Dean Ryan's Tips For Every Day At Cheltenham 2026: Day One
So, we roll into another Cheltenham Festival, which looks truly open and competitive as we dive into the declarations for the week.
Sadly, we miss Constitution Hill, Sir Gino and Galopin Des Champs through setbacks and career switches, whilst perhaps a bigger disappointment is that Fact To File has surprisingly swerved the acid test of Friday’s Gold Cup, in favour of a penalty kick in Thursday’s Ryanair Chase.
Regardless, there are 28 winners to be found, and this week I will try to deliver something in almost every race that appeals from a punter's point of view.
Last year was a success with winners at 16/1, 14/1 and 8/1, the highlights across the week and a healthy 21pts profit and a 50% ROI. I’ll gladly take that again!
Here are some alternative views - hopefully just good ones!
Supreme Novices Hurdle (13:20)
Selection: Talk The Talk – 0.5pt Each-Way - 5/1
Old Park Star is getting to a backable price in what looks like a red-hot opener for the Supreme.
I think he has surprised everyone connected with the horse, looks every inch a chaser for the future, and the Arkle next year might be the bet in advance of the race going off.
He could touch 3/1 or bigger and would be of interest at anything around that mark.
Mighty Park has been compared to Faugheen, but if you can back it after just the one run under rules, you are braver than me.
El Cairos could be very smart, while Mydaddypaddy is leading a good British charge with Sober Glory close behind.
It really is anyone’s guess with improvement guaranteed from pretty much every runner.
Townend is on Leader d’Allier, and I doubt that will start double-figure prices.
The one I am siding with is Talk The Talk for Joseph O’Brien and JJ Slevin.
It is not a hugely bullish pick, but I think the best form comes from the two Grade 1s he ran in at Leopardstown, falling when sure to win (more of a stumble than a fall) in December and then getting up on the line at the DRF.
There is plenty more to come, and if JJ can lay him up a bit closer, the long run to the line will suit ideally. This will ride like further than the advertised trip with the longer run from the last.
Dean’s Daily Selection 1: 13:20 Cheltenham - Talk The Talk – 0.5pt Each-Way - 5/1
The Arkle (14:00)
Selection: Lulamba – 2pt Win – 7/4
At best, this seems a three-horse tussle, if you include Kargese, but she probably needs a bit more than the 7lbs allowance to beat both Kopek Des Bordes and Lulamba.
Presuming they both stand up, it should be a shoot-out.
I’d side with Lulamba, and it’s hard to understand how Henderson’s five-year-old is not the favourite with an unbeaten campaign, including a win in open company last month.
He was the best horse in last year’s Triumph Hurdle when tasting defeat and has gone on to prove that in spades.
I expect Kopek Des Bordes to lead them all into the straight and try to leave Lulamba behind, but last year’s Supreme winner will likely pay for a lack of match practice with just the one chase start back in November.
If anyone can defy that, it is a Willie Mullins-trained horse, but it’s a huge ask.
Lulamba should prove too strong.
Dean’s Daily Selection 2: 14:00 Cheltenham - Lulamba – 2pt Win – 7/4
The Fred Winter (14:40)
Selection: Glen To Glen – 0.5pt Win – 10/1
Selection: Munsif – 0.5pt Win – 8/1
Selection: Ammes – 0.5pt Win – 8/1
A complete minefield and I’ll be playing three small wagers against the top three in the market, Saratoga, Manlaga and Winston Junior.
Firstly, Glen To Glen for Joseph O’Brien looks exactly the right type from the yard that loves to have them for this. JJ Slevin is up, and that’s a big tick.
He has been put away after a fortuitous win last time and is nicely treated.
Next is the best of the home charge Ammes, who wouldn’t have been out of place in the Triumph, but is well fancied for this and should give a very strong showing.
Finally, Munsif for the Charles Byrnes team, who scrapes in as a reserve.
If getting the run will likely be the subject of support, with conditions ideal for the flat recruit with a good bit in hand.
Yes, I will do the tri-cast, but it’s a tough race to find the winner in, hence three darts and a lottery ticket approach.
Dean’s Daily Selection 3: 14:40 Cheltenham - Glen To Glen – 0.5pt Win – 10/1
Dean’s Daily Selection 4: 14:40 Cheltenham - Munsif – 0.5pt Win – 8/1
Dean’s Daily Selection 5: 14:40 Cheltenham - Ammes – 0.5pt Win – 8/1
The Ultima Handicap Chase (15:20)
Selection: Jagwar – 1pt Win – 4/1
Selection: Imperial Saint – 0.5pt e/w – 16/1
JP McManus has a grip on this with Jagwar and Iroko, both likely Grand National types, and if they were to fight this out between them, it would not be a surprise at all.
My preference is for Jagwar, but the odds are as skinny as they can be, and at anything less than 4/1, I would be sitting it out with Mark Walsh’s ride.
He’s top of the shortlist for sure, but I’ll also be chancing a small bet on Imperial Saint for the Hobbs and White team after a tough performance at Haydock saw the eight-year-old grind out a victory and relish a step up in trip.
He looks like he has more to offer in handicap waters and is overpriced.
Dean’s Daily Selection 6: 15:20 Cheltenham - Jagwar – 1pt Win – 4/1
Dean’s Daily Selection 7: 15:20 Cheltenham - Imperial Saint – 0.5pt Each-Way – 16/1
The Champion Hurdle – 16:00
Selection: The New Lion – 0.5pt Win – 11/4
This is not going to be a vintage renewal, perhaps, but a great race is in store for the feature on Tuesday.
The two mares, Lossiemouth and Brighterdaysahead, would not be up to the level of Annie Power or Honeysuckle, while last year’s winner in comical circumstances, Golden Ace, is probably not even up to their level despite being the defending champ.
Can The New Lion step forward and claim the title for the Skeltons after what has been a less-than-inspiring campaign this term?
That’s the question that revolves around whether you think Dan Skelton has just been bringing up the revs slowly for the one day in March, and the answer is probably yes.
Of the rest, Workahead, who would surely have gone close in the county hurdle, is the one of most interest, and will be a play in the w/o markets and concessions for sure after a gentle prep and being so strongly fancied to go well in last year’s Supreme.
The New Lion can deliver and might go off favourite if the JP horses are landing during the day.
Dean’s Daily Selection 8: 16:00 Cheltenham - The New Lion – 0.5pt Win – 11/4
The Festival Plate – 16:40
Selection: Booster Bob – 0.5pt Each-Way – 14/1 (5 Places)
I expect McLaurey to be shorter than Declan Donnelly if JP McManus is celebrating his birthday with winner after winner on Tuesday.
However, I can’t back a horse for this race at 4/1 or below, and that’s the current guide price for what is obviously a well-plotted horse.
The same applies to Madara, who has been lined up perfectly by Dan Skelton and the two of them will make or break a few hearts for sure.
I’ll have a small bet on Sean Bowen’s ride, Booster Bob, who has seven wins from 14 starts and had nothing more than a sighter at this track in January.
This one looks very solid on the trends – backed up by the Gambling.com Cheltenham Festival Brain, no less.
At decent odds, this is a nice each-way angle into the race.
Dean’s Daily Selection 9: 16:40 Cheltenham - Booster Bob – 0.5pt Each-Way – 14/1 (5 Places)
The NH Chase – 17:20
Selection: Wade Out – 0.75pt Each-Way – 7/1 (5 Places)
Selection: Guard The Moon – 0.5pt Each-Way – 16/1 (5 Places)
The race has been given a new lease of life with the recent changes, and Backmersackme looks the right market leader if a little short to be wading in with.
Newton Tornado represents Rebecca Curtis and looks solid, but at the top of the market, I am much more keen on Wade Out.
It could be a special day for the Olly Murphy team, again Sean Bowen will ride, and the top weight might just prove a class apart over this trip.
This one won’t mind decent ground, won’t be rushed into the race, and as they start to fall away, finish best from the pack.
I can’t let Guard The Moon go unbacked for the Twiston-Davies team, with loads more to come at extended trips with the eight-year-old, and the price is insulting.
Two from three over fences and can get a rhythm going the further they go.
Dean’s Daily Selection 10: 17:20 Cheltenham - Wade Out – 0.75pt Each-Way – 7/1 (5 Places)
Dean’s Daily Selection 11: 17:20 Cheltenham - Guard The Moon – 0.5pt Each-Way – 16/1 (5 Places)
