The wait is almost over. The Cheltenham Festival gets underway on Tuesday 10 March, with a stellar cast set to contest the opening seven races.
Matty Sutcliffe has looked through the cards and cannot wait for the action to get started. He has tips in six of the seven opening day contests for you to follow.
1:20 Cheltenham – Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (4yo+) – Talk The Talk 5/1 1pt WIN
This has the potential to be one of the greatest Supremes in recent years with the plethora of quality stacked and hopefully it can set the precedent for an excellent Cheltenham Festival. I suspect last time out front runners Mighty Park, Sober Glory, Leader d’Allier and Eachtotheirown will all be forcing the early pace ensuring this is run at a fierce pace, and that will play into the hands of Talk The Talk, who got up in the dying strides last time out at Leopardstown.
The Born To Sea gelding has progressed well this season, and would’ve been an unblemished four from four had he not stumbled at the last in the Grade 1 Paddy Power Future Champions Novice at Leopardstown in December.
That race was run at a solid gallop from the off, and he settled strongly in behind leaders before making swift headway to hit the lead prior to falling at the last. I think he’d have beaten Skylight Hustle there given he was only just getting into top gear, who remains a worthy candidate for the Turners on Wednesday.
He was then unsuited by the tempo of the Grade 1 at the DRF, but it was a similar performance given how he cut through the field prior to picking up strongly toward the end. He only won by a short head, but he beat an always prominent pair who had the run of the race up top and it can be significantly upgraded in that respect.
He brings the best form in the line up here and given this race should pan out more favourably for him, particularly now with a longer run in, Talk the Talk can get us off to a flyer in the curtain-raiser.
2:00 Cheltenham – Singer Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (5yo+) – Lulamba 13/8 2pt WIN
Just two horses have won the Arkle off the back of one run which doesn’t bode entirely well for last year’s Supreme winner Kopek Des Bordes, who despite reportedly working well of late, also has to prove his soundness having missed two engagements over the winter.
He’s likely to make it a good test from the front, but a stamina-sapping Arkle will play strongly into the strengths of Lulamba, as it did for the yard’s Jango Baie last season. The son of Nirvanan Du Berlais was just chinned in the Triumph Hurdle last season but comfortably reversed that form with the winner at Punchestown, with connections adamant he’d make up into a better chaser.
He was a comfortable winner on chase debut at Exeter despite not looking an obvious natural, but I was impressed with how easily he dispatched of a smart horse in Salver who couldn’t go with him late on, finishing a tired third.
He was much more impressive at Sandown in the Henry VIII Novices’ at Sandown, again jumping and travelling slightly novicey in the early part having dropped to rear after two fences. Again, Nico moved him up through the field with consummate ease and he looked a class apart once hitting the front.
He was given a stiff task stepping up into open company at Newbury in the Game Spirit and while at one stage turning in he looked in trouble, with in an instance he came through to hit the front and beat some seasoned chasers with any amount of ease.
I’m incredibly fond of a chaser who warms to the task throughout his races hence why I’m not all that concerned if he was to be far off the pace early on. He has a huge engine, he’ll undoubtedly stay further in time but I think he’ll prove a class apart in this field and it will take a very smart horse to beat him.
2:40 Cheltenham – McCoy Contractors Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) (Registered As The Fred Winter) (GBB) (Class 1) (4yo) – Ammes 9/1 1pt EW 6 places
James Owen had the third in last year’s Fred Winter with Liam Swagger, who had a very similar prep as Ammes. Liam Swagger won the Wensleydale Juvenile Hurdle at Wetherby and while Ammes could only finish second, I’m adamant he bumped into a potential Champion Hurdle horse for the future in Minella Study.
Ammes didn’t jump particularly well late on which paved the way for Minella Study to maintain his advantage, but he did begin to close at the line and the winner is now rated 11lbs higher after his devastating success at Cheltenham last time out.
The third from Wetherby was six lengths behind Highland Crystal next time out in listed company, who beat Fred Winter hope Saratoga next time out, which suggest Ammes shouldn’t be all that far away from the market leader.
Like Liam Swagger, Ammes prepped on the flat last time and while he was well beaten, he raced keenly and wide throughout before weakening after 113 days off and he can come on for that run, with a mark of 128 looking lenient judged on hurdles form and his classy flat form.
3:20 Cheltenham – Trustmarque Ultima Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (5yo+) – Handstands 9/1 1pt EW 6 places
Like the Supreme, this Ultima is littered with quality and none more so that Grade 1 Scilly Isles winner Handstands, who can prove the graded horse in a handicap here.
He was three from three prior to defeat in the Turners over hurdles including beating Arkle winner Jango Baie in the Sidney Banks, and he made it three from four over fences last season when again beating that one at Sandown.
He hasn’t quite been at his best this season after pulling up at Aintree last term, beaten in the Colin Parker on favourable terms before blowing up late on in the Betfair Chase.
However, having had wind surgery, there was plenty of promise to take out of his Windsor effort in the Fleur De Lys Chase when giving weight to the field including 8lbs to Protektorat. If, like many horses, he regains confidence from this second run after a wind operation, then he can return to the winners enclosure with first time cheekpieces a significantly positive angle in the Ultima.
4:00 Cheltenham – Unibet Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy (Grade 1) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (4yo+) – The New Lion 5/2 1pt WIN
The complexion of this contest has changed several times throughout the season and the latest spanner in the works is the late confirmation of Lossiemouth, who deserts the Mares’ Hurdle for a weak enough renewal.
She gets first-time cheek-pieces here, but to my eyes at least she looks one of the most genuine mares around and if anything I think they’ll hinder her.
Last year’s Turners winner The New Lion was a lovely 25/1 ante-post winner for the column, but his season got off to a poor start at this trip when falling at the last in the Fighting Fifth. That said, he looked to be coming with a winning run and could easily have won by three lengths there.
His performances in the Unibet confirmed he can make it as a two miler, albeit the company was significantly weaker here. Plenty can crab the form, but it was merely a confidence booster and in a slowly run affair, he was well on top at the line under a hands and heels ride. This race should set up much better for him, and we’re yet to get to the bottom of this talented racehorse who’s six from seven in his career thus far.
5:20 Cheltenham – National Hunt Challenge Cup Novices’ Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (Class 2) (5yo+ 0-145) – Newton Tornado 5/1 1pt WIN
A prominent ride on this chase track often lends itself to a winner as it did with Haiti Couleurs last season and Rebecca Curtis has another similar chance with Newton Tornado, who can land back to back victories for the yard.
With form figures of 322221 over hurdles, he was certainly knocking on the door last season and bumped into some nice types along the way, but this point-to-point winner, from the family of the excellent chaser turned National Hunt sire Nickname, was always going to come into his own over fences.
He jumped like a buck from the front at Cheltenham on seasonal/chase debut before coming down four out, but he made no mistake next time out when bolting up nine lengths at Bangor having made most of the running. He had the whole field off the bridle there with a three lengths lead turning in and won fairly comfortably, finishing well on top.
He lost his action after a mistake at Newbury next time out but he again bounced back at Doncaster when giving another gallant display, grinding rivals down after hitting the front. The second and third have both won well since, and the second from last year’s race was subsequently second in the National Hunt Cup.
He’s reminiscent of last year’s winner, 135 can still underestimate him and the extra distance can play into his strengths.
Matty Sutcliffe’s Best Bets
1:20 Cheltenham – Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (4yo+) – Talk The Talk 5/1 1pt WIN
2:00 Cheltenham – Singer Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (5yo+) – Lulamba 13/8 2pt WIN
2:40 Cheltenham – McCoy Contractors Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) (Registered As The Fred Winter) (GBB) (Class 1) (4yo) – Ammes 9/1 1pt EW 6 places
3:20 Cheltenham – Trustmarque Ultima Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (5yo+) – Handstands 9/1 1pt EW 6 places
4:00 Cheltenham – Unibet Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy (Grade 1) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (4yo+) – The New Lion 5/2 1pt WIN
5:20 Cheltenham – National Hunt Challenge Cup Novices’ Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (Class 2) (5yo+ 0-145) – Newton Tornado 5/1 1pt WIN
AmmesMatty Sutcliffe’s Cheltenham Day 1 Tips
FAQs
What are today’s Cheltenham Festival tips?
Matthew Sutcliffe provides his best bets for the racing at Cheltenham on Tuesday 10 March.
When were Matthew Sutcliffe’s tips published?
Matty Sutcliffe’s Cheltenham Festival tips were published at 10.38am on Monday 9 March.
Who is Matthew Sutcliffe?
Matthew Sutcliffe is GGs newest contributor, often providing a value angle for his tips. He writes weekly columns for the weekend’s racing, as well as taking aim at ante-post markets at the Cheltenham Festival. Follow him on X: @MattySutcliffe
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