It’s been another rip-roaring start to the Cheltenham Festival, and we have a big couple of days to come. We’re looking specifically at days two and three here, featuring another clutch of championship races.
Day 2 – Wednesday
We have three more Grade 1 races on day two, the feature event being the Queen Mother Champion Chase over two miles. Elsewhere, Ballyburn will be tough to beat in the Brown Advisory at 2.00, but he’s only evens at best to give Willie Mullins another winner. Here are our fancies:
1.20 – Turners Novices’ Hurdle
It’s close in the market between Final Demand (Willie Mullins) and JP McManus’ big recent purchase THE NEW LION. Both horses are unbeaten, but after a nice break and given what he’s already achieved, Cheltenham’s top owner could have another special one on his hands.
This could also be a relatively rare winner for a British-based trainer, this time in Dan Skelton. The New Lion was an easy winner of the Challow Hurdle on his most recent start and created a big impression. He is officially 7lbs behind Final Demand but is a most exciting prospect.
2.40 – Coral Cup
The ultra-competitive Coral Cup is a difficult betting race, just as always. That being said, the bookies are increasingly worried at the Cheltenham Festival and Dan Skelton’s BE AWARE is near the head of the market for a reason.
Be Aware has been competitive in a number of well contested handicaps already this season. He was of particular interest at Ascot over the winter. Love him or hate him, Dan Skelton is very adept at getting horses ready for Cheltenham handicaps and in fact has won Coral Cups before.
4.00 – Queen Mother Champion Chase
Champion Chase favourite JONBON is now the real deal. Some would say that was always going to be the case.
Nicky Henderson’s runner is now 12 from 14 over fences and is a shade of odds-on for this race. The very best horses tend to win the Grade 1’s at Cheltenham unless there’s an obvious excuse, and this horse is a proper favourite.
Jonbon is highest rated, he has the best speed figures (quickest between fences), is only getting better and has had a nice 53-day break since winning the Clarence House Chase. He should be very hard to beat.
Energumene may acquit himself well once again but shouldn’t be turning around the Ascot form. Marine Nationale is second-best on the figures but has achieved that without winning which suggests there’s no major improvement to come.
Day 3 – Thursday
It’s Ryanair Chase and Stayers’ Hurdle Day on Thursday, those two races sharing top billing. The Pertemps Final is also a major betting heat. These are our top selections:
1.20 – Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle
Gavin Cromwell’s double winner SIXANDAHALF is a solid proposition at the head of the market in the opening race. Punters could do a hell of a lot worse.
In fact, the bumper winner has only had one go over hurdles and that was an emphatic 12-length win at Fairyhouse. She should prove to be very hard to beat.
3.20 – Ryanair Chase
This race still rankles with some people, purportedly taking something away from the Gold Cup and/or the Champion Chase. In this case, it is perfect for Gallic raider IL EST FRANCAIS.
He was apparently running away with the King George Chase over Christmas before eventually running out of steam. His front-running style allied with this 2½-mile distance is perfect for him and he is way better value at 3/1 than Fact To File at 6/4.
Protektorat, along with the aforementioned pair and Djelo, is one of four horses all rated 166 but Il Est Francais is easily the one with most potential.
4.00 – Stayers’ Hurdle
Last year’s Stayers’ Hurdle champ Teahupoo is the obvious one here, but this is the one Grade 1 race at the festival which doesn’t treat favourites very well. Plenty of outsiders have come and won this race over time, so we think a solid each-way horse is needed at a big price.
CRAMBO, trained by Fergal O’Brien, is around 28/1 at the time of writing and is a likely type.
He was only 7/1 for this race last year but everything went wrong. He was too free, ran flat according to his jockey and even mistimed a couple of hurdles. He is a Grade 1 winner this year (Long Walk Hurdle) and is very good value to give it a right go.