Horse Racing: Cheltenham Festival Day 1 Picks (Mar 11)

Few horse racing events across the United Kingdom and Ireland are as anticipated annually as the start of the Cheltenham Festival. This year’s Festival runs between March 11 and March 14, with the opening day seeing the best hurdler in training- Constitution Hill- in action. Find our Cheltenham Festival Day 1 picks here.

Cheltenham Festival Day 1 Picks

Champion Hurdle (R5- 11:00 AM ET)

Latest Odds taken from Bet365. Correct as one 10:55 AM 02/27/25

The feature on the opening day of the Festival is the G1 Champion Hurdle, run annually since 1927. Legendary stars such as National Spirit, Istabraq, and Persian War are among the names on the roll of honor.

However, it could be argued that few were as talented as Nicky Henderson’s Constitution Hill. The eight-year-old has transcended the sport since bursting onto the scene with a staggering 22-length win in the G1 Supreme in 2022. A first Champion Hurdle was won in 2023, before fitness concerns saw him miss the Festival in 2024.

Since returning, he has won two-from-two, which includes a notable success against market rival Lossiemouth in the G1 Christmas Hurdle at Kempton. Unbeaten in ten starts under rules, he continues to set the standard, despite the emergence of Brighterdaysahead, who pummeled State Man by a 30-length margin in the G1 Nevilles Hotels Hurdle.

Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (R1- 8:20 AM ET)

Latest Odds taken from Bet365. Correct as one 10:55 AM 02/27/25

As tradition, the G1 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle kicks off the Festival, with the Cheltenham roar set to be heard from miles away when the flag goes up for the first time at the four-day meet.

Kopek Des Bordes has been regarded as a leading contender after a dominant win in the G1 Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival. Ratings indicate that he is the one to beat, and Willie Mullins is always hard to bet against.

However, the fact that the five-year-old was being lined up for a stint over a longer trip does raise questions. I do like Funiculi Funicula at a bigger price to run into a place. The Mullins runner has solid French form in the book, and was very impressive on Irish debut when beating Hitak by 17 lengths.

But, William Munny as been my idea of the Supreme winner throughout the season. The seven-year-old finally got back on track after a pair of defeats over hurdles with a visually eye-catching round of jumping at Punchestown in late February, beating The Great Nudie by 15 lengths.

Had come up short prior to those efforts, but Barry Connell is as bullish as ever, just as he was when Marine Nationale landed the spoils in the Supreme in 2023.

Cheltenham Festival Day 1 Picks