The pick of the prices on Day 1 at the Festival....

Monday, 9th March 2026

The pick of the prices on Day 1 at the Festival….

In ATC today….

…. I bring you my best picks on Day One of the Cheltenham Festival….

I’m on BLAZE THE WAY in the 3.20 – up at 16s….

…. and I’m on DOWNMEXICOWAY at 9s in the 4.40….

That’s the summary….

…. you’ll find all my reasoning below – as per usual….

Oh…. and if you’re looking for the standout place terms on offer – you’ll find them in the Bet Box below….

Read on….

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No doubt the name Mullins will be front and centre this week at Cheltenham….

…. Willie drawing most of the focus with his talented battalions….

He’s produced more winners than any other handler in Britain and Ireland over the last seven days – eight of them….

…. an ominous portent….

…. with only the previously out-of-form Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore getting within four of Mullins with a lucky seven of their own….

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Perhaps that’s why punters seem keen enough on Myretown for the Ultima (3.20)....

.... or perhaps they simply recollect how easily he put a big field to the sword in last season’s renewal – recognising that he’s simply got to still be well handicapped if he can put it all back together….

Fair enough – but (in my book) it would be a brave man to back the horse based on his three jumping efforts this term – which have been less than convincing….

I can’t have Jagwar or Iroko at the prices either – the former having never gone beyond 2m5f and the latter conceding weight to all in what isn’t his principle target race….

Mags Mullins and Danny Mullins wouldn’t expect to generate the same fireball of column inches this week as Willie Mullins….

…. but BLAZE THE WAY can help them generate their fair share at the general 16s….

He’s fresher than most having been lightly campaigned over the winter….

…. we know he handles the track – having won a valuable handicap in ready style at the December meeting….

…. a race that worked out well too – with two of those in behind winning next time out and L’Homme Presse going on to run with credit in a brace of G2s….

I’m not concerned that Blaze The Way won that race off 138 and races off 146 tomorrow….

…. because there’s more to come yet from an 8yo that’s only raced six times over fences and just twice over the 3m+ trip you’d think is his ideal (he certainly improved considerably for it)….

Nor am I concerned about his last time out effort in a conditions race at Naas where he was beaten 25-lengths….

…. it was heavy underfoot – which wouldn’t have suited – and Mags Mullins has since highlighted that her primary concern that day was getting another run and some more experience into her charge….

She will have him right tomorrow…. they’re pretty shrewd operators over in Goresbridge, County Kilkenny…. and I reckon he’s a ‘live’ one at a price….

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The Plate (4.40) has a new sponsor and a new spot in the schedule….

It’s probably not the best handicap we’re going to see this week….

…. there’s a few exposed types…. a couple that are weighted out of it in my book…. and several that have a fair bit to prove at the track or over the trip….

In short, it’s not too onerous a task to swiftly produce a shortlist and take a view from there….

It’s rare in these handicaps that a horse ticks every box you’d like it to….

…. there’s almost always something missing…. or some trade off you’ve got to make….

…. and that’s the case here….

I’m backing Henry De Bromhead’s DOWNMEXICOWAY at the general 9s….

He’s one of very few genuinely unexposed horses in the race – having gone over fences just four times to date….

….he could easily be 15lb better than his current mark….

…. he’s the pick of Darragh O’Keeffe which tells me he’s number one of the yard’s three runners

…. we know De Bromhead can really target one….

…. and I expect Downmexicoway to improve naturally for the step up in trip tomorrow – given how he finished off in the late stages at Gowran Park over 2m on heavy ground before Christmas….

I’m not concerned about the last time out defeat at Leopardstown….

He had pretty much no chance in that G1 and at least De Bromhead learnt something for sure that day….

…. that he doesn’t have a G1 horse on his hands – and that the move into handicaps over fences tomorrow is a good route to go after the money….

I acknowledge that the horse has no track experience and that I must take his suitability on trust – that’s the trade-off I’m taking….

That said – the 7yo handled the undulations of Gowran Park and whilst that’s a right-hander, I’m determined to take what positives I can!

He could run big….

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Now, just to recap….

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That’s all for today….

I’ll be back with more tomorrow….

Meantime – contact me at – nick.pullen@spapublishinggroup.co.uk

And remember – win, lose or draw – enjoy the racing….

Stay tuned….

Against the Crowd