The 2024 Cheltenham Festival is upon us with a stacked day of racing to open the world-famous Jumps meet on Tuesday.
Champions Day is of course headlined by the Champion Hurdle, in which State Man is expected to shine with the great Constitution Hill ruled out.
There are plenty of other races to look forward to on day one of the Festival, with some wide-open fields.
Here, Paul O’Brien offers his best tips and bets for Tuesday at Cheltenham.
13:30 Supreme Novices' Hurdle: Jeriko Du Reponet E/W
This five-year-old gelding from Nicky Henderson's yard is so far unbeaten. On his penultimate start at Newbury on December 30 on soft ground, he quickened away after the last and won comfortably.
That performance had him tipped to be the one to beat for this race, but doubts were raised after he had to battle to win last time out at Doncaster on January 27 in the Grade 2 Rossington Novices Hurdle.
That was over good ground, so the soft going predicted and with light rain forecast for Monday night and Tuesday morning, this should present optimal conditions for this horse.
14:10 Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices' Chase: Found A Fifty
Trainer Gordon Elliot's seven-year-old gelding Found A Fifty has really put himself on the map this jumps season with two seconds and one victory in Grade 1 at Leopardstown on December 26.
He was second last time out at Leopardstown in the Irish Arkle Novice Chase, losing to repeat opponent Il Etait Temps by a neck in a ding-dong battle in the closing stages.
The slight drop in distance in this race favours Found A Fifty however and he can reverse that form and provide a bit of a shock by preventing Willie Mullins from winning the race with his trio of top horses.
14:50 Ultima Handicap Chase: Victtorino E/W
This six-year-old gelding from Venetia Williams' yard didn't produce his best when last seen at Ascot on February 17, lacking fluency and making a couple of mistakes which cost him the race.
As a result, we are now getting a much better price than we usually would on a two-time premier handicap winner this season. He has won in all conditions from good to heavy and if able to clean up some of his recent mistakes, may come up with a surprise win.
15:30 Champion Hurdle: State Man win, Nemean Lion place
The racing community was rocked by Constitution Hill being ruled out of this race by trainer Henderson last week due to poor health. The rematch between him and State Man was one every one was looking forward to.
That leaves State Man as the clear pick for this race and attention turns to trying to pick out a value horse for a place or forecast and Nemean Lion definitely fits that bill.
Winner last time out on February 17 in a Grade 2 race at Wincanton in heavy conditions, he should be able to out-battle the rest of the field to get a valuable place.
16:10 David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle: Lossiemouth win, You Wear It Well place
Lossiemouth was the best juvenile last season, beating stablemate Gala Marceau in the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham over similar ground.
Her return to action this season was a warm-up Grade 2 race here on January 27 in which she won by nine-and-a-half lengths, pulling away on the bridle.
The attention therefore turns to what else in this field could get a valuable place or complete a nice forecast and last year's Mares' Novices' hurdle winner You Wear It Well fits that bill.
Has disappointed so far this season with a bad mistake ruining her race last time out at Haydock on February 17. The conditions here will suit her better and should help her rediscover her form from last year.
16:50 Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle: Miss Manzor E/W
This race is a wide-open affair with many different horses being liked for various different reasons. However, the Mullins' second-string Miss Manzor is looking like good value.
Maiden hurdle winner at Dieppe in France on May 4 before being changed to being trained by Mullins in the off-season. Only managed seventh at Leopardstown on Boxing Day but secured a win at Fairyhouse on January 13 on soft ground last time out.
Expect her to improve from that performance and be in the fray on her first outing in England.
17:30 National Hunt Chase: Corbetts Cross
This seven-year-old gelding was second on December 29 at Leopardstown, in the Grade 1 Novice Chase, losing to Grangeclare West. Corbetts Cross is not the cleanest of jumpers and that proved his undoing last time out at Fairyhouse on February 7 when there was a collision with Run Wild Fred and both fell.
Provided there is no serious incident, a repeat of his Leopardstown form should be good enough for him to beat stable companion Embassy Gardens. Kilbeg King is also worth an E/W punt with those bookies paying to three places.
