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The start of the 2025 Cheltenham Festival has finally arrived, and like many, we are looking forward to four days of top-class racing.
Throughout this week, Rizz and I will each have a selection or two each on the main thread. However, we do have other threads on offer that give some insight into other bits and pieces that are happening throughout the festival.
These include a daily Lucky 15 bet, which consists of some selections at bigger odds and separate race previews for the main races of each day.
Cairnzy's Tips
Brighterdaysahead 2/1 – Cheltenham 4.00
For the second year on the trot, the Champion Hurdle has a slightly sour feel to it, and this year's downfall is, of course, the withdrawal of the Willie Mullins-trained Lossiemouth, who now goes to the Mare's Hurdle to defend her crown after spending the guts of two years being trained as a future Champion Hurdle winner. As much as it's disappointing, it's hardly a surprise, given a recent heavy fall and a below-par run behind Constitution Hill on Boxing Day.
Is Constitution Hill your most likely winner of this year's Champion Hurdle? Of course, he is, but at 8/13, I'll happily have a small wager in taking him on with Brighterdaysahead, who arguably is great value at 2/1 to upset the applecart.
Constitution Hill has barely broken a sweat in each of his 10 races to date, but I do feel Brighterdaysahead can be one of the few to really take him out of his comfort zone. Besides the market leader, my selection by far brings the best form to the table, none more than her 30L demolition job over Stateman in The Neville Hotels Hurdle at Leopardstown. Stateman, of course, was not at his best on that occasion, but there is no debating that he struggled to go the gallop, and I struggle to see how the defending champion reverses the form this time around.
The big question is, can Brighterdaysahead stick with Constitution Hill when push comes to shove, or will the market leader simply sweep by when going for home and win with the minimum of fuss as he usually does. Brighterdaysahead has the benefit of the 7lb mares allowance, and if going by Timeform's recent ratings, Brighterdaysaheads most recent win puts her only 3lb behind Constitution Hill's best run to date.
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Rizzel's Tips
Resplendent Grey 9/1 EW – Cheltenham 5.20
It seems a little strange that this race is now a handicap, as for the longest time, it was a race on level weights where Willie Mullins or Gordon Elliott chucked in a horse who couldn't be beaten, and Jamie Codd/Patrick Mullins/Derek O'Connor would get winners. This race isn't even just an amateur-only one, which divides opinion, but I'm not too fussed as long as my fancy wins.
I think going for the class angle in this race might be the best play. Resplendent Grey is definitely the best horse in this race, and it all comes down to whether he stays the 3m 6f, which I am unsure of. Based on how well he was staying on up the hill behind Hyland earlier in the season, over 3m, I think he has every chance of staying on this marathon trip.
Sean Bowen being on board is a big positive as in these long-winded races, he chucks the kitchen sink and will power horse home as we saw on the weekend just gone with Booster Bob, who came from the clouds to win at Newbury.
It might sound daft that I've mentioned Sean Bowen being on board an Olly Murphy horse as he is the stable jockey, but I think he could have easily ignored Resplendent Grey and taken the ride on Haiti Couleurs who has previously won, so given he is on my horse gives me further confidence that they really believe this is a suitable race for the horse.
Winning off 11st 11lbs will not be an easy task. Still, I think there is a lot of deadwood in this race, so he should only have to beat a handful of horses, such as the Rebecca Curtis horse I've just named, as well as Transmission, who will definitely stay the trip, with a couple of Irish horses likely to be there turning for home.
More Cheltenham Festival 2025 tips
- Day 1 Lucky 15 tips
- Day 1 best Each-Way tips
- Day 1 best outsider and value bets
- Michael O'Sullivan Supreme Novices' Hurdle preview
- Champion Hurdle preview
Cheltenham Festival 2025 betting guides
- Cheltenham 2025: Which trainers and jockeys to back
- Cheltenham 2025: Expert tips and trends to follow
- Cheltenham 2025: A beginner's guide
- Cheltenham 2025: Race-by-race schedule
- Racing form cards explained
- Top horse racing betting tips for beginners
- Horse racing 101: The best betting guide for beginners
- Betting odds explained
GambleAware
Cheltenham
2:40 – sequestered 11/1
3:20 – kala conti
4:40 – Liam swagger
5:20 – Gericault roque
E/w lucky 15
Sedgefield 2:58 – augharue 4/1
Sedgefield 3:38 – love true 2/1
Sedgefield 16:18 – ladronne 15/8
Sedgefield 16:53 ce mi run 15/8
Lucky 15 win only
Not a huge fan of trends myself but these are based on several key trends for each type of race, the first figure is the horse’s trends met and the 2nd figure the total trends set.
Have added best odds also
1-20 Romeo Coolio 13/14 trends met
7-1
——————————————————–
2-00 leau de sud 16/18 trends met
9-2
——————————————————–
2-40 famous bridge 15/16 trends met
22-1
——————————————————–
3-20
jade de grungy 11-2
lossiemouth 8-11
Both 12/13 trends met
——————————————————–
4-00 constitution hill 17/17 trends met
4-6
——————————————————–
4-40
Slurricane 28-1
Quantico hills 20-1
Teriferma 25-1
Turn and finish 40-1
Liam swagger 12-1
Mister Cessna 50-1
Moutarde 80-1
Static 66-1
Hot fuss 10-1
All 13/13 trends met
——————————————————–
5-20
Stuzzkini 40-1
Transmission 5-1
Rock my way 50-1
All 10/11 trends met
——————————————————–
Bit long winded but if just one reader benefits from one of these it will be worth it.
🏇🏇🏇🏇🏇🏇🏇🏇🏇🏇🏇🏇🏇🏇🏇🏇🏇🏇🏇
Early start tomorrow, setting off at 6am for my annual day out at HQ, can’t wait.
My nap right now is leau de sud 9-2 in the arkle…
Though it could change as the Guinness flows 🍻😂
What I know about horse racing you could write on the back of a postage stamp therefor I will be following the opinion of the likes of Azz, DC and Elvis “blind” this week. As for the trends is this something to pay attention to specifically for Cheltenham?
1-20 Romeo Coolio 6-1 ew 4 places SKYBET.
2-00 leau de sud 9-2 NAP 🏇
2-40 Famous bridge 20-1 ew 7 places SKYBET.
3-20 no bet
4-00 no bet
4-40 teriferma 25-1 ew and kool one 40-1 ew
Both 6 places, both bet365
5-15 stuzzkini 33-1 ew and duffle coat 50-1 ew both 5 places, both at HILLS
Looks like an each way day with so many odds on shots.
Many will be on the odds on fourfold but one will lose, I hope I’m wrong but it could be constitution hill who I don’t think he can be as good as before his set backs.
Nothing will give me more pleasure than to see him storm up the hill though, be a good watch but at 8-13 is mugs odds
SUPREME
This is a very high class renewal, there’s probably 5 or 6 in the field that would have won last year’s race so there’s going to be some very high class horses not even making the frame.
KOPEK DE BORDES
This horse has the highest rating of any horse coming into the Supreme in the past 20 years and when you think of who has won the race in that time it gives you an idea of just how good he was at the DRF, and that is just after 2 starts.
The only way I can see him getting turned over is at the preliminaries where he can get a bit on his toes and could boil over with the crowd. At the DRF he was able to just walk round half of the parade ring before leaving to take to the track, but he won’t get away with that here.
If considering backing him, I would suggest waiting until the last minute to see how he’s fared out but most definitely the one to beat. I also think you will get at least evs on the day, bookies won’t mind losing on the first race as they know they have 27 more to claw it back.
ROMEO COLIO
Straight forward horse and a decent jumper, he’s the wiseguys ew selection. He won by 9L lto but what did he beat. Prior to that win he was beaten quite comfortably by Tounsivator in the Royal Bond who is rated 145. He is also by Kayf Tara who has never won a Supreme, so he’s not for me
SALVATOR MUNDI
Won the Moscow Flyer doing everything wrong and after a 242 day break. I backed him at the time for this race as I thought he will come on a stone for the run, but the fact that KDB is in here instead of the Turners tells me the yard aren’t that confident of his chances and neither am I now that Patrick is onboard, may aswell be John Wayne onboard.
WORKAHEAD
Following a 3rd on debut he came out and beat William Munny by 7L in very impressive fashion. The HDB yard has been under a bit of a cloud since then but it is starting to turn round and there’s no one better at getting them ready for the big occasion than Henry and I give him a big ew chance here.
WILLIAM MUNNY
Definitely learning with racing. Although well beaten by Workahead he has since come out and won impressively by 15L.
Trainer Barry Connell is being quite bullish of his chances (it’s the norm for him) however, I do think he is also a decent ew shout. It would also be a very sentimental win if he were to prevail.
There are others I could mention such is the depth of the race, but I think the ones I have already mentioned will be fighting it out.
ARKLE
I’m not going to go on too much about this race. MAJBOROUGH wins barring accidents.
The crop of Juveniles from last year were of a very high standard and I can see them taking many of the races this year so I would keep that in mind throughout the week.
I have an ew on Only By Night for 3 places so only has to beat 2 home. I think she will be the one to chase the fav home so hopefully I collect.
ULTIMA
Only 47 initial entries compared to 73 last year, possibly down to the introduction of the new h’cap races but even so not the strongest renewal.
I landed on 2 here, the first is KING TURGEON for the David Pipe yard who is the joint most successful trainer of the race.
Has a course win to his name this season which is always a positive for this race and is progressing nicely. He also tends to be up with the pace which is also a positive, however lto he was dropped out the back, threw his toys out of the pram and was pulled up. Not sure if they were just trying something new or just trying to protect his mark but he’s been dropped a pound for that which always helps.
If he can stay out of trouble and is up with the pace I can see him going close off his current mark. He is also by King’s Theatre who is the joint top winning Sire for the race.
The other is an Irish horse which goes completely against the trends as the Irish haven’t won this race since 2006, however lately they have been getting closer and have had quite a number of placed horses recently.
MALINA GIRL for Gavin Cromwell has run over C&D 3 times. Was a staying on 3rd in Nov. ‘22 having made a mistake 3 out. Came back the following year and to contest the same race and won off 12lbs higher. And then in Dec. ‘23 she fell 3 out (doesn’t seem to like that 3rd last fence !!) when travelling well with another 11lbs on her back
Clearly likes the course and hasn’t been given any UK tax. Only negative is she likes to be out the back and come late which goes against the trends, although that didn’t stop Corach Rambler. She also comes out best on the trends.
MARES HURDLE
Not going to go on about Lossiemouth again, if people back her and she wins then I won’t begrudge them taking money off the enemy.
But I have to take her on and at the prices I’ve landed on KALA CONTI who is another that’s part of that vintage crop of juveniles from last season.
She has a bit to find on ratings, but I think she can reverse placings with July Flower on 4lbs better terms from when they met in Dec. In that race the last Hurdle was omitted and I don’t think it played to KC’s strengths.
They could have gone down the h’cap route with her as she was entered for both the Coral and the MP but they’ve chosen to come here instead.
CHAMPION HURDLE
Just can’t wait for this race. I would dearly love to see CON HILL win. The sport needs it’s greats like him and GDC probably more so now than ever before so it would be amazing if he could do it. He can then be truly called the best ever as he will be put to an almighty test by BRIGHTERDAYSAHEAD.
It’s not a race I’m going to get involved in. I’m just going to sit back and watch with great interest.
Do I think he will win, I’m not sure. Listening to the experts, once a horse has had Colic they are never the same animal and he is now also 8yrs old so will naturally be on the decline, but listening to the Henderson yard they are very bullish of his chances so who knows. His 2 runs so far this season haven’t been great. Running to an RPR of 162 on reappearance and just 150 on his 2nd start. He was probably entitled to run to that level having been off the track for a year but will obviously need to produce a lot more than that here.
BDA though, if you’re not aware, is rated just 5lbs below CON HILL’s best performance taking the 7lbs into consideration following her demolition job at christmas. They have KING OF KINGSFIELD in the field again to set the pace. It will just be interesting to see if the plan can be put into place at such an undulating track like Cheltenham.
STATE MAN hasn’t a hope here given how he’s ran this season and in fact I think it’s worth taking GOLDEN ACE in the w/o the top 2 market as State Man will be ridden to win and will blow up, whereas GA will be ridden to place. Currently around 7/2 looks a great bet.
Finally, just want to say fair play to connections of Golden Ace for having a go !!
FRED WINTER
Always a minefield even trying to pick a horse to be placed never mind the winner. In the past 10 years alone we have had 18/1, 33/1, 33/1, 80/1, and 25/1 winners.
JP has won 3 of the last 6 and currently has 3 of the top 4 in the betting. However it’s best to avoid favs in this race as only 1 of the past 12 have won. You’re looking for something rated between 122 – 134 generally.
I’ve had an ew bet on SOLAR DRIVE for a yard having it’s first ever runner at the Festival. Currently 33/1 but given connections I’d be fairly confident he will drift out further on the day and you will also get more places so hold off.
He has some good form tied in with some of the ones at the head of the market. I’m not going to go through it again as I already put it up a few days ago.
Think it could be significant that the yard travel all the way over with just 1 horse, we shall see.
NATIONAL HUNT CHASE
Big talk over here for Cromwell’s NOW IS THE HOUR, but I like the chances of TRANSMISSION for Neil Mulholland.
Has had 4 runs this season all of which were at Cheltenham the last of which was over Hurdles to protect his mark. Has a bit to make up with HAITI COULEURS on their run in Dec. but he was the one staying on over the shorter trip and will also be 4lbs better off with that rival for 2 1/2L.
I know Patrick is onboard, but he’s won on him before and he’s won this race 4 times in the past although up to this year it was only open to amateur riders but he knows how to win it.
DC
Now is The Hour is my nap for the Meeting he is on the drift now . I thought CS Walsh was supposed to ride him but now KD is on him. But hopefully he will good luck to everyone
The drift is never a good sign
work ahead 1.20 ew Henry’s friend 2.40 ew Liam swagger 4.40 ew no time to wait 5.20 ew well done all winners yesterday
take no chances 3.20 ew
The trend picks for thursday are as follows
Pertemps BUGISE Seagull
Plate Path D’Oroux
Kim Muir Yeah Man
1/2pt ew on each
Karniquet 1.20c 33-1☘️☘️gl all
Get in kopex, just another three to go 😉
Speechless
Thought Only By Night was going to win but Jango Baie comes from nowhere to stab me in the heart.
Still at least he placed
Majborough is some horse though. To still have a chance of winning after what he did was amazing
Knell Marlborough four timer down
Crebilly and straw fan each way 7 places skybet
King turgeon 2.40c 25-1☘️☘️gl all
Afternoon All
Dont know how many will be interested in the Sedgefield meeting today .Cheltenham brilliant to watch but only one bet for me tough as ever for the punter .
SEDGEFIELD
15.38.. .Love True. .2/1
16.18. .Prince Cleni. .3/1
16.53. .Ce Mi Run. .2/1
CHELTENHAM
16.40. .Hot Fuss. .10/1. .E/W
GL ALL
Malina Girl places so something back at least
Kala conti 3.20
16-1 each way
With you DC on this one
Always drama in the big races.
Ricci put that in your pipe, you could have won the champion Hurdle afterall
Murcia 12-1 each way 6 places
Just had a 40-1 winner, only did it because it beat brighterdaysahead a couple of months ago and wanted a bit of interest in the race. Best two pound I’ve spent in a while 😁
So 2 horses in the trends today
Malina Girl placed at 14/1
PUTYOURHANDSTOGETHER won 17/2
Let’s see how the rest fare out
ormolulu 6.15 nb
Harry Ella 6.30 nap well done all winners today