Cheltenham Festival Day 1 Betting Odds, Tips and Preview

We look at the Cheltenham Festival Day 1 betting odds in this racing preview of the opening day of this year’s Festival. We break down each of the seven races that are lined up for Tuesday’s action, and four of the races are Grade 1 Fixtures.

The feature race of Cheltenham Festival Day 1 betting is the Champion Hurdle, to settle who is the best two-miler over the timbers.

Cheltenham Festival 2022 Day 1 Race Times

 

 

1:30 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle Race (Grade 1)

This is the curtain-raiser to the Cheltenham Festival 2022. The Supreme Novices’ Hurdle is one of the most popular fixtures in the National Hunt calendar.

It is a 2m 1/2f contest with a maximum of 22 runners taking to the start. There are 8 hurdles in the fixture.

The Supreme Novices market looks competitive this year with the likes of CONSTITUTION HILL, SIR GERHARD, DYSART DYNAMO and JONBON among some key players in the line-up.

Last year’s winner was the Willie Mullins-trained APPRECIATE IT.

2022 Supreme Novices Cheltenham Festival Odds

Constitution Hill 9/4, Sir Gerhard 9/4, Dysart Dynamo 11/4, Jonbon 4/1, Kilcruit 7/1, Pied Piper 10/1, Mighty Potter 12/1, 14/1 bar
* (odds recorded at 21:49 GMT on February 28th, 2022 at Bet365)

See our full Supreme Novices Cheltenham Festival Betting Tips & Preview

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2:10 Arkle Challenge Trophy Steeple Chase

The Arkle is an exciting 2m chase on the Old Course at Cheltenham for novice chasers. There are thirteen fences in the race and this is another of the day’s big Grade 1 contests in Cheltenham Festival betting.

The winner of last year’s Arkle was the brilliant Shishkin, which came just a year after he had taken the Supreme Novices.

This year’s edition looks lively with the likes of BLUE LORD, RIVIERE D’ETEL and the brilliant unbeaten EDWARDSTONE playing a part.

2022 Arkle Challenge Trophy Cheltenham Festival Odds

Edwardstone 2/1, Blue Lord 3/1, Rivière D’Etel 7/2, Haut En Couleurs 6/1, Saint Sam 7/1, Ciel De Neige 14/1, Jungle Boogie 14/1, Magic Daze 14/1, Third Time Lucki 14/1, 16/1 bar
* (odds recorded at 21:49 GMT on February 28th, 2022 at Bet365)

See our full Arkle Challenge Trophy Cheltenham Festival Betting Tips & Preview

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2:50 The Ultima Handicap Steeple Chase

The Ultima Handicap Chase is the third race on the Cheltenham Festival Day 1 line-up and this is a longer trip at 3m 1f.

The Ultima is a Grade 3 with a maximum of 24 runners going to the start. Whoever goes will face 20 fences.

Among this year’s entries are DOES HE KNOW, AYE RIGHT and FLOUEUR and it looks like it could be a really wide-open renewal of this chase.

2022 Ultima Handicap Cheltenham Festival Odds

Does He know 7/1, Aye Right 8/1, Floueur 8/1, Imperial Alcazar 8/1, Come On Teddy 9/1, Corach Rambler 9/1, Frodon 10/1, Frontal Assault 10/1, Full back 10/1, Fury Road 10/1, Noble Yeats 10/1, Threeunderthrufive 10/1, 12/1 bar
* (odds recorded at 21:49 GMT on February 28th, 2022 at Bet365)

See our full Ultima Handicap Cheltenham Festival Betting Tips & Preview

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3.30 The Unibet Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy (Grade 1)

The Champion Hurdle is the feature race of the day, the opening Championship fixture of the Cheltenham Festival 2022.

It’s a brilliant contest which is run at a distance of 2m 1/2f on the Old Course.

There is a maximum of 26 runners that can go to the start, but it was 14 early entries received for this year’s renewal.

Last year’s winner was HONEYSUCKLE who is back for a defence this year as she looked to get the better of the likes of APPRECIATE IT, TEAHUPOO and EPATANTE.

That having been said, Honeysuckle is one of the big, heavyweight Cheltenham Festival betting favourites.

2022 Champion Hurdle Cheltenham Festival Odds

Honeysuckle 1/2, Appreciate It 7/2, Teahupoo 7/1, Epatante 9/1, Adagio 16/1, Zanahiyr 16/1, 25/1 bar
* (odds recorded at 21:49 GMT on February 28th, 2022 at Bet365)

See our full Champion Hurdle Cheltenham Festival Betting Tips & Preview

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4:10 The Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle Race (Grade 1)

The Mares’ Hurdle is one of the newer races of the Festival having appeared on the scene in the 2005 Cheltenham Festival shake-up, when it became a four-day meeting.

The Mares’ Hurdle is a Grade 1 race with a maximum of 24 runners. It’s a trip of 2m 4f on the Old Course.

Last year’s winner of the David Nicholson Mares’ Hurdle was BLACK TEARS. Who will take over the mantle this year?

The Cheltenham Festival betting market for this one sees a competitive line-up with the likes of KAHALA and CONCERTISTA starting to be backed in closer to the favourite TELMESOMETHINGGIRL.

2022 Mares’ Hurdle Cheltenham Festival Odds

Telmesomethinggirl 3/1, Concertista 7/2, Royal Kahala 5/1, Stormy Ireland 5/1, Burning Victory 7/1, Heaven Help Us 7/1, Queens Brook 7/1, Echoes In Rain 8/1, Mrs Milner 8/1, 10/1 bar
* (odds recorded at 21:49 GMT on February 28th, 2022 at Bet365)

See our full Mares’ Hurdle Cheltenham Festival Betting Tips & Preview

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4:50 The Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle Race (Grade 3)

The penultimate fixture of Cheltenham Festival Day 1 betting is the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle or the Fred Winter to most punters.

This is a Grade 3 contest over a distance of 2m 1/2f round with a maximum of 22 runners taking on eight hurdles.

Last year’s winner was JEFF KIDDER from a remarkable 80/1 SP and there have been a crop of longer-priced runners appearing in this race recently.

2022 Juvenile Handicap Hurdle Cheltenham Festival Odds

Gaelic Warrior 11/4, The Tide Turns 11/2, Brazil 7/1, Fil Dor 7/1, Britzka 8/1, Champion Green 8/1, Icare Allen 8/1, Ebasari 11/1, HMS Seahorse 11/1, Saint Segal 11/1, 14/1 bar
* (odds recorded at 21:49 GMT on February 28th, 2022 at Bet365)

See our full Juvenile Handicap Hurdle Cheltenham Festival Betting Tips & Preview

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5.30  The National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup Novices’ Steeple Chase (Grade 2)

The last race of the day on Cheltenham Festival Day 1 betting action is the National Hunt Challenge Cup.

This is a race for amateur jockeys only, and it is a novices’ chase. The distance of the race is a long 3m 6f test and there is a maximum of 16 runners that will go to the start.

Last year’s winner was GALVIN who took the score ahead of NEXT DESTINATION. The current favourite for this year’s renewal is STATTLER, but some big players could oppose him on the day. A lot of entries for this also hold early entries for the Ultima.

2022 National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup Cheltenham Festival Odds

Stattler 5/2, Run Wild Fred 11/4, Vanillier 5/1, Threeunderthrufive 6/1, Farouk D’alene 7/1, Does He Know 8/1, Fury Road 8/1, Jungle Bookie 8/1, Ontheropes 9/1, Diol Ker 10/1, Braeside 12/1, Pats Fancy 12/1, 16/1 bar
* (odds recorded at 21:49 GMT on February 28th, 2022 at Bet365)

See our full National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup Cheltenham Festival Betting Tips & Preview

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National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup Betting Offers

For all races at the Cheltenham Festival 2022, bookmaker Bet365 are going Best Odds Guaranteed and Non-Runner No Bet.

All 28 Cheltenham Festival races can be found by selecting Antepost at the top of the Horse Racing section, simply select Ultima Handicap Chases from the Cheltenham Festival NRNB section if you would like Best Odds Guaranteed and Non-Runner No Bet to apply.

Non-Runner No Bet means that Ante-Post bets placed on ‘NRNB’ markets will be refunded if your selection does not run.

Best Odds Guaranteed is now available on every Ultima Handicap Chase at the 2022 Cheltenham Festival (by selecting Ante-Post ‘NRNB’ markets).

If the SP is bigger at the time of the Ultima Handicap Chase than your odds, Bet365 will pay you out at the bigger odds. This offer is only available to new and eligible customers.

Full Terms & Conditions Apply. 18+ See Bookmaker for full details. Please Gamble Responsibly.

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