Cheltenham Festival Day One: The New Lion Can Roar in Champion Hurdle
The decision to enter Lossiemouth, the two-time Mares' Hurdle winner, into Tuesday's Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham has significantly deepened the competition. However, this move has also caused a slight drift in the odds for The New Lion, making him an attractive betting proposition to replicate his novice victory from last year's meeting.
Analyzing the Champion Hurdle Contenders
Unlike his main rivals—Brighterdaysahead, Golden Ace, and Lossiemouth—The New Lion does not benefit from a 7lb mares' allowance. While the three mares have accumulated 12, 12, and 17 runs respectively, The New Lion boasts just six outings, with five wins and a single defeat due to an uncharacteristic jumping error at Newcastle in December.
The mares face their own uncertainties. Lossiemouth performed below her best behind Brighterdaysahead at Leopardstown in her last race and will debut cheekpieces on Tuesday. Brighterdaysahead had a poor showing in last year's Champion Hurdle, and Golden Ace appeared fortunate to win twelve months ago. The New Lion seemed poised to defeat Golden Ace before falling two out at Newcastle.
In a tightly contested field, The New Lion's greater potential for improvement could be decisive. Priced around 11-4, he offers excellent value to help trainer Dan Skelton advance toward his first trainers' title.
Tuesday's Race-by-Race Tips at Cheltenham
Cheltenham 1.20: Old Park Star arrives with solid form, reminiscent of Nicky Henderson's recent Supreme winners like Altior and Shishkin. His 18-length victory at Haydock in January was backed by a strong timefigure, and he has shown natural progression over hurdles.
Cheltenham 2.00: Steel Ally might be overlooked with market focus on Kopek Des Bordes and Lulamba. He has won two Grade Two races against weaker fields but posted a compelling time in his latest outing, making him a potential upset at odds around 14-1.
Cheltenham 2.40: Faye Bramley's Winston Junior holds strong claims in the Fred Winter, off a mark of 131 based on current form. The booking of jockey Jack Kennedy adds significant confidence to his chances.
Cheltenham 3.20: Leave Of Absence benefits from drying ground conditions, having previously won over this track and distance in October. His campaign has likely been tailored with this race in mind.
Cheltenham 4.40: Zurich has been absent since December, but this aligns with Henry de Bromhead's typical profile for Cheltenham runners. If he returns to the form of his earlier course-and-distance win, he will be a serious contender.
Cheltenham 5.20: One Big Bang is expected to thrive over the marathon trip in this competitive handicap chase. An each-way option at around 12-1, he ran well to finish fifth in last season's Pertemps Final over hurdles.
Full Tuesday Tips Summary
Greg Wood's selections for Cheltenham include: 1.20 Old Park Star, 2.00 Steel Ally, 2.40 Winston Junior, 3.20 Leave Of Absence (nap), 4.00 The New Lion (nb), 4.40 Zurich, and 5.20 One Big Bang. Additional tips cover races at Sedgefield, Wolverhampton, and Southwell.
The Cheltenham Festival continues to captivate racing enthusiasts, with Day One setting the stage for thrilling competitions and potential upsets across all events.
