Day One of Cheltenham sees a hugely competitive Supreme Novices’ start a sublime week of racing in Gloucestershire.
We’ve gathered the opinions of all the writers, editors and tipsters here at GG to get their pick for the opener.
Back our selections with Betfred and get a huge £40 Free Bets On Any Sport! Sign up below:
1.30PM Cheltenham – Supreme Novices’ Hurdle
Daryl Carter (GG Top Tipster and Columnist)
MARINE NATIONALE arrives here unbeaten in four career starts and two Hurdle starts. He has been underestimated by the market, likely because he is not Willie Mullins trained and, in my opinion, should be the clear favourite. His Royal Bond form can easily be knocked through the runner-up Irish Point. Still, I argue that one failed to give his running at the Dublin Racing Festival and had previously showed up well when second to Champ Kiely in the Grade 1 Lawlors Of Naas in between those runs. Irish Point won Saturday over Oliver McKiernan’s No Looking Back, who had previously won a Grade 2 at Limerick over Brazil in a two-runner race, so his DRF run was seriously out of character.
The time of the Royal Bond was very good until three out, where they clocked a figure seven seconds ahead of both Lossiemouth in the Juvenile contest and Teahupoo in the Hattons Grace. Marine Nationale was much slower from three to the finish, but his rider sat in a pocket on the rail on the bridle, and I would argue that had he gone to win his race from the third last he would have won by a street. He almost came to a standstill at the final flight and still managed to pick up smartly on the short run to the line to get up and claim victory. That race came on unfavoured soft ground and was the first time he had been off the bridle. He is open to significant improvement – particularly with fresh ground here, and he should have learned a good deal from the Royal Bond run, and he will be very hard to keep out of the first four. I am not hugely concerned by the ground unless it gets very deep tomorrow.
Daryl Carter’s Best Bets – 2023 Cheltenham Festival | Day One
Top Tipster Daryl Carter is fired up for the Festival and goes into Day One with a HUGE 4PT selection! Back his selections with Bet UK’s HUGE new customer offer of £60 Free Bets when you deposit and bet £20! Posted: 1.30m March 13th (Odds correct at time of writing) 1.30 Cheltenham – Marine Nationale…
Mon 13 Mar 2023Andrew Mount (GG Top Tipster and Columnist)
TAHMURAS has gone under the radar and will certainly appreciate every drop of rain that falls. Since finishing second by a neck in a Ffos Las bumper on his Rules debut he’s won four from four, including the Grade 1 Tolworth Hurdle in the Sandown mud last time. Paul Nicholls has only saddled 11 last-time out winners in the Supreme this century and those produced two wins (10-1 and 6-1) and a 15-2 second.
Kate Tracey (GG Weekend Watch Presenter)
I can’t understand why people aren’t as keen on MARINE NATIONALE as I’ve been for a while now. Trainer Barry Connell has been so bullish about his chances for this, and phenomenal talent Michael O’Sullivan deservedly remains on board.. He proved his class when battling to win the Royal Bond Novice Hurdle when last seen, and his turn of foot can see him win this.
Dave Young (GG Cheltenham Expert Writer)
A competitive renewal with holes to pick in plenty if we’re being honest. FACILE VEGA was an outstanding winner of the Bumper here last season. I appreciate he was well beaten on his last start and I’m not sold that tactics were really the issues, but he was confirmed lame after so that’s good enough for me to excuse the effort. Before this he comfortably handled stable-mate Il Etait Temps so I think he has his measure and is entitled to progress further clear given the latter is a second season novice. Marine Nationale has to overcome a significant layoff but this was by design so shouldn’t temper enthusiasm although I think the depth of his form is questionable.
Rob Plumbridge (GG Editor & Content Lead)
I was hugely taking by MARINE NATIONALE’s win in the Royal Bond last time out. To give up that much ground jumping the last and still getting up against a horse that wasn’t stopping was sensational. More than anything he seems to have a lovely determination to his racing, as well as the class to go with it. That will be hugely beneficial at Cheltenham, with the big crowd and tough finish up the hill. Connections could not be more glowing about him and he rates a great chance here.
Tom Aldridge (GG Editor)
I think it will be between the Mullins pair Facile Vega and IL ETAIT TEMPS, and at the prices it’s the latter I’m siding with. Although the former clearly got his tactics wrong at the DRF, it was still hard not to be impressed by the way the latter powered clear, and he should be able to power clear of his rivals again in the opener. At a price I think High Definition could run well with a clear round of jumping, but the best bet for me has to be Il Etait Temps.
Daniel Corbally (GG Writer and Social Media)?
This isn’t a vintage renewal of the curtain opener and has probably benefited from Facile Vega’s no show at the Dublin Racing Festival in terms of numbers. He’s seen plenty of renewed support in spite of that poor run but HIGH DEFINITION was well fancied in February when coming down and could be a touch of value with ground conditions holding no fears and plenty of back-class. If he can improve his jumping he can go close.