Cheltenham tips: Timeform’s best bets for every Day One race

Timeform have given their opinion on every race at Cheltenham on Tuesday

Cheltenham Timeform

*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widget, while in-copy odds are accurate at the time of publication but subject to change

13:20 – Metier

A useful winner on the Flat in Ireland, METIER has made a highly-promising start over hurdles this season, culminating in an impressive 12-length victory in the Tolworth Novices’ Hurdle at Sandown in January. That was the best effort produced by a British-trained novice hurdler this season, showing a smart level of form to maintain his unbeaten record over obstacles, and he gets the vote to edge out Willie Mullins’s Appreciate It, who also puts his unbeaten record on the line.

13:55 – Shishkin

Winner of the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at last year’s Festival, SHISHKIN has quickly made up into Timeform’s highest-rated novice chaser this season, easily winning all three of his starts, including in a Grade 2 at Doncaster last time. He remains a hugely exciting prospect, and with Energumene now an absentee, he is impossible to oppose as he bids for a second successive victory at the Cheltenham Festival.

14:30 – Happygolucky

HAPPYGOLUCKY made up into a useful novice hurdler last season, ending his campaign with a cracking fourth in the Martin Pipe at last year’s Festival, and he has progressed nicely since being sent chasing this term.

Happygolucky failed to improve on his chasing debut win when second at Fakenham in November, but he resumed winning ways at this course the following month, for a long way looking set to score by a wider margin than he ultimately did, leaving the impression he was doing just enough once in front. He looked suited by the conditions that day, and with further progress anticipated, he could prove the one to beat.

15:05 – Honeysuckle

HONEYSUCKLE produced an outstanding performance to get the better of Benie des Dieux in the Mares’ Hurdle at last year’s Festival, and, after making a successful return in the Hatton’s Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse in November, she produced the best performance of her career to make it a perfect 10 from 10 over hurdles in the Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown last month.

Connections have opted for a crack at the Champion Hurdle, as opposed to attempting to retain her Mares’ Hurdle crown, and her claims are incredibly strong under a sex allowance, more so than fellow mare and defending champion Epatante.

15:40 – Concertista

After finishing a remarkable second in the Dawn Run on just her first start over hurdles at the 2019 Cheltenham Festival, CONCERTISTA showed improved form to go one better in the same event last year, really impressing with how much she found to leave her rivals trailing on the run-in. She picked up where she left off when making a winning return at Fairyhouse in November, before producing a career best to easily see off Minella Melody to win a Leopardstown Grade 3 in December.

She continues to progress, and with the absence of both Honeysuckle and Benie des Dieux, this looks a good opportunity for her to gain her second Festival win.

ConcertistaJan21

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16:15 – Houx Gris

HOUX GRIS cost €200,000 after edging out Homme Public at Auteuil on his final appearance in his native France, and he was pitched in deep on his debut for Paul Nicholls’s yard in January, asked to contest the Grade 1 Finale Juvenile Hurdle at Chepstow. He could only manage third on that occasion, but he shaped better than the distance beaten suggests, still right with the front pair when making a mess of the second last.

He remains capable of better still, and with Nicholls’s record in this race – has won the Fred Winter three times with French recruits – Houx Gris appeals as a very interesting candidate.

16:50 – Next Destination

A Grade 1 staying-hurdle winner of Willie Mullins in 2017/18, NEXT DESTINATION has impressed since being switched to chasing for new trainer Paul Nicholls this season, opening his account over fences at the first attempt in a Newbury Grade 2 in November, running close to the best of his smart hurdles form.

He then followed that up under a 5lb penalty at Warwick in January, his jumping looking largely assured as he maintained his unbeaten record over larger obstacles. He should have more to offer now stepped up in trip and appeals as the type to be suited by a big field and a truly-run race.

*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widget, while in-copy odds are accurate at the time of publication but subject to change

Timeform’s Cheltenham Festival bet summary – Tuesday, March 16

13:20 – Metier
13:55 – Shishkin
14:30 – Happygolucky
15:05 – Honeysuckle
15:40 – Concertista
16:15 – Houx Gris
16:50 – Next Destination

CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL‘S BIG RACES

March 16 – 13.20 – Supreme Novices’ Hurdle latest odds and tips
March 16 – 13.55 – Arkle Chase latest odds and tips
March 16 – 15.05 – Champion Hurdle latest odds and tips
March 16 – 15.40 – Mares’ Hurdle latest odds and tips

March 17 – 13.20 – Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle latest odds and tips
March 17 – 13.55 – Festival Novices’ Chase latest odds and tips
March 17 – 15.05 – Queen Mother Champion Chase latest odds and tips
March 17 – 16.50 – Champion Bumper latest odds and tips

March 18 – 13.20 – Marsh Novices’ Chase latest odds and tips
March 18 – 14.30 – Ryanair Chase latest odds and tips
March 18 – 15.05 – Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle latest odds and tips

March 19 – 13.20 – Triumph Hurdle latest odds and tips
March 19 – 14.30 – Albert Bartlett Novices’ Chase latest odds and tips
March 19 – 15.05 – Gold Cup latest odds and tips
March 19 – 16.15 – Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase latest odds and tips

*Paddy will be all over your telly box throughout the Cheltenham Festival sponsoring ITV’s live coverage from Prestbury Park – and you can get free and exclusive tipping columns EVERY DAY from Ruby Walsh, Matt Chapman and Mick Fitzgerald here on PP News.

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