The Champion Hurdle is the feature race of Cheltenham Tuesday in 2023. The Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, Arkle Chase, and Mares’ Hurdle are the other three Grade 1 races taking place on the opening day. 7 races are scheduled in total on the opening day of the 4 day Cheltenham Festival. In 2023, Cheltenham Tuesday (Day 1 of 4) falls on 14th March. Here’s our Cheltenham Tuesday betting preview and tips for 2023:
Cheltenham Tuesday betting – Grade 1 Races
13:30 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle
Our Tip: Tahmuras
- (Hurdles, 2 miles 1/2 furlong)
- Horses must be at least 4 years old.
- Takes place on the Old Course.
- Jockey Ruby Walsh has won this race a record 6 times since 2006 – including Klassical Dream in 2019. Each of his wins was on a different horse.
- Trainer Willie Mullins has a record 7 victories, including Appreciate It in 2021.
- 2022 saw Constitution Hill win, which was a 3rd win for jockey Nico de Boinville (and a 5th win for trainer Nicky Henderson).
14:10 Arkle Chase (Arkle Challenge Trophy)
Our Tip: Jonbon
- (Fences, 2 miles)
- Horses must be at least 5 years old.
- This race is run on the Old Course.
- The famous Ruby Walsh-Willie Mullins jockey-trainer combination had 2 consecutive wins in 2015 and 2016 with Un de Sceaux and Douvan, and they also won in 2018 with Footpad. Mullins was also the winning trainer in 2019, whilst Walsh was also the winning jockey in 2003.
- Trainer Nicky Henderson has a record 7 victories, including Shishkin in 2021.
15:30 CHAMPION HURDLE – CHELTENHAM TUESDAY’S FEATURE RACE
Our Tip: Constitution Hill
- (Hurdles, 2 Miles 1/2 Furlong)
- This is the most well regarded National Hunt hurdles’ race of the year.
- For horses at least 4 years old.
- This race takes place on the Old Course.
- Five horses tie the record for most wins in this race, each winning three times in consecutive years – Hatton’s Grace, Sir Ken, Persian War, See You Then, and Istabraq.
- Owner J.P. McManus has been successful in the 4 years from 2017 to 2020 (adding to his previous 5 successes before that) – Buveur D’Air won in 2017 & 2018, Espoir d’Allen won in 2019, and Epatante won in 2020.
- 2021 & 2022 both saw victories for female jockey Rachael Blackmore on Honeysuckle.
16:10 Mares’ Hurdle (David Nicholson Mares’ Hurdle)
Our Tip: Honeysuckle
- (Hurdles, 2 miles 4 furlongs)
- Mares must be at least 4 years old.
- Takes place on the Old Course.
- Quevega won this race 6 times in a row between 2009 and 2014. Ruby Walsh was the jockey on all of those occasions – he also won this race in 2016 riding Vroum Vroum Mag, and again in 2018 riding Benie Des Dieux. Willie Mullins was the trainer for each of Ruby Walsh’s 8 wins, and he also had another win with Glens Melody in 2015. Quevega (6 wins), Walsh (8 wins), and Mullins (9 wins) hold the records for most successful horse, jockey, and trainer in this race.
- 2022 saw Marie’s Rock win for Nico de Boinville (jockey) & Nicky Henderson (trainer).
Cheltenham Tuesday betting – Non Grade 1 Races
14:50 Ultima Handicap Chase (Festival Trophy Handicap Chase) – Fences
Our Tip: Into Overdrive
16:50 Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (Fred Winter Juvenile Novices’ Handicap Hurdle) – Hurdles
Our Tip: Tekao
17:30 National Hunt Chase (National Hunt Challenge Cup) – Fences
Our Tip: Minella Crooner
All tips above were published prior to the start of the first race in this article (and remain unchanged since then), but anything else in this article may have been updated afterwards.
