*Paddy Power is now Non Runner Money Back for the 2025 Cheltenham Festival. That means that if your selection does not line up in the race you back it in for any reason – you will now get your stake back. TC’s apply.
With the start of the 2025 Cheltenham Festival just days away the main man Matt Chapman has offered up his picks for all seven races on Day One of the action at Prestbury Park.
You can check out Paddy’s full list of options across all markets on Cheltenham betting as the action gets underway!
Matt Chapman’s Cheltenham Day One tips
13:20 – Romeo Coolio (Each-Way)
14:00 – Jango Baie (Each-Way)
14:40 – Henry’s Friend / Happygolucky (Both Each-Way)
15:20 – Golden Ace (Each-Way)
16:00 – Constitution Hill
16:40 – Beyond Your Dreams
17:20 – Transmission (Each-Way)
13:20 – Romeo Coolio (Each-Way)
Cheltenham 2025 is almost here. Yeeehaaa! The Festival gets under way with great meaning in the Grade 1 Michael O’Sullivan Supreme Novices’ Hurdle over an extended 2m. Kopek des Bordes could easily blow this field apart, but the eachway bet has to be ROMEO COOLIO for Gordon Elliott. The Champion Bumper runner-up has done little wrong over hurdles, and stayed on well when last seen to win a Grade 1 at Leopardstown over Christmas. He’s been absent since, but is held in high regard, and his owners love Tottenham so I’m a fan! A few quid eachway to get us up and running.
14:00 – Jango Baie (Each-Way)
Another top class Grade 1 in the My Pension Expert Arkle Novices’ Chase over 2m. Like in the opener, there could be one in Majborough miles better than the rest. But his jumping of fences has not been flawless and the Triumph Hurdle form is hardly incredible. I’ve had a decent eachway bet on JANGO BAIE for Nicky Henderson and Nico de Boinville when I was assured of three places. He is rated 1lb higher than L’Eau du Sud, and I suspect he will be much better on this ground, than he was on heavy at Sandown. He jumped for fun here on his chasing debut and brings Grade 1 winning form as a hurdler. I really will be stunned if he’s not placed at least.
14:40 – Henry’s Friend / Happygolucky (Each-Way)
A competitive Handicap Chase in the Ultima over 3m1f. I’m hoping for a good eachway run here from HENRY’S FRIEND for Ben Pauling. In the race everyone knows as the Hennessy, Henry’s Friend got outpaced and then stayed on well into fifth, and he followed that up with a tidy success at Newbury. He’s up 6lb from his defeat mark by Kandoo Kid, but a strongly run race should suit him, and his stable is in rattling form. Came here last year and did nothing in the National Hunt Chase but he’s better than that. I also have to have a few quid eachway on HAPPYGOLUCKY NRNB and hope he goes for Mel Rowley. The old boy is chucked in on previous form off a mark of 140. He was ninth in this in 2023 when rated 152. Obviously he’s had issues since but is very lightly raced.
15:20 – Golden Ace (Each-Way)
This is the Grade 1 Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle over 2m4f. With NRNB I’ll stick with recent Wincanton winner GOLDEN ACE who did this column a favour when scoring last time. The decent ground should help her get the trip for Jeremy Scott and of course she beat Brighterdaysahead in the Mares’ Novice last year. She’s worth a few quid eachway.
16:00 – Constitution Hill
The big one of the day is the Grade 1 Champion Hurdle over an extended 2m. It’s hardly news from Mars this pick, but it’s fantastic for CONSTITUTION HILL fans that at least one decent mare is taking on 2023 hero with Brighterdaysahead confirmed for Gigginstown. I don’t think it matters what is in the field, as I’m as confident as can be that the Nicky Hendeson-trained runner is in a different league to any rivals that might turn up. I thought he ran a cracker on return in the Christmas Hurdle and was totally dominant in the International Hurdle at Cheltenham when last seen. The way he had the field blown away at halfway was breath taking. He’s a brilliant horse and I’d have him much shorter in the betting than his current odds.
16:40 – Beyond Your Dreams
Handicap company now in the Hallgarten and Novum Wines Juvenile Handicap Hurdle over an extended 2m. A nightmare! The one that originally interested me was Naturally Nimble for Joseph O’Brien. However, he’s been scratched form this leaving Joseph with three runners – all owned by JP McManus. Paddy’s non runner money back here so we’re covered if BEYOND YOUR DREAMS comes out. There’s plenty of chat for the JP juvenile who chased home Total Look at Navan.
17:20 – Transmission (Each-Way)
Day 1 closes with the National Hunt Challenge Cup Novices’ Handicap Chase over 3m6f. TRANSMISSION should be out the back for most of the race, but he might just finish off better than most for Neil Mulholland. Had a spin over hurdles here in January just to keep him ticking over, but his second to Haiti Couleurs at the track in December in a fine run, as he kept on well over half a mile shorter. Being a little bit better off at the weights gives every chance of a reverse in form. An eachway shout.
So best of luck and pray for Yeeehaaas. You hear me Paddy?
Matt Chapman’s Cheltenham Day One tips
13:20 – Romeo Coolio (Each-Way)
14:00 – Jango Baie (Each-Way)
14:40 – Henry’s Friend / Happygolucky (Both Each-Way)
15:20 – Golden Ace (Each-Way)
16:00 – Constitution Hill
16:40 – Beyond Your Dreams
17:20 – Transmission (Each-Way)
*Paddy Power is now Non Runner Money Back for the 2025 Cheltenham Festival. That means that if your selection does not line up in the race you back it in for any reason – you will now get your stake back. TC’s apply.
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