Stephen Harris’ Cheltenham Festival Day 1 Tips

The Arkle has an unusually wide-open look to it in 2024, with no standout candidate emerging from the traditional trials, and perhaps it is worth taking a chance on Henry de Bromhead’s novice.

He has only disappointed once in three starts so far over fences this winter, when a clear non-stayer over three miles at Punchestown in November and bounced right back to his best over two miles when winning a competitive Naas novice in January under Rachael Blackmore (going with zest up on a strong pace throughout on testing ground).

Lucinda Russell has some fantastic young horses in her yard this winter, and her likeable mare had excuses when beaten in January, rather ruined on a strong pace up front and tiring out of things at the business end of that valuable prize. She has impressed with her sound jumping over fences so far, and this small field marathon could really suit ideally (and bring unlimited stamina into play up the sapping final Cheltenham climb for home).

Her latest effort at Ascot in February represents strong form, with the sharp track there just seeing her tapped for toe on decent ground, and this more galloping course on softer ground should suit ideally now upped to 3m6f for the first time.

Gordon Elliott always has a very strong hand in the Cheltenham handicaps, and his progressive juvenile has just the right battle-hardened attitude under pressure that winning this big field handicap requires. He has won 1 of his 3 starts so far this winter over hurdles and looks on a fair opening mark now tackling handicaps for the first time under the excellent Jack Kennedy (latest maiden hurdle win strong form in a 16-runner field).

The soft ground and strong pace likely here should suit, and his mark underestimates his potential to keep on improving granted a thorough test of stamina at this trip (strong traveller who tends to idle in front).