Cheltenham racing tips: Day one best bets from Ruby Walsh and other top pundits

The Cheltenham Festival is upon us, and the excitement is building. With Guinness flowing and the Irish contingent ready for action, it’s time for racing fans to dive into the greatest week of the year.

This is the highlight of the racing calendar, and everyone’s hoping to start the Greatest Show on Turf on a winning note. With major races like the Gold Cup and Queen Mother Champion Chase on the horizon, the opening day brings a thrilling contest between Constitution Hill and Brighterdaysahead.

To help you make those all-important picks, we’ve rounded up top tips from some of the most respected names in the racing world. We've got tips from...

• Daily Mirror’s Newsboy - courtesy of Mirror Racing
• Legendary jockey Ruby Walsh - courtesy of his Paddy Power blog
• Top tipster Steve James - courtesy of his Value Scope column
• Broadcast supremo Nick Luck - courtesy of his William Hill blog
• ITV’s Matt Chapman - courtesy of his Paddy Power blog
• Renowned analyst Kevin Blake - courtesy of his Betfair blog

We’ve cut out the fluff and given you solely the horse that each tipster thinks is the horse to back - along with their odds at time of writing. It’s up to you if you think you should back them each way or not…

1.20: Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1 )

• Newsboy: Romeo Coolio 13/2
• Ruby Walsh: Kopek Des Bordes 10/11
• Nick Luck: Workahead 9/2
• Matt Chapman: Romeo Coolio 13/2

2.00: My Pension Expert Arkle Novices’ Chase (Grade 1)

• Newsboy: L’eau Du Sud 7/2
• Ruby Walsh: Majborough 8/15
• Nick Luck: Majborough 8/15
• Matt Chapman: Jango Baie 15/2

2.40: Ultima Handicap Chase (Grade 3)

• Newsboy: Malina Girl 12/1
• Ruby Walsh: Whistle Stop Tour 10/1
• Steve Jones: Malina Girl 12/1
• Nick Luck: Myretown 11/1 and Trelawne 22/1
• Matt Chapman: Henry’s Friend 9/1 and Happygolucky 22/1
• Kevin Blake: Crebilly 8/1

3.20: Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle (Grade 1)

• Newsboy: Jade De Grugy 5/1
• Ruby Walsh: Lossiemouth 8/11
• Steve Jones: Joyeuse 11/1
• Nick Luck: Joyeuse 11/1
• Matt Chapman: Lossiemouth 8/11

4.00: Unibet Champion Hurdle (Grade 1)

• Newsboy: Constitution Hill 4/7
• Ruby Walsh: Brighterdaysahead 2/1
• Nick Luck: Constitution Hill 4/7
• Matt Chapman: Constitution Hill 4/7

4.40: Boodles Fred Winter Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3)

• Newsboy: Teriferma 20/1
• Ruby Walsh: Beyond Your Dreams 6/1
• Steve Jones: Mister Cessna 40/1
• Nick Luck: Quantock Hills 12/1
• Matt Chapman: Hot Fuss 9/1
• Kevin Blake: Beyond Your Dreams 6/1

5.20: National Hunt Chase

• Newsboy: Hasthing 12/1
• Ruby Walsh: Resplendent Grey 7/1
• Steve Jones: Hasthing 12/1
• Nick Luck: Will Do 10/1
• Matt Chapman: Transmission 9/2
• Kevin Blake: Hasthing 12/1