Cheltenham Day 1 tips - Willie Mullins Tuesday treble could be the key

Cheltenham 2024 gets underway on Tuesday and our man has cast his eye over the runners and riders for Day 1. Here's what he's backing:

13.30 - Supreme Novices' Hurdle - A tricky race to work out and Willie Mullins could very well find the winner despite sending long-time favourite for this, Ballyburn, to the longer race on Wednesday. He trains six of the field for this and Tullyhill may be the best of them. Mystical Power will also have a lot of admirers for top connections but in the absence of Ballyburn, I have to side with the one horse to beat him over hurdles at this trip this season. FIREFOX (11/2) is solid for Gordon Elliott and top jock Jack Kennedy. It's not a race I would be having a big bet because so many have a chance. 

SELECTION - FIREFOX - 11/2

14:10 - The Arkle Novices' Chase - This is another tough race to work out but despite his quirks and tendency to jump a little right, I've gone for GAELIC WARRIOR (7/2) for Willie Mullins and Paul Townend. He runs in a first-time hood which should sharpen him up and if you put a line through his last run where he unseated in a two-runner contest against the exceptional Fact To File, he has the best form in the book at this distance. He cruised to a five and a half length win over third-favourite here Il Etait Temps in Limerick in December and he had plenty more in hand. If his jumping holds up, I think he'll be far too good for all of these with no major British dangers springing to mind. 

SELECTION - GAELIC WARRIOR - 7/2

14:50 - The Ultima Handicap Chase - The Goffer has a great chance in this off a two point lower mark than when finishing fourth last year but he's been in poor form lately and could be vulnerable to something else. I'm against Meetingofthewaters in this as well and the Irish have a terrible record in the race. For that reason and because it's a minefield, I'm going for one right down at the bottom of the weights. WEVEALLBEENCAUGHT (12/1) for Nigel Twiston-Davies carries just 10st 9lbs in this and could be a challenger. I'm drawn in by his form at Cheltenham last October when he was third over a similar distance and on similar ground behind Flooring Porter and Broadway Boy. He was just a length behind Broadway Boy who would have been vying for favourtism is lining up in this. The selection was hammered by 20 lengths by the same horse since so you have to take his October Cheltenham run with a leap of faith. Rachel Blackmore isn't without a chance in this one on Eklat De Rire at 20/1.

SELECTION - WEVEALLBEENCAUGHT - EACHWAY - 12/1

15:30 - Champion Hurdle - There is only one winner of this race in the absence of Constitution Hill and that's STATE MAN for Willie Mullins and Paul Townend. He was second last year and without Constitution Hill, this looks a week renewal. Irish Point was redirected here from the Stayers Hurdle and could get involved but I think the veteran Not So Sleepy could chase the favourite home or at least run into the first three. 

SELECTION - NOT SO SLEEPY - EACHWAY - 33/1

16:10 - Mare's Hurdle - Like the Champion Hurdle, this to me looks a penalty kick for Willie Mullins with LOSSIEMOUTH(4/6). She won last year's Triumph Hurdle at the festival and has improved again this year. She warmed up for this with a wide margin win at Cheltenham in January and looks the banker of the week. You're really looking for eachway value in this and I'd probably have a fiver eachway on LANTRY LADY (33/1) who is just two races in to her career and so potentially very good and LOVE ENVOI (14/1) who was second last year.

SELECTIONS - LOVE ENVOI (14/1) AND LANTRY LADY (33/1) - BOTH EACHWAY 

16:50 - Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle - I had a bet on this race a few weeks ago and I sided with MILAN TINO (7/1) and I won't abandon him now. He looks to be thrown in here on a low mark based on his French form and a couple of runs in Britain, including at Cheltenham twice. He was seven lengths behind Burdett Road and 11 behind Sir Gino in two runs, both of which look solid with Sir Gino the favourite for Friday's Triumph Hurdle. If he runs up to that form, he should be able to account for this field but there are others with big chances too in what is always one of the most competitive races of the week.

SELECTION - MILAN TINO - 7/1

17:30 - National Hunt Chase - This is being billed as a two-horse race between Corbetts Cross and EMBASSY GARDENS (9/4) and after a bit of back and forth, I've sided with Embassy Gardens to finish the day off with a bang for Willie Mullins. Willie seems sweet on this horse who jumps really well and looks a perfect match for a race its trainer has won the last two years running. Corbetts Cross fell last time out and made enough mistakes at Leopardstown in December to turn me off although you have to respect connections. Kilbeg King has a great eachway chance for the British contingent but I've come around to thinking Embassy Gardens is a good thing here.

SELECTION: EMBASSY GARDENS - 9/4

TUESDAY TREBLE:

State Man, Lossiemouth and Embassy Gardens all to win - 6/1

You could make this a fourfold accumulator with Gaelic Warrior and the odds rise to 25/1