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It’s known as the greatest show on turf, and it has finally arrived. That’s right, the Cheltenham Festival is just hours away.
Across the next four days there will be agony and ecstasy on the track, but also plenty of fun off it.
Every morning Sportsmail will be dishing up a serving of Cheltenham Breakfast, taking a look at everything happening on and off the iconic racecourse in what is set to be another memorable week.
We have lift-off… just!
The Irish takeover at Cheltenham started over the weekend with trainers, jockeys, pundits and punters all taking the pilgrimage to the showpiece event.
Among the travellers were Racing Post editor David Jennings and trainer Gordon Elliott – but they had to help out the cabin crew.
Trainer Gordon Elliott (pictured) had to be moved just to allow his aeroplane to take off
Due to an imbalance of weight on the aircraft, the pair were asked to move up the front to even things out before take-off. Both saw the funny side.
220,000 pints of the black stuff
The Irish takeover continues with its famous stout. Punters will soak up the atmosphere and plenty of Guinness throughout the week. There’s a whole village dedicated to it after all.
According to The Sun, punters are expected to drink 220,000 pints across the course of the four days. That’s over 50,000 pints per day!
St Patrick’s Day also falls on the most popular day of the week – Gold Cup Friday.
Will there be a single drop of Guinness left in the place by the time the curtain falls on the 2023 edition?
220,000 pints of Guinness are expected to be consumed across the four-day Festival
Irish face late dash for press passes
Not ideal preparations for the Irish press jetting in to watch the nation’s horses compete for the Prestbury Cup at Cheltenham.
Their passes were sent out weeks ago but, due to strikes, none of the travelling party have received them.
Instead, they had to shoot to the course earlier than planned on Monday, or they will have to make an earlier start on Tuesday to ensure they get in. No such problems for the British journalists.
With the strength of the Irish contingent on the track, the Brits will take any small win.
Fitzgerald’s your man!
Choosing which tipster to follow for Cheltenham week is always a tough ask but, if the history books are anything to go by, you’d do far worse than keeping an eye on ITV pundit Mick Fitzgerald.
Fitzgerald writes for Paddy Power News and he ended up taking the betting company to the cleaners last year when he tipped up three winners and two tasty each-way finishers for readers.
The biggest price of his fancies for day one is Fanion D’estruval in the Ultima at 2.50pm, which is shortening by the minute.
If he strides home for Venetia Williams on Tuesday, Fitzgerald will be costing the company a fortune.
Racegoers will be hoping to win some money, and Paddy Power are offering some free bets
Paddy Power’s free bets
Every Paddy Power punter has been given a free bet in their online account on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday to use on any race – and two horses are catching the eye.
Fastorslow, running in the Ultima, and Willie Mullins’s Brandy Love in the Mares’ Hurdle at 4.10pm are the two best-backed horses among customers.
Both have costly liabilities on them which have left traders fearful.
50k up for grabs with Paddy Power
If the free bets weren’t enough, Paddy Power have another couple of generous offerings as they gear up for the action.
Their free-to-play Pick 5 game – available to play on Paddy Power News throughout the Festival – promises a share of 50k if you can pick five winners.
And if picking horses is just too taxing, there’s £150,000 cash being dropped in 20 random customers’ accounts as part of their Finders Keepers show on YouTube on Tuesday morning (8.30am).
Let’s hope for a more successful day than Monday, where the same was done then but no customers logged in to claim it. They were left with £500 each as a consolation.
Paddy Power have another couple of generous offerings as they gear up for the action
Honeysuckle’s last hurrah
Rachael Blackmore and Honeysuckle have formed a heartwarming partnership.
Their historic win in the Champion Hurdle in 2021 launched the sport into the spotlight as Blackmore became the first-ever female winner of a championship race at Cheltenham.
The duo teamed up again last year to claim the opening day’s feature but today will be Honeysuckle’s final appearance in the Gloucestershire countryside.
The pair try their luck in the Mares’ Hurdle. Opposition is tough but what a fairytale it could be.
Beat the Bookies on day one – The CHEAT SHEET!
Fancy making yourself a few quid and getting your Festival off to a flyer?
There’s always the fun of picking your horse based on scientific methods, such as their name or colours… by why not have a look at what the experts are saying?
Mick Fitzgerald, Ruby Walsh, Jane Mangan and Paddy Power offer up their tips for day one below if you’d like a flutter yourself.
Mick Fitzgerald is finding it hard to look beyond Constitution Hill in the Champion Hurdle
MICK FITZGERALD
13:30 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, 2m
Willie Mullins has a strong hand in this contest and IL ETAIT TEMPS could be the answer. They are going to go fast in this race and that will help him relax. He could be the answer in a tricky opening contest.
14:10 Arkle Challenge Trophy, 2m
I’m not deserting Jonbon and there is going to be a helter-skelter pace set with Dysart Dynamo and Effernock Fizz in the line-up. With that guaranteed pace, I expect JONBON (NAP) to sit just behind the leaders and pick them off late.
14:50 Handicap Steeple Chase, 3m1f
FANION DESTRUVAL ran in the last two Ryanair Chases and ran a very good race in the Rowland Meyrick Chase at Wetherby. The step-up in trip will help and I can see him finishing late to hit the places at least at a nice each-way price.
15:30 Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy, 2m
I am really looking forward to seeing CONSTITUTION HILL strut his stuff. He has blown people away and I’m hoping we get more of the same on Tuesday. State Man is the obvious danger and Vauban could be the one to chase them home in third.
1. Constitution Hill
2. State Man
3. Vauban
16:10 Mares’ Hurdle, 2m 4f
MARIE’S ROCK won this race last year and is in great form at Nicky Henderson’s yard in the build-up. She can beat the former Champion Hurdle winners Honeysuckle and Epatante with the latter chosen to chase her home.
16:50 Juvenile Handicap Hurdle, 2m
Gary Moore’s runner has let himself down with his jumping but if he improves that in this contest, I can see PERSEUS WAY being involved at the finish. He is talented and would have won last time at Kempton if he jumped either of the last two hurdles well. Good value as an each-way pick.
17:30 National Hunt Chase, 3m 6f
GAILLARD DU MESNIL has been placed at the Festival last year behind L’Homme Press and Ahoy Senor and was previously second in the Ballymore Hurdle two years ago. His form is strong and he’s just better than the opposition.
Ruby Walsh is sticking with Facile Vega in the first race of the Festival in the 13:30
RUBY WALSH
13:30 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, 2m
I’m with FACILE VEGA and, despite his bad run at the Dublin Racing Festival, I can’t turn my back on him after one bad run.
14:10 Arkle Challenge Trophy, 2m
The three market leaders meet again and the tactics will be fascinating. I like SAINT ROI (each-way) to hit the places.
14:50 Handicap Steeple Chase, 3m1f
A tricky looking competitive where I’ve no strong opinion but FANION DESTRUVAL can go well for trainer Venetia Williams.
15:30 Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy, 2m
Constitution Hill and State Man set the standard and with just seven runners there’s no each-way option outside these two.
1. Constitution Hill
2. State Man
3. I Like To Move It
16:10 Mares’ Hurdle, 2m 4f
BRANDY LOVE is going to improve a hell of a lot from her first run of the season at Punchestown a few weeks ago and can go well and I also like Shewearsitwell at a big price each-way.
16:50 Juvenile Handicap Hurdle, 2m
TEKAO has a great chance given the level of form he’s shown this season and his third place behind Gala Marceau and Lossiemouth is solid form.
17:30 National Hunt Chase, 3m 6f
GAILLARD DU MESNIL should give Willie and Patrick Mullins their third National Hunt Chase victory in the finale on day one.
JANE MANGAN
13:30 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, 2m
We know FACILE VEGA is a monster and we know he went too fast early at the Dublin Racing Festival. Expect a change in tactics. If he relaxes. He wins. Inthepocket looks solid each-way.
14:10 Arkle Challenge Trophy, 2m
I’m siding with JONBON based on his accurate jumping and he’s probably more suited by the track. I’m hopeful he can follow in his brother Douvan’s footsteps by winning the Arkle.
14:50 Handicap Steeple Chase, 3m1f
FASTORSLOW has been campaigned in Grade 1 company this season and this handicap isn’t nearly as hot. He steps up in trip and has a big chance.
15:30 Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy, 2m
Not since Bula in 1971 has a horse completed the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle / Champion Hurdle double in consecutive years. There haven’t been many that reached a rating of 173 after just five runs. So just enjoy Constitution Hill.
1. Constitution Hill
2. State Man
3. I Like To Move It.
Constitution Hill is favoured by our racing experts to come out on top in the Champion Hurdle
16:10 Mares’ Hurdle, 2m 4f
Can I really abandon Honeysuckle in her final race? Unfortunately, yes. A champion in her own right, I think EPATANTE can prevail in an ultra-strong Mares’ Hurdle.
16:50 Juvenile Handicap Hurdle, 2m
Mark Walsh has abandoned Risk Belle in favour of TEKAO who was third to Gala Marceau and Lossiemouth in a Grade 1 at Leopardstown last time. A reproduction of that form will see him go very close to winning this. Sir Allen is an each-way play.
17:30 National Hunt Chase, 3m 6f
I fancy GAILLARD DU MESNIL and Patrick Mullins to put in a similar display to Stattler’s comfortable win last year. Barring accident, he’s the banker of the day.
PADDY POWER
13:30 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, 2m
I’m not forgiving Facile Vega for his Leopardstown run so I’m taking him on. I like DOCTOR BRAVO, who has solid form including impressive wins at Fairyhouse and Down Royal in December and January. Chasing Fire for Olly Murphy is also an option as he’s got plenty of improvement in him.
14:10 Arkle Challenge Trophy, 2m
I’m with Dysart Dynamo in an each-way bet. People may think this is a two-horse race between El Fabiolo and Jonbon but DYSART DYNAMO could be hard to peg back if he gets a lead. This race could set up for him.
14:50 Handicap Steeple Chase, 3m1f
If the ground is good, I like TEA CLIPPER for Tom Lacey. He’s got solid form and he’s coming in fresh having not run since November at Newbury.
15:30 Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy, 2m
Constitution Hill is obviously the most likely winner but I’m keen on I Like To Move It in the Betting Without Constitution Hill and State Man market. I was taken by his win in the Kingwell at Wincanton last time.
1. Constitution Hill
2. State Man
3. I Like to Move It
16:10 Mares’ Hurdle, 2m 4f
MARIE’S ROCK has won her last four races and looks the one to beat as Honeysuckle is in decline, even though it would blow the roof off the place if Rachael Blackmore won on her. Echoes In Rain could also be an each-way shout.
16:50 Juvenile Handicap Hurdle, 2m
I like MORNING SOLDIER as long as it’s decent ground. He’s got solid form and he could be buried in the field to strike late. Zanndabad also stands out for Tony Martin who could be really well in with a rating of 119.
17:30 National Hunt Chase, 3m 6f
I don’t like tipping favourites but it’s hard to get away from GAILLARD DU MESNIL for Willie Mullins with his son, Patrick, on board. The trip won’t be an issue for him and he’s won at Grade 1 level this season.
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