Cheltenham Festival day 1 racing tips: Best free bets for Tuesday, March 11

The wait is over and the world is ready for the biggest National Hunt event in the British and Irish racing calendar.

Day 1 of the Cheltenham Festival brings us four Grade 1 races, including the feature Champion Hurdle (1600), and three other intriguing contests. ITV will be showing the first six races of the day.

Be aware all the usual times for races at Cheltenham have been changed for 2025, so it's an earlier start than previous years. You can get all the details on the 2025 Cheltenham Festival by using our helpful guide.

First up let's have a quick run through all our tips for Tuesday's action, with the reason's we've picked them further down the page.

Don't forget to check out the full racecard, results and live odds in Planet Sport's racing live centre.

Good luck and please gamble responsibly.

(Please be aware horses could become non-runners after article publication)

 

Tuesday Cheltenham tips:

13:20 (Cheltenham) Kopek Des Bordes

14:00 (Cheltenham) Majborough

14:40 (Cheltenham) The Changing Man

15:20 (Cheltenham) July Flower

16:00 (Cheltenham) Constitution Hill

16:40 (Cheltenham) Beyond Your Dreams

17:20 (Cheltenham) Now Is The Hour

 

13:20 (Cheltenham) Kopek Des Bordes

Talented jumper Kopek Des Bordes remains unbeaten this campaign and is expected to maintain that record in the opening Supreme Novices' Hurdle.

Willie Mullins' five-year-old scored in a maiden hurdle at Leopardstown when resuming then replicated with a 13L victory in the G1 Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle at the same venue Leopardstown.

Romeo Coolio does well when coming back from a break and this latest three month layoff follows two wins and a second at the end of 2024.

Salvator Mundi closed last prep winning a maiden hurdle at Tipperary then returned with a 3L success in the G2 Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle at Punchestown, so could do well again.

William Munny brings top-three form at G1 level and could be in the mix.

 

14:00 (Cheltenham) Majborough

Majborough is a multiple G1 winner, who found success in the G1 Arkle Novice Chase at Leopardstown start of February. Mark Walsh retains the ride and he'll go close in the Arkle Challenge Trophy.

L'Eau Du Sud maintains outstanding form of late. Closed last prep with a win in the G1 Henry VIII Novices Chase at Sandown Park then picked up where he left securing another victory by 1L in the G2 Kingmaker Novices Chase at Warwick, is hard to dismiss.

Jango Baie won two starts back tackling a chase at Cheltenham. Subsequently missed by a nose in the G1 Scilly Isles Novices Chase at Sandown Park. May go one better.

Only By Night impressed finding success at Exeter last month and rates a genuine threat in this grade.

 

14:40 (Cheltenham) The Changing Man

The Changing Man holds form and could be hard to beat in the Ultima Handicap Chase.

Joe Tizzard's eight-year-old impressed last start when successful attempting the G2 Reynoldstown Novices Chase at Ascot in February.

Broadway Boy returns after a two month absence. Opened previous campaign placing in a 3m1f chase at this track beaten 12L. Overall when resuming record reads well securing a win and two places from four runs. Solid top-three chance.

Katate Dori recorded a big win 17 days back in a chase at Kempton. Finished second tackling a chase (3m2 3/4f) at Wincanton the run prior. Hard to dismiss.

Crebilly opened campaign with a solid third in a chase (2m1/4f) at Windsor. Last start could only manage sixth in a chase (2m4 1/2f) at Kempton Park. In the mix.

 

15:20 (Cheltenham) July Flower

July Flower impressed when successful attempting a G3 at Leopardstown in December.

Quality jumper who has succeeded at G1 level with Rachael Blackmore keeping the ride and could take the Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle.

Hot-favourite Lossiemouth was second two runs back in the G1 Christmas Hurdle at Kempton Park, but failed to finish latest tackling the G1 Irish Champion Hurdle (2m) at Leopardstown.

On best form could prove hard to beat, but we are expecting an upset.

Jade De Grugy resumed after a 343-day layoff winning by 6L the G3 Quevega Mares Hurdle (2m4f) at Punchestown. May continue the bright start to this campaign.

Joyeuse did a reasonable job when second in a hurdle at this track two runs back. Improved sharply scoring by 8L last time a hurdle at Newbury. Rates a big chance again.

 

16:00 (Cheltenham) Constitution Hill

Constitution Hill has been going well, and the eight-year-old has not missed the frame in ten starts, so can't be ignored in the Champion Hurdle.

Brighterdaysahead is a strong when resuming performer returning from a three month layoff. Commenced with a win at Down Royal over 2m1f when last in work and rates a key runner.

State Man could make his presence felt with the gelding coming back in grade.

Burdett Road did well to finish third on penultimate attempt in the G1 Christmas Hurdle at Kempton. Backed that up with a sound second tackling the G2 Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton missing by 0.8L. Sure to be thereabouts again.

 

16:40 (Cheltenham) Beyond Your Dreams

Beyond Your Dreams resumes after 87-day absence. Concluded the last prep winning by 0.8L a maiden hurdle (2m1/2f) at Fairyhouse. Sure to feature on best form in the Hallgarten And Novum Wines Juvenile Handicap Hurdle.

Stencil rates a leading contender where James Reveley retains the ride with this four-year-old gelding.

Total Look did a good job finishing third on penultimate start tackling a hurdle (2m1f) contest at this track. Backed that up with a sound third in a Punchestown hurdle event 43 days ago beaten bu 2L. Could prove a force once again.

Puturhandstogether is a useful jumper. Won a maiden hurdle at Cork two starts back then filled a minor placing last start attempting a novice hurdle (2m) at Fairyhouse. Not to be taken lightly.

 

17:20 (Cheltenham) Now Is The Hour

Now Is The Hour was unplaced two starts back in a chase at Punchestown. Improved in latest running 4L fourth chasing (3m) at Navan.

Can reverse recent attempts and should be considered in the Princess Royal National Hunt Challenge Cup Novices' Handicap Chase.

Haiti Couleurs brings useful jumps form running third last start in a hurdle (3m) at Newbury. Scored a chase at this track the outing prior and likely to be prominent.

Transmission could only manage sixth contesting the G2 Cleeve Hurdle (3mf) at this track. Produced a solid second in a chase (3m1 1/4f) here delivering penultimate start and deserves another chance.

Captain Cody missed the placings tackling a Leopardstown chase. Made amends in latest when 2.75L third at Navan. Thereabouts.

 

READ MORE: Cheltenham Festival 2025 guide: Day-by-day race times, how to watch, best horses, trainers, jockeys and more

READ MORE: Nap of the Day - Today’s best free horse racing tips

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