Cheltenham Lucky 15 Tips for Tuesday: Festival Tips from Alan Dudman for Champion Hurdle day

• Alan's four EW selections in a Lucky 15 multiple on Day 1

• Smith team big chances with two outsiders at 14/115.00 and 16/117.00 

• Hobbs to provide a Supreme shock in opener on Tuesday

• For the latest Betfair Racing Odds click here

• Bet £10 Get £10 on racing multiples every day of the 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 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.

*

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.

---

Supreme Novices' Hurdle, 13:20, Cheltenham - Back Sober Glory EW four places @ 11/112.00

The last Supreme Novices' Hurdle winner for Philip Hobbs was back in 2010 with Menorah and with this year's young upstart, he has a live contender in Sober Glory.

He was a top bumper horse for Hobbs - winning all three starts in that sphere, and his hurdling campaign has been near to electrifying. The only blip was his defeat at Sandown in December - other than that, he has achieved near perfection.

Now, Old Park Star for Nicky Henderson has a hefty old Timeform figure following his power-packed victory in a Grade 2 at Haydock last time, and 169p sets a big standard to aim at. Sober Glory's 153p gives us a puncher's chance on ratings, especially with the four places here on offer each-way on the Sportsbook.

I like the fact he's got a lot of experience, and he couldn't have been more emphatic under a double penalty last time winning by a massive 27 lengths in a testimonial lap of honour. The fact his form at Newbury and Chepstow at stiff finishes bodes well, as does going left-handed.

Jockey Ben Jones, who has ridden him to two of the hurdles' wins this term is on, and Jones felt after a Newbury that while a 2m4f miler for the future, he does show speed and he warmed up in terms of his jumping at the last four at Newbury. A strong pace will most certainly play to his strengths and I can see him running strongly up the hill.

---

Read Katie Midwinter's 1-2-3 runner guide to the Supreme Novices' Hurdle here

---

Fred Winter Juvenile Hurdle, 14:40, Cheltenham - Back Glen To Glen EW six places @ 7/18.00

A juvenile handicapper hurdler running in the Fred Winter (as it was once known before McCoy Contractors) for Joseph O''Brien acquires new value as the yard have won the last two editions of this race and three since 2019.

Indeed, the Irish have more than a fractional advantage of plotting one up here off a good mark, as they have won the last eight.

Glen To Glen has been off since winning a Cork Maiden Hurdle in December, showing improved form at the Mallow track in the face of no support in the market whatsoever at 16/117.00 that day.

We've got 7s here and also the extra places on the Sportsbook, and while a number in here are well treated, his rating of 129 gives me great hope as he was a quality Flat horse rated in the 90s.

He's crying out for a strong end-to-end gallop, as at Cork in heavy back in December they sprinted with a race finishing speed of 124%. It was no surprise his jumping got better as the race developed, but his hurdling technique will need to improve, but I think we'll see that here.

I'll refrain from saying "he's lobbed in" but I think he's well handicapped.

---

---

Ultima Handicap Chase, 15:20, Cheltenham - Back Konfusion E/W six places @ 16/117.00

The wick of the northern race scene is alight, as Sue Smith's two chances gives Yorkshire hope and me hope too, for a Festival winner.

We'll start with Konfusion for Smith and Joel Parkinson, who won the Rehearsal Chase at Newcastle earlier this season by 15L from a mark of 126. After that, perhaps they thought they had something a bit better than a good handicapper.

He tested that theory and passed the grade with ease next time winning the Rowland Meyrick by another big margin at Wetherby. Okay he only beat three rivals in a home win, but UK graded races are never blessed with big fields, and he destroyed the two that finished rated 147 and 145.

His jumping came out well on the Race IQ metric with the lengths gained over 7 compared to the runner-up Marble Hill's -2 number.

His technique with the fences in quick succession down the back straight was where he impressed the most, and while at times he was a little careful, he looks clever and the only semblance of an error was at the end.

His third in the Peter Marsh from 145 saw him make errors late on, and perhaps the two out blunder cost him behind Imperial Saint. Haydock can be a speedy anyway, and the race finish of 107% was more dashing for the line rather than clinging on.

A confirmed stayer, goes well left-handed, and unchanged from 145, I am happy going each-way with him.

---

National Hunt Chase, 17:20, Cheltenham - Back Grand Geste EW five places @ 14/115.00

I am hoping, for once, the watering can of the world famous clerk Jon Pullin is used liberally as Grand Geste is best with a bit of cut and this is a handicapper chaser I have loved this term.

He's another Sue Smith horse with Haydock form and wins in the Tommy Whittle and Grand National Trial marks him down as a serious Aintree horse for next season, as running in the Grand National would be too much of an ask for a novice at this stage of his career.

I was on board with the rookie chaser at Haydock in the Tommy Whittle in December in soft. His jumping was superb and he attacked those park fences with relish. Another round of jumping pleased me winning at Haydock last time - up in trip to near 3m5f on good to soft with his stamina really coming to the fore.

He does hold an entry in the Midlands Grand National on Saturday, which is usually very testing ground. Hopefully the ground will be in his favour with enough soft, as he's a super jumper and atypical for Smith.

---

Alan Dudman's Day 1 NAP: Glen To Glen in the Fred Winter, Cheltenham, 14:40 @ 7/18.00

Three of the four are double-figure prices in the Lucky 15, but the 7/18.00 for the McCoy Contractors/Fred Winner Glen To Glen is my best hope.

Joseph O'Brien's record in the race is not to be sniffed at, and with a rating of 129 in a stronger-pace are both factors that should help a big performance. O'Brien Junior can make it a hat-trick of wins.

---

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

---

Now read more Chelteham Tips from the Betfair team of writers here! 

---