Cheltenham Festival live results: Day 1 updates and tips from 1.20 Supreme Novice’s Hurdle

BetVictor spokesperson Sam Boswell explained how the market has been moving this morning and touched on the opening race of the Festival, the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.

He said: “Old Park Star is proving popular in the Supreme, with punters clearly all keen to be with Nicky Henderson horse who has been foot perfect so far this season and is now 9/4 from 11/4.”

Jonathan Doidge’s tips: Old Park Star and Talk The Talk (both E/W)

“Nicky Henderson knows how to win this race and the type that it takes to do so. I’m not sure Old Park Star is as nippy as some he’s sent this way but he’s definitely not slow and I think he’ll get the strong pace he needs to enable him to do his best work up the hill.

“I’d also added in a second each-way play on Talk The Talk, in the belief that he’d eventually come here. I think he’d be 4-4 over hurdles but for that stumble after he’d jumped the last at Leopardstown in front and if anything beats Old Park Star, it could be him.”

A reminder of the full race schedule for today then:

1.20: Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) Race conditions: £150,000 | 2m½f| 8 hurdles | Old Course

2.00: Singer Arkle Challenge Trophy Steeple Chase (Grade 1)Race conditions: £200,000 | 2m | 13 fences | Old Course

2.40: McCoys Contractors Juvenile Handicap Hurdle Race (Registered as the Fred Winter) (Premier Handicap) Race conditions: £150,000 | 3m1f | 20 fences | Old Course

3.20: Trustmarque Ultima Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap)Race conditions: £120,000 | 2m4f | 10 hurdles | Old Course

4.00: Unibet Champion Hurdle (Grade 1) Race conditions: £450,000 | 2m½f | 8 hurdles | Old Course

4.40: Sun Racing Plate (A Handicap Steeple Chase) (Premier Handicap)Race conditions: £80,000 | 2m½f | 8 hurdles | Old Course

5.20: National Hunt Steeple Chase Challenge Cup (Novices’ Handicap Steeple Chase) (Class 2)Race conditions: £200,000 | 2m | 13 fences | Old Course

Of the new camera technology, BHA Judge and team principal, David Hicks, said: “The introduction of Lynx photo finish cameras gives BHA judges access to the highest-quality images and supports us in calling the results of races to a much greater degree of certainty.

“The judging process itself doesn’t change, with our expert team still scrutinising the photo finish and exercising their judgement, but the new equipment provides us with a significantly enhanced picture from which we can make an informed assessment. This precision really matters, especially when horses may be split by a very small number of pixels.

“We always want to make use of the best, most advanced technology to help support decision-making on a raceday. While it won’t always be possible to split horses, with dead heats an inevitability at times, the new technology will provide much clearer evidence that can help improve the clarity with which decisions are reached.”

British Horseracing Authority (BHA) judges will now have access to improved photo finish images following the introduction of ultra high-resolution camera technology.

Lynx photo finish cameras capture images at around 6,000 frames per second – much faster than the equipment used previously – and significantly improve the clarity of photos that help confirm the winner and finishing distances for each race. This new technology is available on British racecourses, including during this week’s Cheltenham Festival, where it will be the primary camera used for regulatory purposes alongside the existing backup and infield cameras to determine placings.

Due to the delays after a trespass incident a little earlier, several rail services bringing racegoers into Cheltenham Spa have all come in quick succession.

It has resulted in huge queues of people for the ticket inspections.

Out in the car park there are a dozen double decker buses waiting to take many to the festival.

Others have chosen to walk, or get a quick drink and breakfast at Madison’s Cafe opposite the station, which each year looks to benefit from the festival. Inside, plastic pints of Guinness cost £6.

One hour left until the racing action begins on day one of the 2026 Cheltenham Festival.

Old Park Star is being heavily tipped to perform strongly in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle but he faces competition from Mighty Park, Leader D’Allier, and Talk The Talk.

Plenty of celebrities (and ‘celebrities’, to be fair…) descend on the Festival each year and this time is no different.

Zara Tindall (daughter of Anne, Princess Royal) and her husband, former England rugby player Mike Tindall, have been pictured at the course, as have former reality TV star Georgia Toffolo and TV presenter Emma Louise Jones, among others

The final two races of each day will not be shown on ITV but fans wanting to watch can do so via Racing TV. Subscriptions for the channel, which shows every race from the festival, are available through Sky and Virgin Media and online through its website and app.

Racing TV coverage begins at 12.30pm every day and ends after the final race. The Independent will also have a dedicated live blog covering the action which you can follow.

A number of betting sites or apps also show all the races, provided you have a funded account with them, or if you’ve placed a bet within the previous 24 hours.