Cheltenham Festival tips: Seven best bets on day one including Constitution Hill | Racing

Generational jumper CONSTITUTION HILL (4.00) can make it a perfect ten for Nicky Henderson in the £450,000 Unibet Champion Hurdle on day one of Cheltenham today. A crowd pleaser two years ago, the eight-year-old superstar was knocked off course by an unwelcome trio of health scares. But much to the delight of Henderson’s team, Constitution Hill was back in business on familiar terrain at Kempton over Christmas.

Brighterdaysahead will be pushing the pedal this afternoon to expose any flaws in the favourite’s jumping for Nico de Boinville. But his big race ride – 40 years after See You Then set the ball rolling for Seven Barrows – was simply idling when he gave backers a scare in a track trial. With pace to burn, the faster they go the better for Constitution Hill, who is poised to give his throngs of fans a day to remember at Prestbury Park.

1 Burdett Road

Held on in a desperate finish to the Greatwood handicap here before sitting in De Boinville’s wing mirrors behind the champ at Kempton. Not 100 per cent since when failing to handle Golden Ace, he should come on plenty from that and a bronze medal would be an excellent result for shrewd handler James Owen.

2 Constitution Hill

The unbeaten hurdler of modern times has most of his old swagger back – and that is good enough to dish out 7lb and defeat to smart mare Brighterdayshead. Owner Michael Buckley’s pride and joy has hammered past and future Grade One heavyweights Jonbon and State Man at the Festival with a lung-busting ejection of pace none of the others can match.

3 King Of Kingsfield

Acted as a pacemaker for Gigginstown owner-mate Brighterdaysahead at Leopardstown and is expected to play a similar role to try and outfox the odds on market leader.

4 State Man

Capitalised on Constitution Hill’s absence 12 months ago by gaining the ultimate reward for consistency. But Henderson’s hurdler previously swept State Man aside for the feature day one prize and a top four finishing position is the best Paul Townend’s mount can hope for, sporting first-time cheekpieces.

5 Winter Fog

The oldest field member trying to take a championship event first run in 1927 for £365. Had two attempts at Cheltenham handicaps – several rungs lower than this – and come up short each time. Unlikely to be troubling the judge at this higher level on current form.

6 Brighterdaysahead

In excellent heart having thumped her top flight Leopardstown opponents by 30 lengths on the road to Cheltenham. Always highly-regarded by trainer Gordon Elliott, connections chose to roll the dice rather than accepting an easier task in the Mares’ Hurdle. The right choice for racing but her team have their own tactical battle, with a fast gallop at risk of setting it up for Constitution Hill.

7 Golden Ace

A combination of rustiness and distances too far thwarted this sharp type in the depths of winter. All heart when fending off Burdett Road at Wincanton, Jeremy Scott’s stable star will give it her best shot but is expected to have more in front of her than behind.

Verdict

1 Constitution Hill 2 Brighterdaysahead 3 Burdett Road

REST OF DAY ONE

Michael O’Sullivan Supreme Novices’ Hurdle

Hopes of a nation rest on Kopek Des Bordes kicking off a short-priced accumulator on day one of the Cheltenham Festival.

Paul Townend guided William Hill’s evens favourite for this week’s curtain-raiser to a 13-length supremacy in a Grade One at Leopardstown.

But the runner-up trailed Romeo Coolio by 49 lengths on his prior start and third-placed Good And Clever remains a maiden over jumps.

Kopek Des Bordes will surely have more to offer but he made errors earlier in the season and does not look bombproof with a first-time hood applied.

His trainer Willie Mullins has a five-strong supporting cast, booking his son Patrick to ride ante-post plunge horse Salvator Mundi.

The carrier of Joe Donnelly’s Gold Cup-winning colours has drifted back out to an each-way price and he is interesting, after overcoming adversity to warm-up with a win.

But at longer odds, KARBAU (1.20) is fancied to make the podium after posting a good timefigure when extending away at Punchestown.

On heavy ground, he opened up by 16 lengths in short time and this relation to a two-time Cheltenham Festival winner is value in a field with plenty of depth.

My Pension Expert Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices’ Chase

After a busy start in the saddling boxes, Mullins relies on magic MAJBOROUGH (2.00) for the first leg of my JP McManus-owned treble.

The absence of Nicky Henderson’s star Sir Gino leaves the golden highway clear for last year’s Triumph Hurdle hero who is an even better model over fences.

Ultima Handicap Chase

Jonjo O’Neill junior is in gold and green to partner well-weighted handicap chaser CREBILLY (2.40), a 9-1 chance with Hills.

Not especially fluent over 2m4½f last year, it is interesting the eight-year-old started 2025 with jumping practise at two miles.

Running on behind Shakem Up’arry in the Plate, he appeared to run a little flat upped to today’s longer trip at Aintree but there will be no excuses on that front here.

Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle

Lossiemouth skips the feature event to defend her title against ten mares, including Mullins-trained stablemate JADE DE GRUGY (3.20).

The betting suggested Doctor Dino’s daughter was in need of a Punchestown spin but she still motored clear – and 2m 4f is her optimum distance.

Hallgarten And Novum Wines Juvenile Handicap Hurdle and Princess Royal National Hunt Challenge Cup Novices’ Handicap Chase

A third big hope for McManus, PUTURHANDSTOGETHER (4.40) is the pick of Joseph O’Brien’s pair in a race the Irish handler traditionally targets, while CAPTAIN CODY (5.20) has decent ground performers in his pedigree and looks to crying out for extra yardage.