Coral Cup gamble, day one build-up, Wednesday fields revealed and so much more - recap the day's action
Summary
- All the Cheltenham Festival build-up covered with meeting under way tomorrow
- Final Demand, The New Lion and The Yellow Clay declared for Turners Novices' Hurdle.
- Jonbon heads a field of eight in the Champion Chase
- Bunting backed into second favourite for Coral Cup with Paul Townend booked
- Who is your main fancy on day one? Get in touch by emailing liveblog@racingpost.com
CopySummary
- All the Cheltenham Festival build-up covered with meeting under way tomorrow
- Final Demand, The New Lion and The Yellow Clay declared for Turners Novices' Hurdle.
- Jonbon heads a field of eight in the Champion Chase
- Bunting backed into second favourite for Coral Cup with Paul Townend booked
- Who is your main fancy on day one? Get in touch by emailing liveblog@racingpost.com
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Not long now!
That's a wrap for the build up to this year's Cheltenham Festival but make sure you join us from 8am tomorrow as we blog our way through day one.
We'll have live blogs every day this week in fact, bringing you closer than ever to the action, with plenty of news and views coming direct from our talented team of reporters at the track.
Stuart Riley will bring you all the market moves and early news in the morning, including declarations for day three at 10am, but the big focus tomorrow will be on the action.
Will Willie Mullins dominate day one again? Will Constitution Hill roar back to his best? And will bookmakers be reeling come the end of play?
Not long now until we find out. Sleep well and enjoy the magic of Cheltenham this week.
Winner announced
The winner of our Cheltenham Eve prize giveaway has been announced. Head over to our Cheltenham Eve page now to see if it's you.
Sky Bet are offering 60-1 on an Irish-trained winner at the festival . . .
60/1 For An Irish Trained Winner At Cheltenham 2025
- Cheltenham Festival 2025 Special
Kopek voted the most vulnerable
'Let us at it'
"No more five minutes for someone, or half an hour for someone else. No more tips. No more getting tickets. No more yes to that or no to the other. Be nice. Smile. Nod. Don’t bark. All the talking has been done. Numerous times. The time for talking and writing about it is past. Drop the flag and let us at it."
Things didn't got to plan for Patrick Mullins at Plumpton today and the leading amateur rider just wants to get on with the festival now, as you will read in this terrific piece for members which is hot off the press.
Premium package
Here's a little teaser from Tom Segal on the eve of day one. The Pricewise maestro's tips for Tuesday are live on the website now and he's got a strong fancy in the National Hunt Chase.
"That form has worked out well and it doesn't take Einstein to work out that this race has been the plan all along," writes Tom.
Paul Kealy has also had his head in the form book and has six selections for you! Members can check out Tom and Paul's idea of the winners here.
You can subscribe to Racing Post+ Ultimate in time for the Cheltenham Festival and get 40% off your first six months!
Available to new subscribers purchasing Racing Post+ Ultimate using code ULTIMATE306M through the Racing Post website. First six payments will be charged at £30, subscription renews at full monthly price thereafter. To cancel please contact us at least seven days before subscription is due to renew.
No change in the going
The Cheltenham Festival is expected to start on good to soft ground after a drizzly Monday in the Cotswolds, writes James Stevens.
Around 1mm of rainfall was recorded on Monday afternoon, with showers forecast to stop in the early evening, and it should remain dry for the first day of the meeting on Tuesday.
It is good to soft on the Old course, used for the first two days, and good to soft, soft in places on the New course. The cross-country course, used for one race on Wednesday, is predominantly good to soft with patches of good and soft ground.
The track was watered towards the end of last week after a warm weekend, although temperatures are to drop significantly this week.
Clerk of the course Jon Pullin said on Monday afternoon: "We had 1mm on Monday which is what we were forecast. It'll continue into the early evening for a little bit but it's only light rain and drizzle.
"There's been no change in the going throughout Monday. It should be dry through the night and on Tuesday.
"I'm very happy with how the track's looking and how it's recovered, particularly in the last week to ten days with the warmer temperatures. I'm happy with the grass cover."
Pullin warned of overnight frost and sleet from Tuesday night, with temperatures to drop.
He said: "There's frost forecast from Tuesday night into Wednesday, it'll be a cooler week with daytime temperatures around 7-8C. We may get a few wintery showers around on Wednesday, with a little bit of sleet or something like that. It'll be dry and a lot cooler otherwise."
50-1 on Constitution Hill
Paddy Power are offering 50-1 about Constitution Hill to win the Champion Hurdle to new customers. Click below to see the offer . . .
50/1 Constitution Hill To Win Champion Hurdle
- Request custom bets on Twitter with #WhatOddsPaddy
Great Minds
In the first of our new series, three of the Racing Post's best betting brains come together to find the value in the Ultima.
Read Graeme Rodway, Keith Melrose and Robbie Wilders collaborate to find the best bet.
Everything you need for day one
Make sure you check out our Raceday Intel section of the website, where you will find an in-depth look at all seven races on Tuesday, including expert analysis and a stack of trainer quotes. Including . . .
Nicky Henderson on Constitution Hill
They'll go a good gallop, but that won't worry Constitution Hill as he's quite speedy. Everything has gone right, his prep races have been good and he's in good shape. Touch wood, we've had an uninterrupted preparation and we're very happy with where we are.
Willie Mullins on Kopek Des Bordes
Kopek Des Bordes looked a cut above normal when winning a Grade 1 impressively at Leopardstown and is our best chance in this race. He’s been in top form at home and should take beating.
Dan Skelton on L'Eau Du Sud
His preparation has been good so we can't wait to get him out there. We take on strong opposition in Majborough and it's going to be hard to beat him. He was a Grade 1-winning hurdler, which L'Eau Du Sud wasn't, but we're heading to Cheltenham full of hope and he's in the best possible shape he can be in.
Noel George on Stencil
He looked great when he arrived over there on Sunday. I think he's improved since his last run when he handled Cheltenham well. He's a big horse who needs a lot of work and he's improving.
Watch now: In The Know
Join Ross Brierley, Racing Post tipsters Paul Kealy and Tom Segal and Coral's Simon Clare as they preview day one of the 2025 Cheltenham Festival.
Who are they keen to oppose out of the four hot favourites on the opening day? Who is their main fancy?
Watch the live show now . . .
BHA issues timely reminder
The BHA has reminded trainers that it is their responsibility to ensure a horse does not have prohibited medication in its system on a raceday, writes Peter Scargill.
The regulator stressed the difference between withdrawal and detection times, and added that trainers should "work closely with their veterinarians to consider how a given horse is treated and how this may or may not impact their ability to race within the rules of the sport".
Last week, it was revealed by trainer Fergal O'Brien that Turners Novices' Hurdle contender Sixmilebridge had tested positive for a banned raceday medication when winning at Cheltenham in January.
In January, Sandor Clegane was disqualified from third in the 2023 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle having tested positive for a prohibited raceday substance.
The BHA also confirmed that pre-Cheltenham Festival anti-doping testing had taken place in Ireland this year, but declined to provide the number of tests conducted.
Last year, the BHA said in a statement that it had taken 250 tests from 120 horses in 14 yards.
Money comes for Workahead in Supreme
Bookmakers have previously said more than 90 per cent of bets on the Cheltenham Festival are staked on the day but William Hill spokesman Lee Phelps says Tuesday's markets are starting to heat up, with Workahead the one for money in the Supreme.
"The betting markets are starting to liven up for the first day of the meeting and we’ve already seen good money for Workahead in the Supreme," said Phelps. "He’s now a 6-1 shot (from 9-1) to land the opener and we'd expect that popularity to continue given Rachael Blackmore’s in the saddle. There’s also been support for Lucinda Russell's Myretown in the Ultima, who’s now 11-1 (from 16).”
Should Kopek Des Bordes, Majborough, Lossiemouth and Constitution Hill all win, Phelps reckons it would be a seven-figure loss for Hills.
He added: "We’re expecting the Kopek Des Bordes, Majborough, Lossiemouth and Constitution Hill four-fold to be incredibly popular. If those four all go in, it could easily be a seven-figure loss for William Hill and a horrendous start to the week."
Latest from Cheltenham
Flying form
JP McManus has a formidable team to look forward to at the Cheltenham Festival and the week could not have started any better for the leading owner. His two jumps runners on Monday both won, Musical Slave scoring at 5-1 at Taunton and Sainte Doctor winning at 8-1 at Stratford to land a 53-1 double.
Check out this piece by Patrick Madden, which highlights just how strong McManus is going to be this week.
Take advantage of this eyecatching offer
Sky Bet are offering 60-1 about an Irish-trained winner at the Cheltenham Festival . . .
60/1 For An Irish Trained Winner At Cheltenham 2025
- Cheltenham Festival 2025 Special
Pearls of wisdom from the bloodstock team
The Racing Post bloodstock squad have provided some Cheltenham selections which look beyond the obvious . . .
They include an alternative to Kopek Des Bordes in the Supreme, a JP McManus-owned outsider in the Turners and several handicappers to keep on side.
Bright outlook for Elliott
Gordon Elliott spent a few minutes talking to Nick Luck a little earlier and whereas Brighterdaysahead failed to fire at last year's festival, you get the sense she's right where he wants her this time.
The trainer said: "We know Constitution Hill is a superstar and State Man is the reigning champion but our mare is in very good form and we couldn't be happier with her."
On his wider team for the festival, Elliott added: "I think we're probably stronger in the graded races this year than we have been for the last couple of years. I'm looking forward to Romeo Coolio tomorrow."
New jockey for Mondo Man
It appears Mondo Man will have a new jockey in the JCB Triumph Hurdle on Friday.
The talented Flat performer has been tricky to settle in his races over hurdles and it looks like former champion Brian Hughes is set to take over from Caoilin Quinn.
Mondo Man, who finished fourth in the Kind Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot last summer, has been beaten on both his starts over hurdles since joining Gary and Josh Moore.
He finished a promising second to Lulamba at Ascot before failing to justify odds-on favouritism when only third in the Adonis after pulling hard in the early stages. He is a general 33-1 shot.
Speaking to Sky Racing, Gary said: "He galloped very well this morning and the plan at the moment is to run. He's settling beautifully at home."
Postcast best bets
Our Postcast team have each revealed their top five bets for the Cheltenham Festival.
Interestingly, two of our panelists have picked out a JP McManus-owned handicapper as their best bet at the meeting – watch below to find out who!