Get fresh daily selections and a standout Nap of the Day from our in-house racing expert, Alan Kelly.
Looking to boost your bets? Discover the latest betting offers from the UK's best betting sites.
For live TV action, head to our ITV Racing Tips hub for expert picks on the biggest races, and explore Ryan Moore booked rides for detailed insights on one of flat racing's most successful jockeys.
Latest Profit & Loss Figures
A frustrating end to last week with narrowly beaten seconds at 11/1 (backed into 9/4), 5/2, 11/1 (Nap) and 20/1. Winners at 15/2 (Nap) and 13/2 helped to end the final week before the Cheltenham Festival with a small profit of +£4.90, although things could have been so much better.
- P/L for the week ending Sunday, 8 March: +£4.90
- P/L for the year 2026 to date: +£70.17
- P/L for the year 2025: +£22.38
- P/L for the year 2024: +£200.42
- P/L since 1st September 2022: +£570.83
Stable Stars
The new and exciting fantasy horse racing game STABLE STARS is now live on Free Bets!
Click below to play, or visit the Stable Stars hub for game information, plus terms and conditions!
Alan Kelly's Tips - Cheltenham Festival Day One
The long wait is finally over and the opening day of the 2026 Cheltenham Festival gets underway this afternoon with the Skybet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at 1:20pm.
Perfect ground conditions are expected for Unibet Champion Hurdle Day.
1:20pm Cheltenham - Old Park Star
The score stands at 8-5 in favour of Irish trainer Willie Mullins over Seven Barrows handler Nicky Henderson regarding winners of Cheltenham’s Grade 1 opener, the latter’s first success coming way back in 1986 with River Ceiriog. Fast forward the little matter of 40 years and Henderson has an outstanding chance of narrowing the gap to just 2 courtesy of his unbeaten novice OLD PARK STAR.
Following three placed efforts in Bumpers for previous handler Paul Nicholls, the son of Well Chosen has been ultra impressive in winning all three starts over hurdles for Henderson, the most recent when beating a very good novice in the Moore’s Hurricane Pat by a long-looking 18 lengths in Haydock’s Grade 2 Rossington Main two months ago.
While Dan Skelton’s Mydaddypaddy and Sober Glory from the Hobbs/White stable are both talented novices, Old Park Star looks the number one British hope to provide a winning start to the festival for the home team. The big question is, just how good is the Irish challenge, in particular that of the Closutton maestro?
It was hard not to have been impressed with the 38 length maiden hurdle victory of Mullins’ Mighty Park at Fairyhouse in January. This is a massive step-up in class for the J P McManus-owned Walk In The Park gelding however, whereas Joseph O’Brien’s Talk The Talk already has a Grade 1 victory to his name and may be the one to cause Old Park Star most problems.
Recommendation: Old Park Star - 5/2 with BetVictor
2:00pm Cheltenham - Lulamba (Nap)
With just one outing over fences, that coming courtesy of a bloodless victory in a beginners chase at Navan four months ago, last season’s Supreme Novices’ Hurdle winner Kopek Des Bordes will need to be every bit as good as connections think he is if he is to get the better of the main British hope for this year’s Grade 1 two mile chase for novices, the Nicky Henderson-trained LULAMBA (Nap).
The only time the five-year-old has suffered defeat came when going down by a neck to Poniros in last year’s Triumph Hurdle, since when, Nico De Boinville’s mount has remained unbeaten in four subsequent starts, the first of which came when turning the tables on Poniros at Punchestown.
Three from three over fences, Lulamba has a similar profile to three of Henderson’s previous Arkle winners, Sprinter Sacre, Altior and Shishkin. In Lulamba, I think the Seven Barrows team may have next year’s Champion Chase winner.
Recommendation: Lulamba (Nap) - 9/5 with bet365
3:20pm Cheltenham - Myretown (Each-Way)
After coming home on his own by 11 lengths in this race 12 months ago, Friday’s Gold Cup was mooted as a distinct possibility for the Russell/Scudamore-trained MYRETOWN (Each-Way) at the start of the season. Sent off the 4/1 market leader for Newbury’s historic Coral Gold Cup on his reappearance, Derek Fox’s mount was bowling along at the head of affairs when coming to grief at the 9th fence.
For one reason or another, things have not gone according to plan for the Dylan Thomas gelding on his two subsequent starts, but in a race with a history of previous winners returning to run well again, I think the northern raider has a great chance of following in the footsteps of previous dual winners Un Temps Pour Tout (2016/17) and stablemate Corach Rambler (2022/23).
The Greenall/Guerrier-trained pair of Iroko and Jagwar are obvious dangers, while at a big price it would be no surprise to see the Moore’s Blow Your Wad make the frame.
Recommendation: Myretown (Each-Way) - 10/1 with bet365 (6 places)
4:00pm Cheltenham - Anzadam (Each-Way)
A Champion Hurdle which poses more questions than answers. Does last year's Turners winner The New Lion have the pace to win a Champion Hurdle over a trip much shorter than that 2m 5f? Is Irish Champion Hurdle winner Brighterdaysahead capable of producing her best form at Prestbury Park? And is Golden Ace really good enough to be ranked alongside previous dual winners such as Comedy Of Errors, Sea Pigeon, Night Nurse, Monksfield and Hurricane Fly?
There are few doubts regarding Lossiemouth however on the subject of ability or course form, although whether the mare represents anything in the way of value at current odds is debatable. Impressive William Hill Hurdle winner Tutti Quanti could have been fancied if the ground had been very testing (unlikely), while each-way claims can also be made for last year's shock Triumph Hurdle winner Poniros and smart handicapper Alexie.
However, I am going to take a chance on the third Willie Mullins’ contender, ANZADAM (Each-Way), as I'm convinced we haven't seen the best of the six-year-old so far this season. Despite pulling like a train when fourth behind Lossiemouth and Brighterdaysahead in the December Hurdle at Leopardstown over Christmas, Anzadam was still beaten a little under 7 lengths.
Unable to land a blow in the Irish Champion Hurdle on heavy ground at the Dublin Racing Festival, I expect a much better performance from Patrick Mullins’ mount under today's livelier conditions in what looks to be a very open renewal of the championship contest.
Recommendation: Anzadam (Each-Way) - 22/1 with bet365 (3 places)
* Betting odds correct at the time of publication. All odds are subject to changes.
Latest Horse Racing Tips, Stats & Trends
Check out more from the Freebets horse racing hub, including tips, stats, market movers and today’s racecards!
About Alan Kelly
A passionate follower of horse racing for over 50 years, Alan has enjoyed a 40-year career in the betting industry, 28 of which he spent running his betting shop as an owner/manager.
A successful punter with a keen eye for value, Alan has had many betting highlights, including a Scoop 6 win and has shown a consistent profit in the battle with bookmakers since joining Freebets.com in 2008.
You can follow Alan Kelly on X for more racing insight.
Latest Horse Racing News
