Who To Follow On Day One Of The 2023 Cheltenham Festival

James Mackie | @JMackieRacing

Sun 12 Mar 2023 15.48

Cheltenham 17:30

Gaillard Du Mesnil

J: Mr P W Mullins

T: W P Mullins

N/A

Age: 7

Weight: 11-7

OR: 155

Days: 37

The final event of day one of the Cheltenham festival is the National Hunt Chase and one of our best bets of the day is Gaillard Du Mesnil.

A Grade One winning novice hurdler/chaser, he has ran superbly in some big races placing in the Ladbrokes Novice Chase at the DRF behind Galopin Des Champs and then finished third again in the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase behind L'Homme Presse last year.

He rounded our last term showing his true staying ability when carrying a big weight in the Irish Grand National and he ran well to finish third of the 27 runners.

This term he has been campaigned less with this race always in mind, starting at Fairyhouse in the Drinmore Novice Chase when chasing home Mighty Potter back in second and then at Leopardstown over Christmas he landed the first Grade One of his career over fences in the Neville Hotels Novice Chase.

Sent over 2m5f again at the DRF when last seen he finished a staying on third behind Mighty Potter again just lacking pace at the trip but now being sent up in trip, he will revel in the test.

The one to beat.

Form: 33213View

Date	Course	Distance	Type	Weight	Position
15/04/23	AIN	34.5	GS	11-0	3
14/03/23	CHL	30	Sft	11-7	1
05/02/23	LEO	21	Y	11-10	3
29/12/22	LEO	24	Sft	11-10	1
04/12/22	FAI	20	Sft	11-12	2

Willie Mullins is the man to be following throughout the Cheltenham festival but on Tuesday he will be looking to make a fast start and has the ammunition to do so.

In the opener Facile Vega is looking to become the third straight favourite to win the race in recent years, but Mullins also has chances with Il Etait Temps, Diverge and Dark Raven who can't be ruled out.

He has a huge chance in the Arkle aswell with El Fabiolo looking to land back to back Grade Ones and Dysart Dynamo will be hoping to pick them off from the front.

With no runner in the Ultima his attentions turn to the Champion Hurdle with State Man and Vauban looking to overturn the strong favourite Constitution Hill.

In the Mares Hurdle Mullins fields some smart types in Brandy Love, Echoes In Rain and Shewearsitwell who all could go close if running their races.

In the Boodles Mullins has the favourite Tekao who is looking to show he is a Graded horse in a handicap, but he also chucks in Risk Belle who could run well.

Finally, one of his best chances of the day is Gaillard Du Mesnil in the National Hunt Chase with the seven year old looking to stamp his class on the field. Mullins also fields Tenzing.

The Closutton maestro heads into the week running at a strike rate of 47% for the last two weeks, managing to land eight winners from 17 runners.

Aidan Coleman has some nice chances on the opening day of the 2023 Cheltenham Festival starting in the Supreme with the unbeaten Chasing Fire looking to make 5/5 under rules.

In the Arkle Coleman has one of his best chances of the afternoon with Jonbon looking to extend his unbeaten record over fences to four and land another Grade One.

Coleman then gets the leg up on Epatante who he has many a Grade One during his career and with her being supplemented for the Mares Hurdle she has a big chance of going close.

The Irishman heads into the festival posing a strike rate of 29% for the last two weeks, managing to land two winners from seven rides.

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