, he looks well worth an each-way play in the final contest of the day.

➡️ Bet on Gericault Roque each-way in the National Hunt Chase at 12/1 with BetMGM 

Previous shocks at day 1 of CheltenhamThe Cheltenham Festival has thrown up plenty of surprises over the years, with several coming on the opening day. 

Perhaps the biggest shock in recent years was back in 2015, when Annie Power lined up as a red hot 1/2 favourite for the Mares’ Hurdle. It had been a painful afternoon for bookmakers to that point, who were fearing the worst after Douvan, Un De Sceaux and Faugheen had all won for trainer Willie Mullins earlier on the card. Punters up and down the country had the four horses in accumulators and Annie Power was seen as the best chance of the lot. She seemed to have everything in control before dramatically falling at the last, saving bookmakers an estimated £50 million!

Another big surprise came in the 2017 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, when Labaik caused a 25/1 shock. Gordon Elliott’s charge had a reputation for trouble, refusing to race three times in his last six starts coming into the Supreme, but he was able to turn it on rather emphatically for the curtain-raiser! 

📋 How to bet on day 1 at CheltenhamPlacing a bet on horse racing can feel daunting if you’re new to the sphere, but it’s a simple process. We’ve put together a quick guide for you below:

• Log into your betting account. If you don’t have one, you can find plenty of suggestions on this page. 
• Deposit funds into your account and head to the ‘Horse Racing’ section. Find the racing taking place at Cheltenham on Tuesday 11th March.
• Pick out a horse to bet on, you can either use the form guides on the bookie site or follow the Cheltenham Festival Day 1 predictions in this article.
• Add your pick to the betslip by clicking on the odds next to their name. 
• You should see your horse in the betslip, input your stake and once you are happy, select ‘Place Bets’.

📺 How to follow the Cheltenham Festival action on day 1The Cheltenham Festival is one of the most popular sporting events of the entire year, meaning you won’t have trouble if you want to follow along! ITV are showing the first six races on Day One live on terrestrial television, while all 28 races will be broadcast live on Racing TV during the week. If you’re out and about, you can follow all of the action live on talkSPORT, while bookmakers will also have all of the action live in their shops up and down the country.