Cathryn Fry is Festival bound once more and is back with her exclusive Cheltenham Tips each and every day this year, exclusively for us at kwiff.
Cheltenham Festival 2026 – Day 1 Tips
I don’t really know how a normal March looks for the majority of people. For as long as I can remember, the second (or occasionally third) week of March. Is and always has been set aside for the Cheltenham Festival. From the age of ten, I stopped going to school during Festival week.
My parents probably knew that I would have escaped the confines of the school gates, anyway. My whole family and their friends would go racing, treasured memories, I am now the only one left going racing of that particular group. The rest are now either too old or have sadly departed this life; to absent friends.
Cathryn’s Cheltenham Tips: Lossiemouth (4.00)
I’m backing two horses on the opening day of Cheltenham. I guess you could pitch them as my NAP and next best. NAP 4pm The Unibet Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy. The Festival Gods have already answered one of my prayers in Lossiemouth running in the Champion Hurdle. All I hear is that she is a 2m4f horse.
Yes, she is. So is The New Lion. So was Istabraq, Hardly Eustace, Hurricane Fly and Annie Power. What do those four have in common?! Lossiemouth has a blend of speed and stamina. Lossie’ also has a flat pedigree, her dam, Mariners Light is a half-sister to group 1 winner Lord Glitters. I truly believe that tracks like Kempton and Leoparstown don’t play to her strengths. However, by God, Cheltenham does! Unbeaten at the track and two wins over 2m there. Plus, she gets 7lbs from the geldings. Cheekpieces on for the first time, also.
Cathryn’s Cheltenham Tips: Johnnywho (3.20)
Johnnywho (3.20), who just failed in the Kim Muir last year lines up here. He’s fresh from a wind-op and wears a tongue-tie and cheekpieces for the first time. He’s put in some efforts this season but hasn’t got home, hence the wind-op. The angle I like here, is the Jonjo O’Neill and Richie McLernon one. They’ve won this before with Alfie Sherrin and Holywell. To me, Johnnywho is a cracking each way bet in this contest.
Lastly, I think that the once raced (under rules) Mighty Park will win the Skybet Supreme Novices Hurdle. The opening race of the whole Festival. He looks like a chaser but obviously has a fair amount of speed, as seen when beating Roc Dino by 38 lengths at Fairyhouse in January. Mark Walsh reports that he had no idea how far he was in front of the others that day. His pedigree suggests he’ll go further in time. His Dam, Knotted Midge is a full sister to Drombeag, a Cheltenham Festival winner himself. Willie Mullins quote to the press afterwards reads:
“When Mark got off Mighty Park he said he had a look round at the second-last and couldn’t believe how far in front he was. He thought he was going a normal pace, so his cruising speed must be huge and he’s a fantastic jumper, so I think that puts him right in the mix as well.”
“Your gut tells you he has to be a hell of a horse to do what he did – any horse that wins by 38 lengths must have a huge engine, you’re into Faugheen territory when you do things like that.” That’s good enough for me, anyway. I’ll be back on Tuesday with a look at Day 2 of the Cheltenham Festival.
By Cathryn Fry
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