Cheltenham day one decs – Tuesday’s Festival fields confirmed

Benie Des Dieux is the odds-on favourite to regain her Mares’ Hurdle crown.

We bring you the full Cheltenham day one decs after the final fields for the first day of the Festival were confirmed for Tuesday 10th March.

The moment racing fans have been waiting for all week has finally arrived, as the final fields for every race on day one of the Cheltenham Festival have now been confirmed, alongside a host of free bet offers. Let’s run through every race and have a look at the horses who will open this year’s Cheltenham Festival.

Cheltenham day one decs – Supreme Novices’ Hurdle

The major talking point in the Supreme Novices Hurdle is the omission of Envoi Allen. At Betfair’s preview evening, trainer Gordon Elliott claimed there was a good chance his star would be switched from the Ballymore to day one’s opener. Yet, after walking the course this morning, Elliott has decided to run Envoi Allen in the Ballymore after all. Good news for anyone who’s included Envoi Allen in their day two Cheltenham Festival tips.

Shishkin now heads the betting at 11/4 with 888Sport. Paul Townend rides second-favourite Asterion Forlonge, with Davy Russell guiding Abacadabras into battle. Other notable entries include Captain Guinness, Edwardstone and Iain Jardine’s outsider Jabbaar, who will be ridden by Connor O’Farrell.

2020 Supreme Confirmed Runners

ABACADABRAS (Gordon Elliott, Davy Russell)
ALLART (Nicky Henderson, Jeremiah McGrath)
ASTERION FORLONGE (Willie Mullins, Paul Townend)
BERKSHIRE ROYAL (Willie Mullins, Dave Cross)
CAPTAIN GUINNESS (Henry De Bromhead, Rachael Blackmore)
CHANTRY HOUSE (Nicky Henderson, Barry Geraghty)
EDWARDSTONE (Alan King, Tom Cannon)
ELIXIR D’AINEY (Willie Mullins, Mark Walsh)
FIDDLERONTHEROOF (Colin Tizzard, Robbie Power)
HEAVEN HELP US (Paul Hennessy, Danny Mullins)
HOLLOW SOUND (Luke Comer, DT Kelly)
JABBAAR (Iain Jardine, Conor O’Farrell)
MARIO DE PAIL (Sam Thomas, Sam Twiston-Davies)
SHISHKIN (Nicky Henderson, Nico De Boinville)
SOVIET PIMPERNEL (Peter Fahey, Kevin Sexton)
WHATSNOTOKNOW (Mouse Morris, Phillip Enright)

Paul Townend will partner Asterion Forlonge in the opener.

Cheltenham day one decs – Arkle Challenge Trophy

Notebook will renew rivalries with both Fakir D’Oudairies and Cash Back in Tuesday’s second Grade One. Henry De Bromhead’s two-time Grade One winner sits atop the betting at 11/4 with William Hill, with Olly Murphy’s Brewin’upastorm splitting the three leading Irish contenders.

Maire Banrigh and Espirit Du Large were included as good each-way Cheltenham Festival betting offers at many preview evenings, and both have come in for support since. Rouge Vif and Al Dancer also take their chance, along with Put The Kettle One, who won a Grade Two at Cheltenham on her first run around the track in the autumn.

2020 Arkle Confirmed Runners

AL DANCER (Nigel Twiston-Davies, Sam Twiston-Davies)
BREWIN’UPASTORM (Olly Murphy, Richard Johnson)
CASH BACK (Willie Mullins, Paul Townend)
ESPIRIT DU LARGE (Evan Williams, Adam Wedge)
FAKIR D’OUDAIRIES (Joseph O’Brien, Mark Walsh)
GLOBAL CITIZEN (Ben Pauling, David Bass)
Arkle favourite NOTEBOOK (Henry De Bromhead, Rachael Blackmore)
OUR MERLIN (Robert Walford, Stan Sheppard)
ROUGE VIF (Harry Whittington, Gavin Sheehan)
MAIRE BANRIGH (Dan Skelton, Harry Skelton)
PUT THE KETTLE ON (Henry De Bromhead, Aidan Coleman)

Cheltenham day one decs – Ultima Handicap Chase

Kim Bailey’s Vinndication heads the weights and the betting for the Ultima Handicap Chase, with bet365 quoting a top price of 6/1. Kildisart and The Conditional lead the chasing pack, as 23 chasers made the cut for the opening handicap of the Cheltenham Festival.

Trials’ day winner, Cepage steps up beyond two-and-a-half miles for the first time. Last year’s runner-up, Vintage Clouds is back for another crack at the Ultima, and will be ridden by former Grand National winner, Ryan Mania. Philip Hobbs has chosen the Ultima over the Kim Muir for No Comment, while Vivas and Ice Cool Champs get in right at the bottom of the weights.

2020 Ultima Confirmed Runners

VINNDICATION (Kim Bailey, David Bass)
BRAVE EAGLE (Nicky Henderson, Nico De Boinville)
CEPAGE (Venetia Williams, Charlie Deutsch)
VINTAGE CLOUDS (Sue Smith, Ryan Mania)
MISTER MALARKY (Colin Tizzard, Jonjo O’Neill Jr)
KILDISART (Ben Pauling, Daryl Jacob)
DISCORAMA (Paul Nolan, Bryan Cooper)
WHO DARES WINS (Alan King, Tom Cannon)
ATALANTA ABLAZE (Henry Daly, Tom O’Brien)
ACTIVIAL (Tom George, Jonathan Burke)
MULCAHYS HILL (Warren Greatrex, Adrian Heskin)
BURBANK (Nicky Henderson, Jeremiah McGrath)
COGRY (Nigel Twiston-Davies, Sam Twiston-Davies)
TOWNSHEND (Nigel Twiston-Davies, Jamie Neild)
COBRA DE MAI (Dan Skelton, Harry Skelton)
BIG RIVER (Lucinda Russell, Derek Fox)
Popular Cheltenham Festival day one tip THE CONDITIONAL (David Bridgewater, Brendan Powell)
ELWOOD (Gordon Elliott, Luke Dempsey)
SOUPY SOUPS (Neil Mulholland, Robert Dunne)
QUARENTA (Jonjo O’Neill, Harry Cobden)
NO COMMENT (Philip Hobbs, Richard Johnson)
VIVAS (Charlie Longsdon, Gavin Sheehan)
ICE COOL CHAMPS (Kerry Lee, Adam Wedge)

Epatante heads the Champion Hurdle betting.

Cheltenham day one decs – Champion Hurdle

Epatante is one of four Nicky Henderson runners in this year’s Champion Hurdle. Quotes from Henderson’s stable tour suggest the Christmas Hurdle winner is over the slight cough he reported last month, and Epatante remains the 3/1 favourite with race-sponsors Unibet.

Cilaos Emery has been rerouted from the Champion Chase to have a crack at Epatante, and Paul Townend has been confirmed in the saddle. Popular each-way Cheltenham Festival tips, Supasundae, Silver Streak and Ballyandy all take their chance, while Not So Sleepy and Cornerstone Lad are likely to garner support on the day.

2020 Champion Hurdle Confirmed Runners

BALLYANDY (Nigel Twiston-Davies, Sam Twiston-Davies)
CALL ME LORD (Nicky Henderson, James Bowen)
CILAOS EMERY (Willie Mullins, Paul Townend)
COEUR SUBLIME (Gordon Elliott, Davy Russell)
CORNERSTONE LAD (Micky Hammond, Henry Brooke)
DARVER STAR (Gavin Cromwell, Jonathan Moore)
Champion Hurdle favourite EPATANTE (Nicky Henderson, Barry Geraghty)
FUSIL RAFFLES (Nicky Henderson, Daryl Jacob)
LE PATRIOTE (Dr Richard Newland, Charlie Hammond)
NOT SO SLEEPY (Hughie Morrison, Jonathan Burke)
PENTLAND HILLS (Nicky Henderson, Nico De Boinville)
PETIT MOUCHOIR (Henry De Bromhead, Rachael Blackmore)
SHARJAH (Willie Mullins, Patrick Mullins)
SILVER STREAK (Evan Williams, Adam Wedge)
SUPASUNDAE (Jessica Harrington, Robbie Power)
VERDANA BLUE (Nicky Henderson,

Cheltenham day one decs – Mares’ Hurdle

The big clash on day one of the festival is on, after Benie Des Dieux and Honeysuckle were both confirmed in the 2020 Mares’ Hurdle. The Stayers’ Hurdle and Champion Hurdle options were available for both, but Willie Mullins and Henry De Bromhead have decided the Mares’ Hurdle is most appropriate for their stable stars.

Top Festival trainer, Willie Mullins throws Stormy Ireland and Elfile into the mix. Fan’s favourite, Lady Buttons comes here over the Champion Chase, with last year’s surprise winner, Roksana set to return to day one to try and retain her Festival crown.

2020 Mares’ Hurdle Confirmed Runners

BENIE DES DIEUX (Willie Mullins, Paul Townend)
CAP SOLEIL (Fergal O’Brien, Paddy Brennan)
CROSSGALESFAMEGAME (Fergal O’Brien, Connor Brace)
DESARAY GIRL (Phil Kirby, Sam Twiston-Davies)
ELFILE (Willie Mullins, Danny Mullins)
HONEYSUCKLE (Henry De Bromhead, Rachael Blackmore’s top ride at the Festival)
LADY BUTTONS (Phil Kirby, Adam Nicol)
POPONG (Henry De Bromhead, Aidan Coleman)
ROKSANA (Dan Skelton, Harry Skelton)
STORMY IRELAND (Willie Mullins, Robbie Power)

Honeysuckle and Rachael Blackmore will take on Benie Des Dieux in the Mares’ Hurdle.

Cheltenham day one decs – Northern Trust Novices’ Handicap Chase

Ante-post favourite, Imperial Aura has been confirmed in this novices’ handicap, and Kim Bailey’s charge can be found at 9/2 with bet365. Gordon Elliott’s Galvin, and Mich Channon’s Hold The Note were also confirmed this morning, and both can currently be found at single-figure prices.

Deyrann De Carjac and Champagne Platinum had been expected to take their chances, but connections have seemingly decided to go for the Brown Advisory Plate instead. Precious Cargo comes here instead of the Arkle, while Whatmore and Sensulano sneak in at the bottom of the weights.

2020 Northern Trust Confirmed Runners

PRECIOUS CARGO (Nicky Henderson, Nico De Boinville)
HOLD THE NOTE (Mick Channon, Jonathan Burke)
ESPOIR DE GUYE (Venetia Williams, Charlie Deutsch)
TORPILLO (Nigel Twiston-Davies, Daryl Jacob)
JARVEYS PLATE (Fergal O’Brien, Connor Brace)
KNIGHT IN DUBAI (Dan Skelton, Conor Shoemark)
CHAMPAGNE MYSTERY (Nicky Henderson, Jeremiah McGrath)
Northern Trust favourite IMPERIAL AURA (Kim Bailey, David Bass)
CHAMPAGNE COURT (Jeremy Scott, Nick Schofield)
GALVIN (Gordon Elliott, Davy Russell)
PAINT THE DREAM (Fergal O’Brien, Jack Tudor)
HIGHEST SUN (Colin Tizzard, Robbie Power)
MELLOW BEN (Chris Gordon, Tom Cannon)
EARLOFTHECOTSWOLD (Nigel Twiston-Davies, Sam Twiston-Davies)
BEAKSTOWN (Dan Skelton, Harry Skelton)
MITCHOUKA (Gearoid O’Loughlin)
DALY TIGER (Noel Meade, Sean Flanagan)
LORD SCHNITZEL (Matthew Smith, Bryan Cooper)
TRAINWRECK (Henry De Bromhead, Rachael Blackmore)
WHATMORE (Henry Daly, Richard Johnson)
SENSULANO (Noel Williams, Paddy Brennan)

Cheltenham day one decs – National Hunt Challenge Cup

Carefully Selected will carry a very short price into this year’s National Hunt Chase, with Patrick Mullins’ mount currently priced up at 6/4 with Unibet. Since Gordon Elliott announced Jamie Codd would ride Ravenhill in this Grade Two, he’s come in for significant support. As have Forza Milan and Lord Du Mesnil, who will be ridden by Derek O’Connor and Sam Waley-Cohen respectively.

Barry O’Neill rides Newtide for Kim Bailey, with Will Biddick partnering Colin Tizzard’s Lamanver Pippin. Winning jockey on Tiger Roll the year he won the National Hunt, Lisa O’Neill takes up the ride on Fergal O’Brien’s Ocean Cove, with Jack Andrew partnering Dan Skelton’s Redzor.

2020 National Hunt Confirmed Runners

ANTEROS (Sophie Leech, Damien Skehan)
CAREFULLY SELECTED (Willie Mullins, Patrick Mullins)
CLONDAW CIAN (Sophie Leech, JC Barry)
FORZA MILAN (James Nash, Derek O’Connor)
LAMANVER PIPPIN (Colin Tizzard, William Biddick)
Popular Cheltenham day 1 tip LORD DU MESNIL (Richard Hobson, Sam Waley-Cohen)
MIDNIGHT TUNE (Anthony Honeyball, )
NEWTIDE (Kim Bailey, Barry O’Neill)
RAVENHILL (Gordon Elliott, Jamie Codd)
REDZOR (Dan Skelton, Jack Andrews)
SMOKING GUN (Joseph O’Brien, T Hamilton)
SOME CAN DANCE (Samuel Drinkwater, Harrison Beswick)
SPRINGFIELD FOX (Tom George, Noel George)
THE HALLOW GINGE (Nigel Twiston-Davies, Zac Baker)