El Fabiolo the worst result on day one for Star Sports with bookies 'far busier' than last year

Your one-stop shop for Cheltenham Festival news on Tuesday morning . . .

Market update: bookmakers blown away by custom

Star Sports report being "knocked over" by punters wanting to place bets on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival, with Facile Vega the main horse for support.

Dave Jolly, the firm's head of trading, said: "We've been knocked over this morning – it's as busy as it's ever been and far busier than it was this time last year.

"We have not had any really sizeable bets this morning, but there has been a good spread of money across the races. Facile Vega is the strongest and he has shored up this morning."

Last year, Star Sports laid £150,000 at 100-30 about Energumene in the Champion Chase that cost the firm a reported £500,000. Jolly said the firm's worst result for day one would be a win for El Fabiolo.

Punter enthusiasm is also evident on betting exchanges on Tuesday, with Barry Orr, Betfair's head of horseracing PR, saying that volume levels were "really strong compared to previous years".

Updated at 11.45am

Market movers: Facile Vega popular to take the opener

Facile Vega is strong in the market to get Willie Mullins off to a flying start in the Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle (1.30) and is now the general 2-1 favourite (from 9-4f).

Facile Vega has been a market mover in recent weeks having been pushed out to 4-1 after his defeat at the Dublin Racing Festival, but confidence appears to be behind him to secure a second Cheltenham Festival success.

Last year's Champion Bumper winner was well beaten last time out when his jockey Paul Townend was said to have gone too quickly during the contest. Connections are taking precautions around the raucous atmosphere at the Cheltenham Festival by taking action to block out the extra noise.

A note on the BHA website said: "Facile Vega and Diverge [will wear] ear plugs throughout the race."

Mullins is strongly expected to win the WellChild National Hunt Novices' Chase (5.30) with Gaillard Du Mesnil the general 10-11 favourite for the race.

However, his stablemate Tenzing has been supported on the opening morning of the Cheltenham Festival and has been cut to 10-1 (from 14) to take the final race on Tuesday.

Tenzing was flagged as an alternative to Gaillard Du Mesnil by Tom Segal when speaking on the Racing Post's In The Know programme on Monday. He said: "I thought Tenzing had a chance against the favourite, he's a real grinder."

Updated at 11.15am

Market movers: Monbeg new favourite for the Ultima

Money has continued to come for Monbeg Genius on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival, and he is the new favourite for the Ultima Handicap Chase (2.50).

Monbeg Genius is 6-1 favourite (from 8) to land the race for trainer Jonjo O'Neill, jockey Jonjo O'Neill Jnr and owner Doug Barrowman, the partner of Baroness Michelle Mone. Monbeg Genius has replaced last year's winner Corach Rambler (7-1) as favourite for the first handicap of the meeting.

Updated at 10.30am

Market movers: Honeysuckle new Mares' Hurdle favourite

Honeysuckle is the new favourite for the Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle (4.10) as she bids to end her illustrious career with a fourth victory at the Cheltenham Festival.

Winner of the Unibet Champion Hurdle in 2021 and 2022, Honeysuckle has been cut to 5-2 (from 7-2) by bookmakers and is also into 3.8 on the Betfair Exchange.

Trained by Henry de Bromhead for owner Kenny Alexander, Honeysuckle was rerouted to the Mares' Hurdle, a race she won in 2020, after suffering the first two defeats of her career this season in the Hatton's Grace Hurdle and Irish Champion Hurdle.

The market for the Mares' Hurdle had been headed by Marie's Rock, who landed the race last year, but early support is behind one of racing's recent stars to make her final race at Cheltenham a winning one and Marie's Rock is out to 3-1 (from 9-4).

Love Envoi is "underrated" for the same race, according to professional punter Matt Williams, who is part of the Noel Fehily Racing Syndicate which owns the mare.

Speaking on the Racing Post's Good Morning Cheltenham show, Williams said: "She's been unbelievable. I think she'll run massive, she's overpriced and they're underrating her. She's rock hard. 

"I think she'll be second at worst, but I do fancy Brandy Love. I'm against Marie's Rock, Honeysuckle and Epatante – I can't have them."

Love Envoi, winner of the Grade 2 Mares' Novices' Hurdle at last year's Cheltenham Festival, is a general 15-2 for the Mares' Hurdle.

Updated at 8.45am

Watch now: Good Morning Cheltenham

Going update: ground remains soft and will be testing

This year's Cheltenham Festival will open on soft ground after 7mm of rain in the last 24 hours.

Only a small amount of rain has fallen at the track on Tuesday morning, 1mm according to clerk of the course Jon Pullin, with the rest of the day forecast to be dry and cold. The GoingStick for the opening day is 5.1.

Pullin said on Tuesday: "We've had 7mm of rain in the last 24 hours, the majority of which fell late afternoon on Monday around 5pm. We have had some drizzle this morning but nothing of any great level.

"The ground remains soft but it will be testing ground for day one. Overnight, temperatures could drop below freezing but should be back to positive temperatures by 8am. We'll provide an update later but we may cover vulnerable areas. Overall, I'm happy with where we are and I'm looking forward to the next few days."

The opening race of this year's Cheltenham Festival, the Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle, takes place at 1.30pm.

Updated at 8.00am

Non-runners: day one absentees

4.10: 7. Midnight Ginger
4.50: 13. Morning Soldier

Read these next:

Can Facile Vega redeem his reputation and buck the trends with victory in the Supreme? 

El Fabiolo v Jonbon: who comes out on top in an Arkle for the ages? 

'Things can always go wrong but nothing worries him' - Nicky Henderson on Champion Hurdle superstar Constitution Hill 

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