PADDY POWER’S CHEAT SHEET FOR DAY ONE: Mick Fitzgerald, Ruby Walsh, Patrick Mullins, Matt Chapman and Harry Cobden offer up their tips for Tuesday’s races at Cheltenham

Mick Fitzgerald, Ruby Walsh, Patrick Mullins, Matt Chapman and Harry Cobden have made their selections ahead of day one of the Cheltenham Festival.

In Paddy Power’s daily cheat sheet, the five experts have picked out the horses they expect to impress as the biggest week in the British racing calendar rolls around again.

Seven races will be taking place and unsurprisingly most favour Constitution Hill in the Champion Hurdle.

See all of their selections for day one on Paddy Power’s cheat sheet below.

13:20 – Michael O’Sullivan Supreme Novices’ Hurdle

Ruby Walsh 

Kopek des Bordes has been doing everything really well at home since winning at the Dublin Racing Festival. With Workahead and Romeo Coolio in here there should be a strong pace so it’s hard to get away from Kopek des Bordes as the likely winner.

Mick Fitzgerald 

Kopek des Bordes may well win but it will be without my money. Romeo Coolio (each-way) looks the solid option to me.

Harry Cobden

Tutti Quanti is the outsider of the field. If I was riding one of Willie Mullins’ I’d want to be on Kopek Des Bordes. He looks like a good thing to kick the week off.

Patrick Mullins

We’ve put a hood on Kopek des Bordes in the hope that will help him relax more. If he does he should have a great chance of getting the week off to a flyer for us in the Michael O’Sullivan Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.

Matt Chapman

Kopek des Bordes could easily blow this field apart, but the each-way bet has to be ROMEO COOLIO for Gordon Elliott.

14:00 – Arkle Novices’ Chase

Ruby Walsh 

Majborough should win and I won’t be opposing him. Touch Me Not could be one for the forecast or the ‘betting without’ market.

Mick Fitzgerald 

I just believe that the favourite Majborough will win. It’s as simple as that.

Harry Cobden 

I can’t see Majborough getting beaten. There’s only five declared but I was in Nicky Henderson’s on Monday morning and I did see Jango Baie run. He was in very good form.

Patrick Mullins 

We think Majborough is a monster and would expect him to follow in the hoof steps of Un De Sceaux and Douvan by winning the Arkle Chase.

Matt Chapman 

Majborough’s jumping of fences has not been flawless and the Triumph Hurdle form is hardly incredible. I’ve had a decent each-way bet on JANGO BAIE for Nicky Henderson and Nico de Boinville when I was assured three places.

14:40 – Ultima Handicap Chase

Ruby Walsh 

I liked Broadway Boy but his last run disappointed me. Whistle Stop Tour will be better suited by the step up in trip to 3m 1f so I’ll side with him.

Mick Fitzgerald 

A reproduction of his Newbury run when chasing home Kandoo Kid in the Coral Gold Cup should see Broadway Boy go close in this 3m 1f handicap chase.

Harry Cobden 

I ride Stay Away Fay who’s obviously on a bit of a recovery mission and he’s been disappointing of late. I really like Crebilly as a potential winner. He could be one that just has a little bit up his sleeve.

Patrick Mullins 

Sequestered could run into the places at a nice price for trainer Paul Gilligan, whose had Cheltenham success before. He’s been running consistently and has a nice weight.

Matt Chapman 

I’m hoping for a good each-way run here from Henry’s Friend for Ben Pauling. A strongly run race should suit him and his stable has been in rattling form.

I also have to have a few quid each-way on HappyGoLucky for Mel Rowley. The old boy is chucked in on previous form off a mark of 140.

15:20 – Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle

Ruby Walsh 

The hope was that Lossiemouth would turn into a Champion Hurdle horse but she hasn’t really proven it so this looked the obvious option. Kala Conti shouldn’t be discounted.

Mick Fitzgerald 

Lossiemouth will be all the rage but I’d sooner an each-way option and July Flower fits the bill. Henry de Bromhead’s horses weren’t in great form at Christmas but she managed to win. She can do so again.

Harry Cobden 

Lossiemouth is absolutely the one to beat. She looks like a penalty kick.

Patrick Mullins 

Lossiemouth had two goes against the big boys and came up short both times so she reverts to her own sex in the mares’ hurdle. She should be very hard to beat and should follow up last year’s success.

Matt Chapman 

Very boring I’m afraid and it’s not ideal she’s coming in off a bad fall, but it’s hard to get away from Lossiemouth. She’s just the best horse in the field if anywhere near her best.

16:00 – Champion Hurdle

Ruby Walsh 

State Man worked really well in cheekpieces this week so they stay on him for this race. I’ve been with Brighterdaysahead for a while and won’t be abandoning her now even with Constitution Hill in the race.

Mick Fitzgerald 

With Brighterdaysahead, Burdett Road and King of Kingsfield in the line-up, they are going to go hard from flag fall. That will play right into Constitution Hill’s hands as they faster they go, the better it will make him.

Harry Cobden 

Constitution Hill looked phenomenal on Monday at Nicky’s. No other horse was allowed to school or be anywhere near him. Touch wood he jumps great and he’s got Nico de Boinville on board which is another positive. I can’t see past him.

Patrick Mullins 

Until I see that the real Constitution Hill isn’t back in the room, I find it hard to see him beaten. However, the reigning champ State Man is a silly price.

Matt Chapman 

Constitution Hill is in a different league to any rivals that might turn up, including Brighterdaysahead. He’s a brilliant horse and I’d have him much shorter in the betting.

16:40 – Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle

Ruby Walsh 

I fancy Beyond Your Dreams who has the cheekpieces on and that will sharpen up her jumping. That has been her Achilles heel so far. She has a great chance.

Mick Fitzgerald 

Connections hold French import Stencil in high esteem and even though he was beaten 10 lengths by East India Dock in a trial race for the Triumph Hurdle, there was no disgrace in that.

Harry Cobden 

I’m on Quantock Hills as James Bowen got a riding ban. I schooled him on Thursday morning for Warren Greatrex and he jumped great. The team are very confident. But Mark Walsh is on Puturhandstogether. That’s a big sign so he’s worth considering.

Patrick Mullins 

Murcia has plenty of weight in the Fred Winter but has run a couple of eye-catching races. With the queen of Cheltenham, Rachael Blackmore, on board, we think she should go very close.

Matt Chapman 

A nightmare! Stencil will be popular but I’ll chance Hot Fuss (each-way). One of the best of these on the Flat and has taken well to jumping when scoring at Sandown and a fair fourth in a Grade 2 at Chepstow.

17:20 – National Hunt Novices’ Chase

Ruby Walsh 

Resplendent Grey for Sean Bowen and trainer Olly Murphy appears to be dropping in grade, will stay the 3m 5f trip well and looks a player.

Mick Fitzgerald 

I’m torn between Rebecca Curtis’ Haiti Couleurs and Neil Mulholland’s Transmission. I have a sneaky suspicion that something coming off the pace will win so those race tactics will suit the latter.

Harry Cobden 

Herakles Westwood is not badly handicapped, he’s a class horse and he felt and schooled great on Thursday morning. One I do fancy a bit is David Pipe’s Gericault Roque. He’s got a big chance.

Patrick Mullins 

I won on Transmission in November, he handles the track well and I ride at my lightest weight. The trip should suit him well and I’d expect him to go close.

Matt Chapman 

Transmission will be out the back for most of the race but he might just finish off better than most for Neil Mulholland. An each-way chance.