Cheltenham Tips: Mick Fitzgerald’s best Day 1 bets of the Festival

Not to jinx it but he did have have a cracking opening day last year.

By / Cheltenham Festival, Horse Racing Tips / 2 years ago

Mick Fitzgerald’s Day 1 Cheltenham Picks

13:30 – Il Etait Temps
14:10 – Jonbon
14:50 – Fanion Destruval (each-way)
15:30 – Constitution Hill
16:10 – Maries Rock
16:50 – Perseus Way (each-way)
17:30 – Gaillard Du Mesnil

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13.30 – Il Etait Temps

Willie Mullins has a strong hand in this contest and IL ETAIT TEMPS could be the answer. He is a bit of a handful, but no doubt is talented on the gallops. They are going to go fast in this race and that will help him relax. He could be the answer in a tricky opening contest.

14:10 – Jonbon

A decent field for the Arkle Chase and I am not deserting JONBON who has been the ante-post favourite over most of the winter until El Fabiolo’s performance at the Dublin Racing Festival. There is going to be a helter-skelter pace set with Dysart Dynamo and Effernock Fizz in the line-up. With that guaranteed pace, I expect Jonbon to sit just behind the leaders and pick them off late.

14:50 – Fanion Destruval (each-way)

Venetia Williams has a good record with handicappers at the Festival and this son of Enrique has graded-race form to his name. FANION DESTRUVAL ran in the last two Ryanair Chases and ran a very good race in the Rowland Meyrick Chase at Wetherby. The step-up in trip will help and I can see him finishing late to hit the places at least at a nice each-way price.

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15:30 – Constitution Hill

I am really looking forward to seeing CONSTITUTION HILL strut his stuff. He has blown people away and I’m hoping we get more of the same this week. We need to acknowledge that he hasn’t won a Champion Hurdle yet but all the signs are there that it will happen. State Man is the obvious danger and Vauban could be the one to chase them home in third. This race is all about the winner going into the history books and I’m hoping it’s Constitution Hill.

16:10 – Maries Rock

I originally fancied and backed MARIES ROCK for the Stayers’ Hurdle, so I will look to get it back here. She won this race last year and has looked in great form at Nicky Henderson’s in the build-up to the Festival. She can beat the former Champion Hurdle winner Honeysuckle and Epatante with the latter taken to chase her home and deliver a 1-2 for Henderson.

16:50 – Perseus Way (each-way)

Gary Moore’s runner has let himself down with his jumping but if he improves that in this contest, I can see PERSEUS WAY being involved at the finish. He is talented and won have won last time at Kempton if he jumped either of the last two hurdles well.

17:30 – Gaillard du Mesnil

This Willie Mullins trained chaser will just be too good for these. GAILLARD DU MESNIL has been placed at the Festival last year behind L’Homme Press and Ahoy Senor and was previously second in the Ballymore Hurdle two years ago. His form is strong and he’s just better than the opposition.

Mick Fitzgerald’s Day 1 Cheltenham Picks

13:30 – Il Etait Temps
14:10 – Jonbon
14:50 – Fanion Destruval (each-way)
15:30 – Constitution Hill
16:10 – Maries Rock
16:50 – Perseus Way (each-way)
17:30 – Gaillard Du Mesnil

*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.

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