Cheltenham 2018 tips: Betting advice from Britain’s BEST tipster for Day 1 at the Festival

The Scout is the principal tipster for the Daily Express and Sunday Express, and for the last 25 years he has been acknowledged as one of the top private handicappers in England.

He also sits atop the Racing Post’s “Press Challenge” table for 2018, making him the No 1 tipster of any media outlet. You’d be a fool not to follow him!

The Scout tips: 1.30pm Kalashnikov, 2.10pm Footpad, 2.50pm Coo Star Sivola, 3.30pm Buveur D’Air, 4.10pm Apple’s Jade (nap), 4.50pm Ms Parfoir (treble), 5.30pm Mister Whitaker (nb)

Cheltenham Day 1 tips in full

1.30pm Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle

KALASHNIKOV can get the meeting off to an explosive start for punters. Amy Murphy’s runner won the Grade Three Betfair Hurdle at Newbury in scintillating style and that bodes well for a big run here even though he is now up to Grade One level for the first time.

Kalashnikov is a really consistent type as his form figures of 11121 underline. Getabird, from the Willie Mullins’ winners factory, is a worthy favourite after winning a Grade Two at Punchestown last time out. Burst clear of his rivals that day and his turn of foot could be seen to good effect here.

2.10pm Racing Post Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices’ Chase

FOOTPAD can take this prize back to Ireland for the Mullins-Walsh partnership. After a near-200-day break he has run up a terrific sequence of three wins, improving for each run.

Ended his pre-Cheltenham campaign with a decisive defeat of Petit Mouchoir in the Grade One Arkle Novice Chase at Leopardstown, where he came home five lengths clear of that rival under tender handling from Paul Townend. Petit Mouchoir was no match for him that day and it might be left to the improving Saint Calvados to chase Footpad home.

2.50pm Ultima Handicap Chase

COO STAR SIVOLA has a great chance under Lizzie Kelly, who has had a fantastic season so far. Her mount produced a career-best performance when storming home by 14 lengths at Exeter last time out. Hard to know what he beat that day, but he is definitely on the upgrade.

There are dangers aplenty in this big field and each-way punters could be well served by supporting Gold Present, who won a Listed race at Ascot last time.

3.30pm Unibet Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy

BUVEUR D’AIR should make it 10 straight wins when he defends his Champion Hurdle crown. Since landing last year’s hurdling blue riband impressively from ultra-reliable stablemate My Tent Or Yours, Nicky Henderson’s stable star has not put a foot wrong. He beat that same rival at Aintree before winning the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle and the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton.

He rounded off his Cheltenham preparations with a bloodless win at Sandown from two vastly inferior rivals, where unsurprisingly he was long odds-on. But that was a nice pipe-opener and he now be fully focused for today’s task. My Tent Or Yours always gives his running and each-way backers may pin their faith in the 11-year-old, but he is getting a little long in the tooth for a race like this.

There are big question marks against the names of the two Willie Mullins’ runners Faugheen and Yorkhill. The former has been well below his best in two outings this term, while the latter has suffered wide-margin defeats over fences in his two runs following a lengthy spell off the track.

They have plenty to prove and it will be a masterful piece of training by Mullins to get either of them back to their best. The return to hurdles may have a beneficial effect on Yorkhill, who it must be remembered won ten of his 12 starts over hurdles before his disastrously short spell as a chaser. Clearly unsuited to the bigger obstacles, Yorkhill could show his true colours.

Mullins also saddles Wicklow Brave and Melon. Like My Tent Or Yours, Wicklow Brave is in the veteran stage of his career and there may ber some each-way value in Melon, who is only six and hasn’t got that many miles on the clock. He was a decent second in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle last season and a return to that sort of form could easily put him in the shake-up although he will have to go a bit to beat the market leader, who will be partnered by Barry Geraghty.

4.10pm OLBG Mares’ Hurdle

APPLE’S JADE (nap) can land this for the talented Jack Kennedy, who will be riding for Festival specialist Gordon Elliott. Apple’s Jade has won his last five on the spin, culminating with a hard-fought success from Supasundae in the Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown.

The former Willie Mullins-trained winner will go off at odds-on so eachway players might like to consider siding with La Bague Au Roi, trained by Warren Greatrex. Richard Johnson takes the ride on the seven-year-old who jumped well and stayed on strongly when winning at Ascot in January.

4.50pm National Hunt Challenge Cup Amateur Riders’ Novices’ Chase

MS PARFOIS (treble) has the size and stamina to take this gruelling test. She has switched seamlessly from hurdles to fences, taking a couple of Listed races en route. Wasn’t suited by the slow gallop at Ascot last time when second to Black Corton, but lack of pace is not going to be an issue here with 16 amateur riders vying for a good position in this four-miler. With the talented Will Biddick in the plate, Ms Parfois looks the one to beat.

Gordon Elliott has won this in two of the last three years and his Jury Duty must be respected. The seven-year-old has been a model of consistency this season with two wins and three seconds from five outings. A must for the short list.

5.30pm Close Brothers Novices’ Handicap Chase

MISTER WHITAKER (nb) can score for footballer-turned-trainer Mick Channon. Took his form to a new level with a warm-up win over the course last time. The ground that day was softer than he had ever encountered before and it will be even deeper this time out.

Provided he can cope he should give a good account of himself with in-form Brian Hughes doing the steering. Although yet to win in four runs over fences, Ireland’s De Potting Shed looks the main threat.