Cheltenham Day 1 Tips: David Mullins' Horses To Follow

The day of reckoning is here and it will be great to see crowds back at Cheltenham over the next few days after Covid.

Ireland look to have a very strong hand for the week ahead, but I've feeling the UK will get off to a flyer in the first race.

Jonbon - 1:30 Supreme Novices' Hurdle

I think Willie Mullins has made the right call in sending Dysart Dynamo here, and Sir Gerhard to the Ballymore, but in any case I feel that Jonbon will get the job done and he looks overpriced at 6/1 with the best betting sites. The rest of these are big chasers of the future while I think Jonbon is the future Champion Hurdler in the race.

He has plenty of experience now, something the front two can't say, and I'd fancy him to get an early winner for the UK on Tuesday.

• Check out the latest Cheltenham Offers for the 2022 Festival

Blue Lord - 2:10 Arkle Novices' Chase

This is a really open race, but I think Blue Lord can confirm his win at Leopardstown over Riviere D'etel and take the 2022 Arkle Novices' Chase. I'd have this race between them two.

There can be no doubt that Riviere D'etel was unlucky at Leopardstown, but she gets less weight here off Blue Lord than she did that day and I think he is open to more improvement than she is. She has had plenty of racing this year and I think we know where we stand with her, while Blue Lord has a bit of improvement in him yet.

Lostintranslation - 2:50 Ultima Handicap Chase

The Ultima is always a very tough race, but Lostintranslation drops a good bit in grade and can show his true ability.

He is a horse who has placed in the Gold Cup, and Frodon running means he is kept nicely in at the weights. He could be a big price here.

Honeysuckle - 3:30 Champion Hurdle

Honeysuckle wins as far as you like! She's a superstar and she's one to just sit back and enjoy.

I just don't see how Appreciate It can get close to her on his best form, even forgetting the fact he hasn't run since the Supreme at last year's festival.

Appreciate It will be fit and ready, I've no doubt about that, but like the rest of the field I don't see how he gets near Honeysuckle.

No Bet - 4:10 Mares Hurdle

If you're not sure you should never have a bet, and I can't pick between a good few of these in this. They are all good mares, but there is no superstar here, so I don't see anyone going 20 lengths clear or anything like that.

I'd simply recommend leaving this race alone.

Doctor Brown Bear- 4:50 Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle

There has been a lot of hype about Gaelic Warrior which has been reflected in the odds with horse racing betting sites, so he's a good place to start, but I wouldn't be backing him in this myself. I don't like French horses coming over with hype to the UK and Ireland, especially not in a handicap, and at the odds I'm happy enough to leave him alone.

Doctor Brown Bear has ran some big races, and it's very interesting he has changed stables to Martin Brassil who is a very good trainer. I think he's a good horse and he has an each-way squeak here.

Run Wild Fred - 5:30 National Hunt Chase

I know it's a small field, but this should be a really good spectacle with some dour stayers, and I'm really looking forward to it. I'd be very hopeful that Run Wild Fred will get the job done.

Run Wild Fred was excellent in the Troytown at Navan, and that form for me is the real standout among these. He should take a lot of stopping here and it's a real boost to his chance that the brilliant Jamie Codd is booked to ride.