The top TV pundit cheered Saratoga and Johnnywho home on Day 1!
Matt Chapman’s Tuesday Cheltenham Tips
13:20 Old Star Park
14:00 Lulamba
14:40 Saratoga (each-way)
15:20 Johnnywho (each-way)
16:00 Brighterdaysahead (each-way)
16:40 Will The Wise (each-way)
17:20 Iceberg Theory
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
This is it, folks. Let’s do this. As always, Cheltenham 2026 gets underway with the Grade 1 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle over an extended 2m. I have long been an OLD PARK STAR fan, and while there are numerous horses in here you can make a case for – it’s a cracking renewal – I can’t find any negatives for Old Park Star other than his price is a little short.
He’s won all three starts over hurdles this season at Kempton, Cheltenham, and Haydock, and looked a monster last time. He did hang a little left into the rail late on there, but he was miles clear. The fact that he has gone off at prices of 11-2, 5-2, and 4-5 so far suggests Nicky Henderson and his team have been a little surprised by how good he is on the track, which bodes well.
He keeps it for the course. Henderson has won this five times with River Ceiriog, Flown, Altior, Shishkin, and Constitution Hill, and doesn’t usually miss in this with a good one. Nico de Boinville is on top. Let’s get off to a bang.
Bang again with the Grade 1 Singer Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices’ Chase over 2m. It’s Nicky Henderson and Nico de Boinville for me again here with LULAMBA. Of course, Kopek des Bordes will be hard to catch; he was brilliant in the Supreme last year, but he’s had his issues. Lulamba is very good. The youngster should have won the Triumph, but he’s now unbeaten in three over fences at Exeter – beat a very good field – Sandown in Grade 1 company and in open company at Newbury in the Game Spirit.
He jumps and stays very strongly and will have learnt a lot last time. Henderson is going for win number nine in this, and his winners have included some of the greats in Sprinter Sacre, Altior, and Shishkin. Gold Cup hope Jango Baie banged in for this column last year.
Now the McCoy Contractors Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (Fred Winter) over an extended 2m. SARATOGA is by no means chucked in on the best of his Flat form – he once ran as a pacemaker in Group 1 company – but I was left feeling he had more to offer after a second to the useful Highland Crystal at Naas last time, where going over the far side on the run-in probably didn’t help.
He should be a strong stayer, and he jumps well. So, a fast pace to run at it could show him in a different light compared to a small field in Ireland. Mark Walsh rides for Padraig Roche. An each-way chance.
The Trustmarque Ultima Handicap Chase over 3m1f. JOHNNYWHO is not one to rely on, but he’s had wind surgery since his last effort and on his previous third at Ascot would have strong each-way claims. He stays very well and was second in the Kim Muir last year, beaten only by a neck.
He was also a fine fifth in the Irish National. He’s probably as high in the handicap as he wants to be, but even off 146, he has each-way claims, and Richie McLernon will nurse him into the race. Trained by Jonjo and AJ O’Neill.
The big one of the day in the Grade 1 Champion Hurdle over an extended 2m. No State Man, Sir Gino, or Constitution Hill, but an intriguing contest. Lossiemouth with cheekpieces is fascinating. She could easily hack up as she loves it at Cheltenham.
Getting 7lb, the value for me lies with BRIGHTERDAYSAHEAD, as she may be the first to pounce on pacemaker Tutti Quanti. I’m the first to believe in evidence so far that this is not the track for my selection – although she was a fair second to Golden Ace in the mares’ novice – but there have been reasons given for previous defeats, and the makeup of this race should be ideal.
Gordon Elliott’s runner stays strong and beat Lossiemouth last time. She’s rated 1lb higher than The New Lion but gets 7lb. If she performs to her best, she should simply win for Jack Kennedy, and, being relatively lightly raced, she should be reaching a peak. Elliott is looking for his first Champion Hurdle success. At least an each-way chance.
Competitive stuff with the beautiful Sun Racing Plate Handicap Chase over 2m4f. The Skeltons think Madara is hard to beat, but I’m not so sure. He didn’t see it out in a Grand Annual. I like WILL THE WISE, who has experience in big fields and was sixth in the Pertemps Network Final last season. My hope stays well and was a fine fourth in the Troytown at Navan. I could see him running strongly from just behind the leaders. Nothing in hand on his handicap mark but a solid each-way chance.
Day 1 ends with the National Hunt Challenge Cup Novices’ Handicap Chase over 3m6f. ICEBERG THEORY lacks experience but is progressing fast and might run well for Paul Nolan and Conor Stone-Walsh. He looks like a horse who will stay really well, and he won going away over a short trip last time at Cork.
He has a nice racing weight, so time will tell if he’s good enough. Iceberg Theory was third to the very useful The Yellow Clay in a bumper, once, so he’s always had something.
Matt Chapman’s Tuesday Cheltenham Tips
13:20 Old Star Park
14:00 Lulamba
14:40 Saratoga (each-way)
15:20 Johnnywho (each-way)
16:00 Brighterdaysahead (each-way)
16:40 Will The Wise (each-way)
17:20 Iceberg Theory
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
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