DAY one of The Cheltenham Festival 2023 features the Unibet Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy Grade 1, with Constitution Hill heading the betting at Unibet 4/11 on for the Nicky Henderson team. This outstanding hurdler was awesome in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle last year when beating stablemate Jonbon by 22 lengths, in what was a truly memorable start to the 2022 Festival. This season Constitution Hill has continued in the same vein in the Fighting Fifth with a performance not to be underestimated and the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton with the wonderful mare and Unibet Champion Hurdle winner in 2020 Epatante easily beaten on both occasions. Trainer and Unibet Ambassador Nicky Henderson has spoken about his outstanding temperament and Constitution Hill can’t be opposed, with main rival State Man looking to be the one to chase him home.
Nicky Henderson could have a great start to day one of The Festival with Jonbon in the Arkle and Marie’s Rock in the Mares’, who are both strong fancies.
Later in the card it is hard to see past Gaillard Du Mesnil Unibet evens in the Wellchild National Hunt Challenge Cup Chase for the Willie Mullins team.
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The Wine Tipster
1.30 Cheltenham – Supreme Novices’ Hurdle Grade 1 (2m ½f)
High Definition might not fit the key recent trends for the Supreme, however this former top-class flat performer by Galileo, who was certainly frustrating at times, finished second to Alenquer in the Tattersalls Gold Cup Group 1 at the Curragh and on his third start over hurdles cannot be ignored with Unibet paying four places.
High Definition won on debut over hurdles at Leopardstown on Boxing Day when always near the head of affairs travelling enthusiastically, with Diverge (won well since and reopposes ) back in sixth. High Definition then set a frenetic pace with Facile Vega in the Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle at the Dublin Festival before unseating J J Stelvin after stumbling at the fourth. High Definition did actually jump all the rest of the hurdles riderless and whilst some have questioned his attitude he looks to enjoy hurdling. This Supreme is more open than the betting suggests, with II Etait Temps the most obvious choice near the head of the market, whilst High Definition, who has won on soft, looks a classy danger if he jumps smoothly.
Unibet are offering MONEY BACK AS CASH if 2nd or 3rd on this race (from 17:30pm Monday) and are paying an EXTRA PLACE too!
2.10 Cheltenham – Arkle Challenge Trophy (Grade 1) (2m)
Jonbon can beat his main market rival El Fabiolo in what is a clear match in the Arkle. Dysart Dynamo will set the pace, as this is his way of running and Jonbon needs to be ridden close to the leader by Aidan Coleman (Warwick was wrong tactically last time out), as Jonbon has a great cruising speed and is a superb jumper. Jonbon can then take over the pace and have the others in trouble from a long way out, whilst El Fabiolo is very closely matched he might find that he has too much ground to make up. Aside from race tactics this will be El Fabiolo’s first appearance at Cheltenham, while Jonbon has that important course experience, with his second to the brilliant Constitution Hill in that remarkable Supreme last year. This is an exciting renewal with Jonbon favoured to score another Festival winner for Nicky Henderson and Nico de Boinville.
2.50 Cheltenham – Ultima Handicap Chase (3m 1f)
Oscar Elite is another runner who was marked up in my Unibet blog for Five Handicappers to follow at The Festival. He was third in the Ultima last year and if he had been held up for a later challenge he might have won. This year he is only running off a 1lb higher mark after some poor performances pre-Christmas and is clearly looks much more of a spring horse now with his win in the Grade 2 Reynoldstown Novices’ Chase at Ascot last month emphasizing this angle. This talented eight-year-old has the ability to race at a higher level and with the softer going not being an issue Oscar Elite will surely be in the mix.
Unibet are paying EXTRA PLACES in this race
The Big Breakaway is still only an eight-year-old and is running at his third Cheltenham Festival, having finished fourth to Envoi Allen in the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle in 2020 and then in 2021 gave Monkfish something to think about in the Grade 1 Browns Advisory after serving it up for most of the race and only giving way at the last. This season he has finished second on his two starts, firstly to Fontaine Collonges, when just beaten a head at Newbury and secondly, in the Welsh Grand National, where he carried 11-13 over a longer trip than the Ultima to finish an excellent second to The Two Amigos. These were genuine quality performances, which showed how talented he is and with the ground coming right he can run a big race.
4.10 Cheltenham – The Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle Grade 2 (2m 4f)
Marie’s Rock (nap) lines up here rather than in the Stayers’ Hurdle due to the softening ground and this definitely looks the ideal race for her in one of the races of this year’s Cheltenham Festival. She is still progressing, as she showed on her one start this season in the Relkeel Hurdle on Festival Trials Day when beating Dashel Drasher easily after travelling strongly and enthusiastically throughout on soft going. If you look at last season she won the Mares’ comfortably ahead of taking the Mares Champion Hurdle at Punchestown. This is plenty to like about her chances here
Unibet are paying EXTRA PLACES in this race
4.50 Cheltenham – The Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (2m 4f)
Sir Allen was marked up in my Unibet blog with Five Handicappers for The Festival and with declarations he remains a runner with a strong chance. He has a very likeable attitude and ability, though moderate on the Flat, has improved enormously for hurdles, winning twice, including in soft ground at Punchestown and last time out a winner a Naas in determined fashion. It is worth noting that in the previous five runnings of the Naas race, there have been three winners who have gone on to take the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle. Sir Allen will keep improving and looks sure to be suited by Cheltenham.
Unibet are paying EXTRA PLACES in this race
Samuel Spade has each way claims for the Ben Pauling team, who are still in excellent form and in what is a very competitive renewal. Samuel Spade won on hurdling debut at Kempton and then was second to Perseus Way at Huntingdon, who he meets on much better terms in the Boodles. Samuel Spade then returned to Huntingdon last month and won easily with a visually impressive performance. Ground conditions are fine and there is plenty more improvement to come.
