Cheltenham Festival Day 1: Each-way plays

The Cheltenham Festival is back on Tuesday afternoon with a cracking seven-race card.

Tuesday’s action includes the Champion Hurdle, the Arkle and a fascinating renewal of the Supreme as well as some competitive handicaps.

We have picked out several each-way selections for day one including an Irish raider that looks overpriced.

13:20 Cheltenham - Leader d’Allier

Willie Mullins has a cracking record in the Supreme including two of the last five renewals and his representative, Leader d’Allier, looks overpriced at double figure odds.

This five-year-old won a Grade 3 bumper in France last summer and shaped with promise on his stable debut at Leopardstown, finishing runner-up to a rival that had the run of the race.

That’s a run that’s probably worth marking up given that the yard’s runners weren’t really firing at that time of the year and he made no mistake at his second attempt in a maiden hurdle, bolting up in a Punchestown maiden hurdle.

The Supreme often turns into a test of stamina, which will suit this son of Cokoriko, who gives the impression he’ll get further with time and he looks like a major player for a yard that are flying.

14:40 Cheltenham - Ole Ole

A case can be made for plenty of the field in this year’s Fred Winter and another Irish raider is worth keeping on side having hit the crossbar in three maiden hurdles before Christmas.

Ole Ole is the horse in question after a narrow defeat at Leopardstown over Christmas, producing a career best in the process and he was unlucky to get caught on the line.

He travelled really well in that race, which will hold him in good stead in the Fred Winter and the yard are in much better form compared to their form before the turn of the year.

15:20 Cheltenham - Konfusion

The British have a fantastic record in the Ultima and one that looks overpriced from an each-way perspective is Konfusion.

He bolted up in the Rowland Meyrick at Wetherby on Boxing Day and he would have finished much closer to Imperial Saint without a couple of errors in the Peter Marsh at Haydock last time.

His mark has been left unchanged and expect another big run for this thriving chaser for Sue Smith and Joel Parkinson.

16:00 Cheltenham - Golden Ace

Last year’s winner, Golden Ace, may have been fortunate to win the 2025 renewal but she’s well capable of hitting the frame and odds of around 8-1 look generous given her solid profile.

She finished second behind Sir Gino last time and State Man at last year’s Punchestown Festival so she’s kept smart company since last year’s Champion Hurdle success and there’s no rival as good as those two in this year’s renewal.

It’s hard to see her not having some sort of say in the finish and she’ll be ridden patiently, hoping they can pick up the pieces like she was in last year’s renewal.