Cheltenham Festival Analysis: Rachael Blackmore's expert insight on day one

• Get Rachael Blackmore's views on Champion Day's feature races 

• And the legendary jockey also highlights three Irish runners to note 

• Bet £10 get £10 on racing multiples every day of Cheltenham Festival

• Check out our Betfair Tipsters' Best Bets for the Festival

• Read our in-depth guide to the first day of the Cheltenham Festival

Cheltenham Day 1 Superboost Winner

The Cheltenham Festival got off to a flyer for the 31,000 backers of the Betfair Sportsbook Superboost as Old Park Star won the Supreme Novices' Hurdle. See details of the offer below and look out for more Betfair Superboosts at the Festival.

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The Betfair Sportsbook have a fantastic Superboost to commence the 2026 Cheltenham Festival in the shape of Supreme Novices' Hurdle favourite Old Park Star.

The six-year-old has never been out of the first three in all of his six career starts and he's won all three of his races for new trainer Nicky Henderson this season. He was 1/31.33 to finish in the top four in Tuesday's curtain raiser, but you can now back him at the super-boosted price of 1/12.00.

To take advantage of this generous Superboost, click on the odds in the below Bet Banner to go to the pre-loaded bet slip.

Rachael Blackmore on Champion Day: Cheltenham is finally here!

It has obviously been a very different build-up for me to the 2026 Cheltenham Festival.  The last few years, I've been mentally consumed by Cheltenham and all the excitement that goes with riding there.  I'm very much looking forward to the week again this year, but it's a different vibe now! 

Part of me would love to be galloping down to the start on Tuesday because, if you are there, going down to the start, you are in with a chance of experiencing one of the best feelings that you are ever going to experience: crossing the winning line in front at Cheltenham. Nothing feels like Cheltenham. That feeling will be experienced by a jockey 28 times this week.

Rachael Blackmore on the Supreme Novices' Hurdle

Click here for Supreme Novices' Hurdle odds 
Cheltenham, 13:20 
Live on ITV

I love this race.  It just kicks everything off with a bang, and it looks like this year's race is going to be a cracking contest. It's very competitive without there being any real stand out for me.  Cases can be made for so many of them.

Old Park Star - which Betfair have Superboosted to even money for a top four finish - looks solid but there are lots of horses in there about whom we actually don't know an awful lot.  El Cairos doesn't jump well enough and won't get away with mistakes here. Leader d'Allier looked very good in Punchestown. 

Mighty Park comes with high praise from Willie Mullins, but he has just had just the one run under rules so he will need to be very good to offset that.  Talk The Talk is also highly thought-of and his talents have been showcased a bit more. He did well to get up and win at Leopardstown the last day, coming from back in the field off a slow pace.

Racing... Only Bettor. Listen to our Cheltenham Festival preview now.

Rachael Blackmore on the Arkle Trophy

Click here for Arkle Trophy odds 
Cheltenham, 14:00 
Live on ITV

Kopek Des Bordes is the best horse in the race for me. He hasn't run since November, but he could just have the ability to overcome that. He has had two racecourse schooling sessions and looked very good when he won his beginners in Navan.  

Kargese gets the mares' allowance and she could be a threat. She won the County Hurdle last year and she is also a Grade 1 winner over hurdles. Lulamba stays very well, it looked like he wanted two and a half miles on his last run, but he should still be bang there.  

But if Kopek Des Bordes is on song I think he will have him to the pin of his colour from the start and will come out on top here.

Rachael Blackmore on the Champion Hurdle

Click here for Champion Hurdle odds 
Cheltenham, 16:00 
Live on ITV

The Champion Hurdle has shaped up into the race that everyone wanted.

The New Lion is the one I'd love to ride. His jumping is on the edge, so you would be hoping that it can go smoothly for him and, if it does, I think that he will be the one to be on.   

Brighterdaysahead might just want the ground to be a bit slower than it is going to be. Lossiemouth is an incredible mare who has won three times at the festival, but this trip might it just be on the short side for her. The addition of cheekpieces is Interesting, they might just get her to travel a little more easily. It will be a fascinating race. 

Workahead runs here for Henry.  He will be a very big price. I was really looking forward to him in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle last year, but something went a miss and he wasn't right after the race. He ran well behind Storm Heart in the Red Mills Trial Hurdle at Gowran the last day and he seemed to be on the way back. He is one that could definitely run into a place at a big price. 

Rachael Blackmore on the Irish runners: Three  to note on Day 1

Saratoga (Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle, Cheltenham, 14:40)

He is a really well-bred horse, a half-brother to Capri, and he stayed on well last time to finish second in a rated hurdle at Naas last time that is often a good pointer to the Fred Winter Hurdle.  He is a classy horse off the flat, he is rated 92 on the flat, and he is a half-brother to Brazil, who won this race a couple of years ago.

Blaze The Way (Ultima Handicap Chase, Cheltenham, 15:20)

He was impressive in winning a handicap chase at Cheltenham's December meeting.  He was beaten last time at Naas, but that was in a Grade 3 race on heavy ground.  He should appreciate the return to Cheltenham and the return to better ground.

Theatre Native (Plate, Cheltenham, 16:40)

Her recent form hasn't been inspiring, but she loves good ground and she was impressive in winning a mares' novices' handicap chase at Cheltenham in April (my last winner at the track!) She should enjoy the better ground, you know that Henry will have her primed for this, and she might be one each-way at a big price.

Now read Katie Midwinter's day one tips with bets in all seven races!