Cheltenham Festival 2021 day one full guide: Race card, betting tips, TV channel, live stream for Champion Hurdle

THE countdown is nearly over – Cheltenham Festival gets underway TOMORROW.

The famous Cheltenham roar will be a bit quieter this year with no fans present.

But that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy some of the world’s best horses battling it out at Prestbury Park.

Here’s all you need to know ahead of the big day – with all racecards available here.

When is it?

Cheltenham Festival gets underway on Tuesday, March 16.

The action will all be shown live on ITV1 from 1pm to 4.30pm and they will be showing six of the seven races per day for the first time ever.

You can watch the final race on Racing TV or on a betting website if you have an account.

All odds below subject to change and correct at time of writing.

1.20 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle

Who’s the favourite?

Appreciate It 5-4. But you can back the horse for 50-1 here.

Who’s the top outsider?

Irascible 16-1.

Key Fact: Ireland’s Willie Mullins is the most successful trainer in this race. He trains the favourite.

1.55 Arkle Challenge Trophy

Who’s the favourite?

Shishkin 1-2

Who’s the top outsider?

Captain Guinness 7-1

Key fact: A favourite hasn’t won this race since Footpad in 2018.

2.30 Festival Handicap Chase

Who’s the favourite?

Happygolucky 7-2

Who’s the top outsider?

Cepage 16-1

Key fact: Never give up in this race. AP McCoy delivered one of the best rides ever on Wichita Lineman in 2009, despite looking out of it.

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3.05 Champion Hurdle

Who’s the favourite?

Honeysuckle 9-4

Who’s the top outsider?

Silver Streak 14-1

Key fact: This is the big race on day one and worth £337,500.

Runner by runner guide to the big race by Templegate with a rating out of five…

ABACADABRAS 4

ABA in tune. Just denied in the Supreme Novices’ here last season in a head-bobber and has held his form since, although Honeysuckle was ten lengths clear last time. His liking for Cheltenham is a big plus. Despite the smallish field, there will be lots of pace on to help too. Hard to see him reversing the Irish Champion form but can hit the frame.

ASPIRE TOWER 2

TOWER hill. Second in the Triumph last year and kicked off this season with a convincing Grade 2 success at Down Royal when going from the front. He tried to make all in the Matheson at Leopardstown last time but was easily reeled in by Sharjah. It’s still early days but he needs more for this company.

GOSHEN 3

GOOD Gosh. His last-flight tumble in the Triumph last season has gone into Festival folklore. He ran moderately on the Flat a couple of times this summer before a poor hurdles comeback here before Christmas. Trainer Gary Moore says he’s training him differently now and that paid off with a brilliant win at Wincanton last month. He’ll try to run the legs out of the others and won’t be far away but he could just set it up for the mares.

JAMES DU BERLAIS 2

BER with him. Classy performer in France where he’s was beaten in a photo for a Grade 1 last time out in November. He’s since moved to Willie Mullins which is always a plus. All his form has been around 2m4f in testing ground so these are very different conditions and he needs a major step forward even if this isn’t a classic Champion Hurdle.

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NOT SO SLEEPY 1

NOT for me. Battled well to land a surprise win in the Betfair Hurdle at Ascot last time but even that hot contest is a few levels below Champion standard. He was pulled up in this 12 months ago and unseated in Grade 1 company at Newcastle in November. Looks outclassed.

SALDIER 1

SAD Sald. Did well to win the Grade 1 Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown in November after a year off but has struggled twice since at that level. Likes this trip and has few miles on the clock but has been beaten a distance on his past two runs and is hard to fancy after that.

SHARJAH 3

JAH a star. Ran a cracker to finish second this last year and kicked off this jumps season with an impressive Grade 1 success in the Matheson at Leopardstown’s Christmas meeting. He was fancied by many to topple Honeysuckle in the Irish Champion after that but couldn’t land a blow in a 19-length beating. A repeat of his showing from 12 months ago gives him an each-way shout but he needs to raise his game to come out on top.

SILVER STREAK 3

SOLID Silver. He deserves a Cheltenham win after four places from his five visits to Prestbury Park. He was beaten on the nod for the Grade 2 International Hurdle here last time before going on to floor a clearly rusty Epatante at Kempton. He was sixth in this last year and third in 2019 so warrants his place but is likely to find a couple too good.

EPATANTE 4

EPA centre. Nicky Henderson has been patient with the defending champion who was impressive when taking this by three lengths last season. She wasn’t seen again until a solid comeback win in the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle before a below par effort behind Silver Streak as she failed to defend her Christmas Hurdle title at Kempton. Her season has been built around peaking today and she is likely to give her true running and go very close again.

HONEYSUCKLE 5

SWEET Honey. She extended her 100 per cent record to ten with a bloodless victory in the Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown last month. That put to bed any worries about her speed for this two-mile trip as she tanked along before leaving behind a decent field — including Abacadabras and Sharjah. She gets the same 7lb mares’ allowance as Epatante, which hardly seems fair, and she can improve again.

3.40 David Nicholson Mares’ Hurdle

Who’s the favourite?

Concertista 6-5

Who’s the top outsider?

Great White Shark 16-1

Key fact: This is another race that Mullins has dominated. He saddles the big favourite.

4.05 Boodles Juvenile Hurdle

Who’s the favourite?

Saint Sam and Houx Gris 9-2

Who’s the top outsider?

Cabot Cliffs 10-1

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Key fact: Cabot Cliffs is unbeaten this year and won his last race by 17 lengths.

4.50 National Hunt Chase

Who’s the favourite?

Galvin 7-4

Who’s the top outsider?

Escaria Ten 4-1

Key fact: Escaria Ten was trained by Gordon Elliott before his ban. The horse is now trained by Denise Foster.

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