The countdown is over and day one of the exhilarating four-day Cheltenham Festival has arrived. Punters will be hoping Willie Mullins can reach a landmark 100 Festival winners on Tuesday as he saddles a staggering six of the seven favourites.

The Champion Hurdle picture has changed dramatically over the past two weeks with Britain’s star Constitution Hill ruled out and his stablemate Iberico Lord supplemented by trainer Nicky Henderson.

State Man, runner up last year for Willie Mullins, is the main hope for Closutton and the dependable eight-time Grade 1 winner deserves to add this prize to his extensive list of top-flight victories. The odds-on favourite with BoyleSports should justify his price to land Tuesday’s showpiece.

Gordon Elliott declared the progressive and talented Irish Point and he will certainly serve it up to the favourite but he has a lot to find on ratings. While Not So Sleepy, Luccia, Namean Lion, Zarak The Brave and Colonel Mustard complete the line up.

In the opening Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at 1.30 Irish customers can get money back as a free bet on all losers PLUS €50 in free bets.

The best form in the Supreme is held by Firefox, who beat Ballyburn readily by two and a half lengths in a maiden hurdle at Leopardstown in December. The Gordon Elliott-trained hope is an attractive bet at 4-1 now he steps back down to a shorter trip.

Willie Mullins has won the opener seven times in total and twice in the last five years, he saddles six in the race, of those, the unbeaten Mystical Power appeals most with Tullyhill warranting plenty of respect.

With Marine Nationale unable to participate in the Arkle Novices’ Chase it looks an open contest this year. Quilixios represents a solid each-way bet for Henry de Bromhead, whose horses have recently hit flying form.

His representative has winning course form, will appreciate the soft ground and is back to his ideal trip. Rachael Blackmore is sweet on his chances for a yard that holds an excellent record in the Arkle.

Found A Fifty has a solid chance for the Gordon Elliott team and looks to reverse form with Il Etait Temps following their duel in the Irish Arkle. Gaelic Warrior is favourite, however he has his quirks and is not the most dependable type.

The Ultima Handicap Chase hasn’t been won by the Irish since 2006 although that could change here with Meetingofthewaters, who was snapped up by JP Mcmanus last week. A thorough stayer and excellent jumper, he was an impressive winner of the Listed Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown at Christmas.

Chianti Classico is another worth considering at an each-way price here as he has a typical profile for the race and is progressing nicely, having won three of his last four races. Trainer Kim Bailey targets this contest and he will come here at his peak.

Lossiemouth was scintillating when winning the Triumph Hurdle last year and despite stepping up to two and a half miles for the first time in Tuesday’s Mares’ Hurdle, confidence is high that she can follow up on last year. Her stablemate Ashroe Diamond boasts some of the best form in the race and represents a big danger.

Gordon Elliott and Paul Nicholls are the trainers to watch in the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle and both saddle horses with excellent chances.

Elliott has won this four times, including last year, and saddles 8-1 chance and flat-bred Ndaawi a progressive type over hurdles, whose form of his last win has worked out well.

Nicholls boasts three wins in the Boodles and his representative Liari has won his last three starts including at Listed level. Both are carrying 11-12 but should be considered.

Milan Tino is potentially well handicapped and has finished a commendable third at Prestbury Park on two occasions this season, most notably behind Sir Gino. The JP McManus-owned four-year-old looks to hold an excellent chance.

The final race on the card is the Maureen Mullins National Hunt Chase. The Mullins team have a strong chance with superb jumper Embassy Gardens, who has won his last two starts over fences by wide margins. The step up in distance should suit him for the yard who have won this the last two years on the bounce. Henry’s Friend could be overpriced for the in-form Ben Pauling team after beating two of today’s rivals last time in the Reynoldstown. The yard won this back in 2019.

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