Tuesday's 2023 Cheltenham Festival tips: Best bets for the ITV races
- Scott Allen
- 13 March 2023
The wait is finally over, the Cheltenham Festival 2023 is here, and the Planet Sport tipsters have some red-hot tips for the five day 1 ITV races on Tuesday, March 14.
Planet Sport's tipsters and betting experts have been studying the form to give you the best chance of success at the Festival.
First up we'll give you a quick list of the horses with the best chances for the main five races that are being shown on ITV this Tuesday afternoon.
Then for those of you that like a bigger price we have a handful of juicy each-way selections to get the mouth watering.
If you want some more detail on why our tipsters have selected these horses we'll dish out a little bit more info further down the page.
Good luck and please gamble responsibly.
(Please be aware tips might be updated if a horse becomes a non-runner)
Hot tips for day 1 of the Cheltenham Festival
13:30 Supreme Novices' Hurdle - Il Etait Temps
14:10 - Arkle Challenge Trophy - Jonbon
14:50 Ultima Handicap Chase - Into Overdrive
15:30 The Champion Hurdle - Constitution Hill
16:10 Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle - Marie's Rock
Strong each-way selections for day 1 of Cheltenham
13:30 - Supreme Novices' Hurdle - Tahmuras
14:10 - Arkle Challenge Trophy - Saint Roi
14:50 Ultima Handicap Chase - The Goffer
15:30 The Champion Hurdle - Vauban
16:10 Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle - Brandy Love
13:30 Supreme Novices Hurdle - Tahmuras (e/w)
Paul Nicholls-trained Tahmuras does need to improve from his Grade 1 win in the Tolworth Novices Hurdle, but will relish the ground and will be staying on past flagging runners here.
Marine Nationale has not run this side of Christmas, while Facile Vega was very poor last time out when fifth of six at Leopardstown, although did finish lame.
Il Etait Temps is improving with each run and the likely helter skelter nature of this race will suit him down to the ground, while Inthepocket is also worth a look.
14:10 - Arkle Challenge Trophy - Jonbon
Jonbon should get the better of El Fabiolo again in the Arkle Trophy, and land Nicky Henderson his record eighth victory in this contest.
The two met over hurdles at Aintree last season, with Henderson's runner just coming out on top, although many will point to El Fabiolo's lack of experience in only his second run for Willie Mullins.
There have also been complaints about Jonbon's last run at Warwick, but Henderson claimed he was nowhere near 100 per cent fit.
Saint Roi and Dysart Dynamo are also expected to mount a strong challenge.
14:50 Ultima Handicap Chase - Into Overdrive
The Ultima Handicap Chase is usually won by the British and while Into Overdrive's preparation has not been perfect, he is just the type of improving chaser you need for this race.
Mark Walford's stable star has progressed rapidly this season, from winning at the Charlie Hall meeting off just 132 to holding off Gold Cup contender Sounds Russian in the Rowland Meyrick.
The biggest challenge will come from last year's winner Corach Rambler, who is now only 6lb higher for that success, due to being dropped 1lb for a respectable fourth in the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury in November.
Nassalam is expected to go well in this step up in trip over 3m1f, while Gordon Elliott's The Goffer, who won an ultra-competitive handicap at Leopardstown last time out, will be looking to bring this race back to Ireland for the first time since 2006.
15:30 The Champion Hurdle - Constitution Hill
Constitution Hill will go off as the shortest-priced favourite for several years in the first-day highlight, and many are expecting him to win by the widest-ever margin.
The Nicky Henderson-trained six-year-old has only had five runs in his life, with four of them at Grade One level all won at an aggregate of 77 lengths.
This superstar in the making arrives as the highest-rated runner and it will most likely take something special to prevent him from adding this showpiece to his ever-growing trophy cabinet.
Willie Mullins' State Man, who won the County Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham last year, will offer the biggest threat as he seeks a fifth consecutive Grade 1 win.
While his stablemate Vauban should complete the top three.
16:10 Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle - Brandy Love (e/w)
The Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle looks like the most wide-open race of the day where's defending champion Marie's Rock has to hold off two previous Champion Hurdle winners in Eptante and Honeysuckle.
Throw in Brandy Love, Love Envoi, Echoes In Rain and Theatre Glory and it has many an expert scratching their heads.
Marie's Rock, who impressed here on New Year's Day, should score for Henderson, in what he says is his strongest day at the Festival, but Honeysuckle could bow out with a win in a season that hasn't been to her usual standard.
Love Envoi, who has only been beaten once in her career so far, should be respected after an impressive showing in a Listed contest at Sandown.
But the value here is with Brandy Love, who, though disappointing on her seasonal return dispatched Love Envoi last April and will be boosted by the soft ground.
Day 1: Tuesday 14th March - Champion Day full schedule
13:30 - Supreme Novices' Hurdle
14:10 - Arkle Challenge Trophy
14:50 - The Ultima Handicap Steeple Chase
15:30 - The Champion Hurdle
16:10 - The Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle
16:50 - Juvenile Handicap Hurdle
17:30 - The National Hunt Challenge Cup
