Cheltenham Festival Day One betting preview 10/03/15

The first day of the Cheltenham Festival can often dictate how the rest of the week will pan out for punters - so all eyes will be on whether four of the fancied favourites can live up to expectations and give betters a flying start.

1.30pm – Supreme Novices Hurdle

Douvan may be the favourite but the momentum appears to be with Lami Serge, which at Spreadex we’ve seen backed in from an early 5/1 to 10/3 as punters make a late surge for the Nicky Henderson trained five-year-old.

Douvan meanwhile has slipped from 13/8 to 2/1 perhaps with questions over how such a big horse will handle the faster ground.

On the each-way front, 12-1 Qewy has been attracting some interest and is priced 9/4 on our place only betting.

2.05pm – Arkle Challenge Trophy Chase

Spreadex clients are seeing it hard to look past Willie Mullins’ flying seven-year-old Un De Sceaux, who although fell on his chasing debut has made a habit of winning by clear distances and is 4/6 to win here.

After that, the most popular bets have been each-way backers for 12-1 shot Josses Hill and 16-1 priced Sgt Reckless but it appears most can only see this race going to one winner.

For those wanting to bet on the winner without Un De Sceaux in the equation, Vibrato Valtat then leads the way at 5/2.

2.40pm – Ultima Business Solutions Handicap Chase

If the second race of the day would appear to be easy to call, then the third race of the day is quite the opposite.

Money from Spreadex clients has been distributed among the large field with no noticeable patterns evident.

A.P. McCoy, in his last ever Cheltenham Festival before his retirement rides the favourite; Pendra at 15/2, however there have only been two successful favourites to win this race since Gay Vulgan in 1977.

Among the field, impressive recent form from Ned Stark and Mendip Express has seen both shorten in to 8/1 and 14/1 respectively.

3.20pm – Champion Hurdle

The big one of Day One and unbeaten Faugheen may be the 11/10 favourite, but it could be that another of Willie Mullins’ big hopes doesn’t have it all his own way.

The New One and Jezki have also seen plenty of support, while Hurricane Fly, with powers now perhaps waning, has not seen so many backers.

Arctic Fire also has seen plenty of action on the each-way front, now backed in to 16/1 from an original 25/1.

Spreadex’s Insurance Betting markets have also seen some activity for this one with The New One available to back to win at 11/4 with money returned if it finishes second and Jezki 7/2 to win with money back again if it finishes second.

4pm – Mares Hurdle

Another field on day one which looks to be dominated by one runner, with all eyes on the fabulous Annie Power at 8/13.

The only question marks will surround the long gap since her last run, winning in Punchestown in May, and of course, that her only ever defeat came at Cheltenham in the World Hurdle in last year’s festival.

That said, Spreadex punters can’t see any of the other challengers putting up a fight with only some each-way money of note coming in on Bitofapuzzle.

4.40pm – Novices’ Hunters’ Chase

Very Wood, winner of the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham last year, leads the betting in the penultimate race of day one.

Trained by Noel Meade, Very Wood, produced a strong staying performance last month to win Grade 2 Ten Up Novices at Navan after two shaky showings prior to that.

Elsewhere, money has been scattered among a host of other runners including Vivaldi Collonges, Broadway Buffalo and Perfect Gentleman.

5.20pm – Novices’ Handicap Chase

Thomas Crapper leads the betting in the final race of day one and although Robin Dickin’s eight-year-old has yet to win over fences, a fine second to Don Poli in last year’s Fred Winter at Cheltenham and some strong performances since then have led to plenty of backers.

That said, there has been money for other runners including Stellar Notion, Cocktails at Dawn, Bold Henry and Little Jon in what should be a competitive end to the first day’s racing.