Headline act Honeysuckle bids to add another chapter to her remarkable story in the Unibet Champion Hurdle.
Henry de Bromhead's mare races for consecutive win number 15 in the day 1 feature.
Opponents out to end the incredible run include the Willie Mullins-trained Appreciate It and Gordon Elliott's Teahupoo.
The ten entries were confirmed to face the starter and de Bromhead feels his big race favourite has what it takes to gallop to glory again.
"She just seems to be so good and has such a will to win," he told Racing TV.
"Up until now, there's no set tactic Rachael has to work with. I suppose that's a reflection of how good she is.
"Appreciate It looks very good and it sounds like they're happy with Epatante and Teahupoo has been impressive, but there were plenty like that last year. I haven't gone in depth into the race and I'd say it's similar (to last year), while her Benie Des Dieux run (in the Mares' Hurdle) was way up there.
"In her last few runs, she hasn't really had to go all out. We'll see if she's got more on her plate."
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Race-by-race tips for day 1 at Cheltenham
1..30 – Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1)
1 Bring On The Night ts 5 11 7 Mrs J. Donnelly W. P. Mullins Ireland B. J. Cooper
2 Constitution Hill 5 11 7 Mr Michael Buckley Nicky Henderson Nico de Boinville
3 Dysart Dynamo (IRE) ts 6 11 7 Ms Eleanor Manning W. P. Mullins Ireland P. Townend
4 Jonbon (FR) 6 11 7 Mr John P. McManus Nicky Henderson Aidan Coleman
5 JPR One ( IRE) 5 11 7 Mr J. P. Romans Colin Tizzard Brendan Powell
6 Kilcruit (IRE) ts 7 11 7 Miss M. A. Masterson W. P. Mullins Ireland Mr P. W. Mullins
7 Mighty Potter (FR) 5 11 7 Caldwell Construction Ltd Gordon Elliott Ireland Jack Kennedy
8 Shallwehaveonemore (FR) 5 11 7 Mr Steven Packham Gary Moore Joshua Moore
9 Silent Revolution (IRE) 6 11 7 Mr Colm Donlon Paul Nicholls Harry Cobden
TIPPING VERDICT: An excellent renewal of the Supreme to kick off the meeting. Top-rated runner Dysart Dynamo is unbeaten in four starts, including most recently a Grade 2 which has produced winners of this for his trainer Willie Mullins.
He has more victories than any other in his profession in this contest, chasing number eight and his principal runner will be trying to lead all the way.
Paul Townend's mount had 19 lengths in hand of his rivals at Punchestown and is respected. However this looks a deep event, with shades of Altior's 2016 triumph when he defeated classy pair Min and Buveur D'Air.
His former handler Nicky Henderson has key contenders Constitution Hill and Jonbon this time – and there are good vibes from the stable about the first-named.
The dual scorer could come on plenty for his Tolworth win, a race which recent winner Summerville Boy took also. Backers are taking it on trust the form will travel and he will handle the faster ground.
Stablemate JONBON has done little wrong either and gains the vote. A full-brother to 2015 winner Douvan, the £570,000 purchase overcame an interrupted passage to keep his unbeaten record intact at Haydock.
He has showed plenty of character before the start but appears to be getting better with racing and is fancied to thrive in a strongly run event.
Mullins' second string Kilcruit, A1 now with the assistance of a tongue tie, is a danger, while Mighty Potter will be doing his best work at the finish.
2.10 – Sporting Life Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices' Chase (Grade 1)
1 Blue Lord (FR) ts 7 11 4 Mr Simon Munir/Mr Isaac Souede W. P. Mullins Ireland P. Townend
2 Brave Seasca (FR) 7 11 4 Brooks & Taylor Families Venetia Williams Charlie Deutsch
3 Coeur Sublime (IRE) ts 7 11 4 C. Jones Henry de Bromhead Ireland Rachael Blackmore
4 Edwardstone 8 11 4 Robert Abrey & Ian Thurtle Alan King Tom Cannon
5 Gabynako (FR) ts 7 11 4 Mick & Molly Syndicate Gavin Cromwell Ireland Keith Donoghue
6 Haut En Couleurs (FR) 5 11 4 Mrs J. Donnelly W. P. Mullins Ireland B. J. Cooper
7 Red Rookie 7 11 4 The Hawk Inn Syndicate 3 Emma Lavelle Tom Bellamy
8 Saint Sam (FR) h 5 11 4 Mr Edward J. Ware W. P. Mullins Ireland Sean O'Keeffe
9 War Lord (GER) 7 11 4 The Wychwood Partnership Colin Tizzard Brendan Powell
10 Magic Daze (IRE) 6 10 11 Robcour Henry de Bromhead Ireland Darragh O'Keeffe
11 Riviere d'Etel (FR) 5 10 11 Bective Stud Gordon Elliott Ireland Jack Kennedy
TIPPING VERDICT: Edwardstone heads the market on the back of four straight successes, including the Grade 2 Kingmaker at Warwick. He is a much better chaser than hurdler, yet there is still a question mark over whether he can defeat the a selection of Irish challengers.
Alan King, seeking his first Festival prize in seven years, has seen his charge be able to make ground over his obstacles and press on from a fair way out at the jockey's request.
Over hurdles he finished fifth in the County Hurdle with a late challenge and there will be no excuses the way the race is run. Magic Daze is likely to go forward with Riviere D'Etel, Gordon Elliott's contender who was unlucky against Blue Lord at the Dublin Racing Festival.
She has a form line with Ferny Hollow, previously a hot favourite for this – and should go close. But at a bigger price, HAUT EN COULEURS makes plenty of appeal.
Strong in the closing stages of his chasing debut, he fell early on at Leopardstown. Mullins sent him to the Festival on debut, where he ran a huge race in the Triumph, a race which has worked out.
He has the make-up of a two-and-a-half miler so the early pace will suit if he jumps to the best of his ability.
2.50 – Ultima Handicap Chase (Grade 3)
1 Frodon (FR) ts 10 11 12 Mr P. J. Vogt Paul Nicholls Bryony Frost
2 Lostintranslation (IRE) ts, p 10 11 3 Taylor & O'Dwyer Colin Tizzard Brendan Powell
3 Does He Know 7 11 0 Yes He Does Syndicate Kim Bailey David Bass
4 Ben Dundee (IRE) 10 10 9 C. Jones Andrew Lynch Ireland Daniel Mullins
5 Noble Yeats (IRE) 7 10 9 Mr Robert Waley-Cohen Emmet Mullins Ireland Mr Sam Waley-Cohen
6 Floueur (FR) ts 7 10 8 Mr Claudio Michael Grech Gordon Elliott Ireland Jordan Gainford (3)
7 Foxy Jacks (IRE) p 8 10 7 Mr D. F. Desmond M. F. Morris Ireland Jonathan Moore
8 Doctor Duffy (IRE) p 9 10 7 Relic Pride Partnership Charles Byrnes Ireland Liam Quinlan (5)
9 Tea Clipper (IRE) p 7 10 7 Mr Jerry Hinds & Mr Ashley Head Tom Lacey Stan Sheppard
10 Death Duty (IRE) 11 10 6 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott Ireland Jack Kennedy
11 Fantastikas (FR) 7 10 6 Imperial Racing Partnership 2016 Nigel Twiston-Davies Sam Twiston-Davies
12 Vintage Clouds (IRE) p 12 10 6 Exors of the late Mr Trevor Hemmings Sue Smith Sean Quinlan
13 Rapper 8 10 5 The Home Farm Partnership Henry Daly Tom O'Brien
14 Discordantly (IRE) p 8 10 5 (5lb ex) The Odd Fellows Partnership Mrs J. Harrington Ireland Robbie Power
15 Grumpy Charley 7 10 4 Mr G. Thompson Chris Honour Bryan Carver (3)
16 Kiltealy Briggs (IRE) ts, p 8 10 3 McNeill Family Jamie Snowden A. P. Heskin
17 Full Back (FR) 7 10 2 Mr Ashley Head Gary Moore Joshua Moore
18 Corach Rambler (IRE) ts 8 10 2 The Ramblers Lucinda Russell Derek Fox
19 Run To Milan (IRE) 10 10 0 Barber, Birchenhough, De Wilde Victor Dartnall Alan Johns
20 Our Power (IRE) p 7 9 12 Walters Plant Hire & Potter Group Sam Thomas Charlie Deutsch
21 One More Fleurie (IRE) 8 9 11 Mr K. McKenna Ian Williams
22 Belargus (FR) 7 9 11 Mr John P. McManus Nick Gifford Niall Houlihan (3)
23 Oscar Elite (IRE) ts 7 9 10 Mrs Mary-Ann Middleton Colin Tizzard Harry Cobden
24 Gericault Roque (FR) ts 6 9 9 Prof. Caroline Tisdall and Bryan Drew David Pipe Tom Scudamore
TIPPING VERDICT: The first competitive handicap of the meeting, with 24 runners going to post. Previous Festival winner Frodon, giving Bryony Frost a historic first Grade 1 at the fixture, heads the weights. He'll enjoy the ground but is vulnerable to younger, improving rivals.
British-trained horses have scooped the last 11 renewals and FANTASTIKAS gives the team every chance of number 12. Trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies has struck at every Cheltenham meeting this season and his horses remain in good nick, with a strike rate of over 20 per cent.
His challenger shaped well behind smart sort L'Homme Presse at this track and toughed it out at Lingfield. His guts and stamina will stand him in good stead in this big field.
Death Duty is 11 now and most of his form is with plenty of cut in the ground, so Floueur can emerge as Gordon Elliott's key contender. A better surface is key to him and he has course form, with a third in the Martin Pipe hurdle last year.
Connections will no doubt have had an eye on this prize given the stable switch.
3.30 – Unibet Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy (Grade 1)
1 Adagio (GER) ts 5 11 10 Bryan Drew and Friends / Prof. C.Tisdall David Pipe Tom Scudamore
2 Appreciate It (IRE) 8 11 10 Miss M. A. Masterson W. P. Mullins Ireland P. Townend
3 Glory And Fortune (IRE) ts 7 11 10 Mrg J. Hinds Tom Lacey Stan Sheppard
4 Not So Sleepy 10 11 10 Lady Blyth Hughie Morrison Jonathan Burke
5 Saint Roi (FR) ts 7 11 10 Mr John P. McManus W. P. Mullins Ireland Mark Walsh
6 Teahupoo (FR) 5 11 10 Robcour Gordon Elliott Ireland Robbie Power
7 Tommy's Oscar (IRE) 7 11 10 Mr Ian Hamilton Ann Hamilton Danny McMenamin
8 Zanahiyr (IRE) ts, p 5 11 10 Bective Stud Gordon Elliott Ireland Jack Kennedy
9 Epatante (FR) 8 11 3 Mr John P. McManus Nicky Henderson Aidan Coleman
10 Honeysuckle 8 11 3 Mr K. Alexander Henry de Bromhead Ireland Rachael Blackmore
TIPPING VERDICT: All eyes are on 14-time winner Honeysuckle as she chases back-to-back Champion Hurdles. Three times the heroine in Irish version, she has raced on all types of ground, tracks and is tactically versatile. Rachael Blackmore has produced excellent rides to get the mare to deliver the goods at this meeting.
One point to note is that Henry de Bromhead's stable has not been in the best of form this season and a couple of these will be challenging from similar positions.
It is perhaps significant that Willie Mullins takes aim at Honeysuckle with a fresh APPRECIATE IT. Rated 5lb inferior to Honeysuckle, he has to give her 7lb, which suggests he has a most difficult task.
But his trainer has pulled off similar training performances with the likes of Penhill and Quevega, so he will not be coming here if he is not thought capable of winning.
He bounded away from his Supreme rivals and has the requisite stamina to at least make a race of it with the favourite.
4.10 – Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle (Grade 1)
1 Burning Victory (FR) p 6 11 5 Mrs Audrey Turley W. P. Mullins Ireland Sean O'Keeffe
2 Echoes In Rain (FR) h,ts 6 11 5 Barnane Stud W. P. Mullins Ireland Mr P. W. Mullins
3 Heaven Help Us (IRE) 8 11 5 Mr J. Turner P. Hennessy Ireland Daniel Mullins
4 Indefatigable (IRE) 9 11 5 Mr Philip Rocher Paul Wgebber Rex Dingle
5 Marie's Rock (IRE) ts 7 11 5 Middleham Park Racing XLII Nicky Henderson Nico de Boinville
6 Martello Sky 6 11 5 The Sky Partnership Lucy Wadham Bryony Frost
7 Mrs Milner (IRE) ts 7 11 5 SoftCo Paul Nolan Ireland B. J. Cooper
8 Nada To Prada p 7 11 5 Mrs Lynne Maclennan Michael Scudamore Richard Patrick
9 Queens Brook (IRE) 7 11 5 Bective Stud Gordon Elliott Ireland Jack Kennedy
10 Stormy Ireland (FR) 8 11 5 FB Racing Club W. P. Mullins Ireland P. Townend
11 Telmesomethinggirl (IRE) 7 11 5 Mr K. Alexander Henry de Bromhead Ireland Rachael Blackmore
12 Western Victory (IRE) 9 11 5 Swanbridge Bloodstock Limited Emma Lavelle Tom Bellamy
TIPPING VERDICT: Front runners Heaven Help Us and Stormy Ireland might set this up for a closer, with QUEENS BROOK the selection. Her stable has won this twice since 2017 and returning from a 113-day break, she chased home Burning Victory at Punchestown.
That rival held an uncontested lead and Queen's Brook, conceding 3lb, was outpaced before running on late. That will have put her spot on for this and she finished third to Ferny Hollow and Appreciate It in the 2020 Champion Bumper, so she has plenty of talent.
Highly-tried this term. Echoes In Rain is feared back against her own sex as she seems best in the spring and is joint highest-rated.
4.50 – Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3)
1 Petit Tonnerre (FR) 4 11 6 Mr John P. McManus Jonjo O'Neill
2 The Tide Turns ts 4 11 5 Let's Go Partnership Gordon Elliott Ireland
3 Brazil (IRE) 4 11 5 Mr John P. McManus Padraig Roche Ireland Mark Walsh
4 Doctor Churchill (IRE) 4 11 1 Mr Pierce Gerard Molony Gordon Elliott Ireland
5 Ebasari (IRE) ts, p 4 10 13 Royals & Blue Syndicate Gordon Elliott Ireland
6 Britzka (IRE) bl,ts 4 10 12 Mr Ray Stokes Gordon Elliott Ireland
7 Bell Ex One (IRE) bl 4 10 12 Mr Alexander McGregor Paul Nicholls Harry Cobden
8 Gaelic Warrior (GER) 4 10 11 Mrs S. Ricci W. P. Mullins Ireland P. Townend
9 White Pepper (IRE) ts, p 4 10 10 Mrs Maria McCullen Harvey Gavin Cromwell Ireland Luke Dempsey
10 Hms Seahorse (IRE) 4 10 10 Sonja Buckley/Anne Coffey Partnership Paul Nolan Ireland B. J. Cooper
11 Prairie Dancer (IRE) bl 4 10 8 Sean Sweeney/Kieran O'Hare Joseph Patrick O'Brien Ireland J. J. Slevin
12 Feigh (IRE) 4 10 8 Dr S. P. Fitzgerald W. P. Mullins Ireland Daniel Mullins
13 Iberique du Seuil (FR) 4 10 8 Bective Stud Gordon Elliott Ireland
14 Saint Segal (FR) ts 4 10 8 Culverhill Racing Club V Mrs Jane Williams Chester Williams (3)
15 Champion Green (IRE) h,ts 4 10 7 Mr John P. McManus Joseph Patrick O'Brien Ireland
16 Sea Sessions 4 10 7 Stuart John Robinson Ross O'Sullivan Ireland Jonathan Burke
17 Milldam (FR) 4 10 7 Neil Goulden, Kevin & Sue Hopgood Jamie Snowden Gavin Sheehan
18 Doctor Brown Bear (IRE) ts 4 10 7 Sean & Bernardine Mulryan Martin Brassil Ireland Darragh O'Keeffe
19 Too Friendly 4 10 7 The Gredley Family Dan Skelton Harry Skelton
20 Forever William v 4 10 7 The Barbury Lions 6 Alan King Tom Cannon
21 Swinging London (IRE) ts 4 10 6 Mr Adrian Butler Olly Murphy Aidan Coleman
22 Skycutter (FR) h 4 10 4 The French Connection Philip Kirby Thomas Dowson
TIPPING VERDICT: Gaelic Warrior could be very well handicapped on his French form, however all the value in his price has long gone given the different style of racing on the continent – and he will need the luck in running.
Also there are plenty in here that may also have something in hand at the weights.
This race is prone to a shock result, with only two of the past ten winners at a single figure price in the betting. A win earlier in the season is one of the trends and The Tide Turns, a debut scorer with form franked by the pursuer, is interesting on the back of just the three hurdles starts.
DOCTOR BROWN BEAR has been a market mover and was put away after being recruited by his shrewd current team. The support is encouraging and he finished ahead of the shorter-priced Brazil most recently, just four lengths behind the talented Icare Allen.
Too Friendly, rated 88 on the Flat and 125 over jumps, looks attractively weighted while there is more to come from Iberique Du Seuil off a decent gallop.
5.30 – Ukraine Appeal National Hunt Challenge Cup Amateur Jockeys' Novices' Chase (Grade 2)
1 Beatthebullet (IRE) bl 8 11 6 Conyers, O'Reilly, Roddis, Zeffman Rebecca Curtis Mr James King
2 Braeside (IRE) p 8 11 6 KTDA Racing Gordon Elliott Ireland Mr Robert James
3 Ontheropes (IRE) ts, p 8 11 6 Cheveley Park Stud W. P. Mullins Ireland Mr T. Hamilton
4 Pats Fancy (IRE) 7 11 6 Hydes,McDermott,Spencer,Frobisher & Lee Rebecca Curtis Mr Barry O'Neill
5 Run Wild Fred (IRE) bl 8 11 6 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott Ireland Mr J. J. Codd
6 Stattler (IRE) 7 11 6 Mr R. A. Bartlett W. P. Mullins Ireland Mr P. W. Mullins
7 Vanillier (FR) ts 7 11 6 Mrs H. M. Keaveney Gavin Cromwell Ireland Mr Derek O'Connor
TIPPING VERDICT: Jamie Codd is the top rider in this race with three wins to his name and he teams up with RUN WILD FRED. His trainer Gordon Elliott always has a good horse for this and his credentials are hard to fault.
The finale pick is hard to fault, with plenty of chasing experience, like previous winners including stablemate Tiger Roll, plus the required stamina to finish this strongly. Vanillier is another winner from last year's meeting and he is peaking at the right time, as is his yard.
Stattler appears a shade vulnerable with just a few starts in this discipline on the CV. Pats Fancy ran a good race behind Bravemansgame at Newbury and is fancied to take the third spot behind Run Wild Fred and Vanillier.
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