Cheltenham Festival tips: race-by-race guide for day one and two

JOSH: Look no further than Kopek Des Bordes. His jumping improved dramatically between Christmas and the Dublin Racing Festival, and while I don’t think the Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle was the strongest renewal, he couldn’t have won any easier. To me, he’s the only horse in this field with the potential to reach true ‘superstar’ status.

Romeo Coolio is rock solid, but I can’t shake the memory of his defeat in the Grade 2 Bar One Racing Royal Bond Novice Hurdle. He was much better at Christmas, but that form now looks even weaker than the Grade 1 at the DRF.

As for Salvator Mundi, I’m not a fan —he does too much wrong, for my liking.

ANDREW: I find it hard to disagree with Josh here and provided there is no blip on the day, Kopek Des Bordes is the standout performer in this division based on his maiden plus Grade One form. I don't believe that his pre-race antics will get him in trouble, either, as we have seen Willie Mullins excel with these types in the past, and I'm sure the right precautions will be taken to make sure he gets to post without losing his race. 

Romeo Coolio is the rock solid 'each-way thief' option, as one would find it hard to displace him from the top three, while William Munny is arguably the second most talented horse in the race, and does merit consideration, but I would be fearful he does too much wrong to play a hugely telling hand. 

JOSH: Majborough is the most likely winner, but I don’t think it will look as straightforward as the odds suggest. I can easily see L’Eau Du Sud traveling strongly down the hill, with his jumping possibly taking him to the front. However, from the bottom of the hill onwards, everything swings in Majborough’s favour as he's a proper stayer with the speed for two miles.

ANDREW: I think Majborough is just the standout horse in this division, without Sir Gino in the line-up, and he should not be beaten. I was disappointed with L'Eau Du Sud's finishing effort at Warwick and although he should come forward plenty for that, he has a lot to find here. 

JOSH: If there’s one race where you can almost bank on a British winner, it’s this one. The last Irish-trained runner to land the Festival Trophy was Dun Doire in 2006. That stat, along with the strong record of Coral Gold Cup runners, puts Broadway Boy and Henry’s Friend at the top of my list for now. That said, I’ll likely wait until the day before making a final call.

ANDREW: As Josh has mentioned, this is not the type of race to be plunging in on an Irish horse, as history has told us. Horses such as Lowry's Bar and Hyland, who looked tailor-made for this race based on previous years, have gone and run in different contests, and it leaves the field with a disjointed feel. 

I am a fan of The Changing Man, for better or for worse, but his price now is very poor for a horse that doesn't like winning all too much. If he was to be available at a double-figure price on the day, I would be backing him each-way. 

JOSH: This race has taken on a whole new shape with Brighterdaysahead confirmed for the Unibet Champion Hurdle, and Nicky Henderson announcing that Joyeuse is likely to be supplemented after her William Hill Hurdle win. That said, I’m not convinced Joyeuse is crying out for this trip—nor is Golden Ace, for that matter.

It all comes down to whether Lossiemouth runs. If she does, she’s the one to beat. Her preparation hasn’t been ideal, with a Christmas Hurdle second followed by a fall in the Irish Champion Hurdle, but she’s simply too good for this field. If she doesn’t turn up, I’ll have to reassess.

ANDREW: Will she? Won't she? That is the big question when it comes to the Mares' Hurdle, and given the news that Brighterdaysahead goes to the Champion Hurdle, could connections of Lossiemouth end up reverting here? My gut tells me they won't, and that completely changes the complexion of this race. 

I thought Jade De Grugy's run was perfectly satisfactory and she should have a favourite's chance - she was a classy novice last year and one feels there must be more to come from her. She would be my selection for the race, with a word for Kala Conti in behind - she is a likeable and tough mare and should run well here should they decide to run her. 

JOSH: Credit to Gordon Elliott for running Brighterdaysahead -I’d love to see her win. But until he's beaten, I have to side with Constitution Hill. King Of Kingsfield will set the pace for the mare, but won’t that just play into Constitution Hill’s hands as well?

There’s been plenty of debate about whether he’s the same horse as before, but let’s not forget—we’re talking about the best hurdler of modern times. Even at 95% of his peak, he’s still a machine.

ANDREW: This is turning into the race of the meeting, and the hope is that everyone arrives there in one piece and can show their true colours. The fact that Gordon is rolling the dice must tell you where he believes he has the mare, and all reports indicate she is working very well. 

There is one stumbling block, and that is Constitution Hill. He, quite simply, is an incredible racecourse. I don't think this is a race that warrants having a bet to enjoy it to the max - but if they are going to give me odds against on the day about Constitution Hill, I would struggle to not part with some of my hard earned. 

JOSH: I’ve been keen on Beyond Your Dreams since our last ante-post video, back when she was available at 25-1 with most firms. Her latest win over Slurricane (126), along with her previous run splitting Total Look (132) and Wendrock (136), certainly hasn’t gone unnoticed—she’s now 10-1 and well found in the market.

With James Reveley booked for Stencil, Mark Walsh will likely have the choice between her and Puturhandstogether. At 12-1, I think he’s being overlooked, and I wouldn’t be surprised if Walsh sides with him.

ANDREW: I put up Holy See on the podcast for this race before his run at Naas and was cursing myself when he ran a pretty abject race. I hope connections still decide to roll the dice and run him in the race, as we have seen funny results of this race in the past, and he will be getting in off a very light weight off a mark of 121. 

Out of the more obvious, it's difficult to get away from Total Look - for a combination in Cromwell and Donoghue that can do very little wrong at the moment. He has course form; he jumps pretty well, and his run last time was eye-catching to say the least. I will be keeping him very much on-side. 

JOSH: I don’t have a strong opinion on this race, but I’m leaning towards Transmission. His Cheltenham form this season, combined with his Cleeve Hurdle prep— a route Neil Mulholland has successfully used with past Festival handicap chase winners—makes him an appealing option.

Johnnywho also catches the eye, but I have a terrible track record when it comes to backing Jonjo O’Neill-trained horses—I can never seem to get them right!

ANDREW: I'm quite keen on Haiti Couleurs in this race for the Rebecca Curtis team. He has impressed me throughout the season and should give another good account of himself. I am hoping that Curtis can procure the services of Sean Bowen again for the ride. This horse has improved all season and has looked a natural jumper and strong stayer, both key attributes to winning a unique test such as this. 

JOSH: On this morning’s episode of the Nick Luck Daily Podcast, Bryan Drew revealed that Final Demand is "70-30" to run in the Turners, though the Albert Bartlett remains an option if conditions continue to dry out. If the Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors Novice Hurdle winner were to switch to Friday, could that open the door for Kopek Des Bordes to line up here? I really hope not.

With so much uncertainty surrounding Willie Mullins’ novice hurdlers—and no quick decision expected—I’m going to ignore the speculation and assess this race as if Final Demand runs. If he does, I think The New Lion will take plenty of beating. The poor record of Challow Hurdle winners in this race doesn’t concern me too much; the ground won’t be an issue, and the form from his pre-Challow run has worked out well, with the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 6th all winning next time out. I also don’t think we’ve seen the best of him yet.

Kopek Des Bordes lining up here would be a curveball—but I really hope he runs in the Supreme.

ANDREW: It wouldn't be the week before Cheltenham without some unease in Betfair Exchange markets, and people pontificating over what is going on in Willie Mullins' head. The bingo reached fever pitch over the last few days - with the destinations of Kopek Des Bordes and Final Demand up in the air. 

As much as I wouldn't be keen on Kopek going up in trip, I feel that Final Demand might be more suited to the Albert Bartlett personally and I think he might have to go some to beat The New Lion here. He is a horse that oozes class and speed. He won an ordinary enough edition of the Challow Hurdle but did so in the manner of a good horse, and all of his previous form is working out well. I think he might well be the one to keep on the right side of in this race. 

JOSH: If the ground continues to dry, it could tilt the race in favour of the speed horses, and Ballyburn might simply have too many gears for the rest. That said, I really want to back Dancing City, who fits the mould of an old-fashioned chaser.

He looked like he’d struggle to win a maiden hurdle at the start of last season but improved drastically with every run, ending the campaign with three Grade Ones to his name. He’s been rock-solid in both of his chase starts this season but, based on last year, he seems like a horse who thrives on racing, meaning he could take a huge step forward at Cheltenham.

Better Days Ahead has decent each-way claims, but I’m not sure he has the class of Dancing City or Ballyburn.

ANDREW: Those that have watched the podcast or read these columns over the year will know that I have been very slow to warm to Ballyburn over fences this season. It just is something that hasn't sat right with me for the majority of the year. 

But in racing you have to sometimes go a full 180 on your opinions and change your outlook rather than being stubborn - and he is the horse I would want to be on now in this race. I beleive it is going to play into his hands that we seem to be getting some nicer weather recently, and he might just have too much class and ability for the likes of Dancing City and Better Days Ahead. It will be a bit of gut wrencher should the former beat him, as he has been the horse I have been keen on for this race for the majority of the season. However, the closer we get to the day - the more I feel inclined to jump onboard the Ballyburn train.

JOSH: This race is always a bit of a lottery, so I’ll throw a few names into the mix. Impose Toi, Kala Conti (if she runs here instead of the Mares’ Hurdle), and Queen’s Gamble (if she lines up) all make some appeal.

ANDREW: My record in the Coral Cup speaks for itself, absolutely hopeless. I would give a sporting mention to Farren Glory - who is a quirky type of horse that might be suited to this test. 

JOSH: Winning this off top weight looks like a huge task for Stumptown. Galvin and Vanillier make plenty of appeal towards the top of the market, but is Fakir d’Oudairies being overlooked at 25-1? He caught the eye back in December.

ANDREW: I was very disappointed mid-season when the news came through that Sweet David was going to miss this race as he was a long-term selection of mine. I have struggled to find an alternative for now. 

JOSH: Jonbon.

ANDREW: A curious race to say the least. Jonbon should win, but will he? It could be run helter-skelter, it could all fall apart - who will be sitting on the chair when the music stops? Forecast could be everything over the next week as well. I would love to see Marine Nationale do it, a horse close to my heart and close to the hearts of many. I struggle to see it happen. But perhaps miracles can be achieved. 

JOSH: I really don't have an opinion here. 

ANDREW: I have been bursting at the gut to get a Paul Nolan horse on the team sheet, and I think with An Peann Dearg - this rates as one of his two best chances of the week. Formerly a frustrating maiden, a few tweaks to his training regime have worked the oracle, and he has landed back-to-back competitive handicaps at Leopardstown in big fields. As much as he is rising in the weights, should he get into this race - it will be off a lovely light racing weight, and should be fancied to run another big race. 

JOSH: Nothing in the bumper division has really excited me this season. The Grade 2 I.N.H. Flat Race at the Dublin Racing Festival is usually the key formline, but the winner isn’t even eligible to run here!

I thought Gameofinches shaped more like a future staying chaser than a ready-made Champion Bumper winner. Copacabana fits the mould of a typical winner of this race, but his lack of experience is a concern.

At a big price, I liked the way Kaylan won at Warwick—he's available at 33-1 and could be worth a second look.

ANDREW: It is not a race or a division that has does anything for me this year, just like what Josh has said. 

I would give a chance to Aqua Force in this should she run for Willie Mullins and JP McManus. Brought to the track in fine fettle by the Gunn family, she produced an incredible display at Gowran Park to win running away. It might be a tough ask for her to back that up so soon, and she may not be a confirmed runner,  but I would like her chances if she was to.