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1.30pm – Back pace over stamina in competitive looking Ballymore
Day two gets underway with the Grade 1 Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle over two miles and five furlongs. Hermes Allen has done nothing wrong all season and ticks plenty of boxes. A course and distance winner back in November, we know he handles the demands of Cheltenham and he’s clearly a classy type having cruised to success in the Grade 1 Challow Hurdle last time out. That came on bottomless ground and despite the race producing winners, I would question the strength of his form. Run in the depths of winter, it is hardly a surprise to see the Challow has produced a long list of high class three milers. The likes of Denman, Champ and most recently Bravemansgame have all tasted Challow success before being defeated in the Ballymore. In fact, Challow Hurdle winners are 0 from 19 when attempting to go on and win the Ballymore. Stats are there to be broken, but that’s certainly a significant one and I believe Hermes Allen may be another three miler in time. With that in mind, it is worth looking at the roll call for the Ballymore. Hardy Eustace and Faugheen won the contest before stepping back down in trip to win the following year’s Champion Hurdle, whilst Simonsig stepped down in trip to win the following season’s Arkle. Ballymore winners often possess a potent turn of foot and I believe IMPAIRE ET PASSE 15/8 has just that. I think the race may be run to suit with a handful of these poised to sit prominently and set this up for something sitting in behind, off the pace. Lawlors Of Naas winner Champ Kiely is unlikely to get an easy lead with Good Land and Hermes Allen set to be up with the pace. I think Impaire Et Passe will sit in behind and look to pick them off turning for home. Gaelic Warrior’s jumping under pressure is a major concern for me but on the contrary Impaire Et Passe is electric. I think he will jump for fun in behind a strong pace and have too many gears for his rivals up the Cheltenham hill. Good Land and Gaelic Warrior strike me as potential Brown Advisory types next season, whereas I think Impaire Et Passe may have the speed required for an Arkle but also the stamina needed for a Turners. I am hoping that speed is what will see him clinch a first Cheltenham Festival win.2.10pm – Gerri can announce himself as a proper Gold Cup contender
Gerri Colombe heads the betting for the Grade 1 Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase over an extended three miles. A perfect 8/8 in his career to date, GERRI COLOMBE has looked a natural over fences and there is a strong possibility the best is yet to come. Running over the intermediate trip, Gerri has scooped up two Grade 1 pots, despite shaping as though he needs three miles to be seen to best effect. He had to be shaken up a long way from home in the Grade 1 Scilley Iles last time out but responded gamely to his riders’ urgings and powered up the Sandown hill. He appears to be an extremely clever jumper and he will need to be at his best in that department to ensure The Real Whacker doesn’t get away on the front end. Pat Neville’s son of Mahler has taken to fences like a duck to water and has seriously impressed with his electric jumping. Indigo Breeze and Monmiral haven’t franked his form, but such is the strength of his jumping, I don’t think his rivals in behind will want to give him too much of a lead. Last season’s Ballymore winner, Sir Gerhard, is one of the most interesting runners of the entire week. With just one chase start under his belt over two miles, Mullins has opted to send him significantly up in trip with the thinking being a slower pace should help with his inexperience in the jumping department. I think Sir Gerhard has stacks of class and in a renewal of this subpar standard, his class may make him competitive. I have serious doubts about his stamina and his pedigree wouldn’t exactly scream stayer. He did win a point to point over three miles but at the current prices I wouldn’t be going near him. Thyme Hill his another I am keen to avoid. Sent chasing late in his career he hasn’t looked a natural over fences. His form doesn’t amount to much and I think he may be a little outpaced on the tighter Old Course. I think The Real Whacker will ensure this is run at a good gallop which should really suit Gerri Colombe. Cheltenham can be a place to take on short-price favourites, but I believe Gordon Elliott’s unbeaten son of Saddler Maker is one of the better bets of the week. Gerri Colombe can announce himself as a serious contender for next season’s Gold Cup.2.50pm – Follow last season’s Triumph form in typically competitive Coral Cup
The first handicap of the day is the Coral Cup over two miles and five furlongs. Horses towards the top of the market have a poor record in this with only two of the last twelve winners coming from the top three in the betting. Recent winners of the race Commander Of Fleet (2022), Heaven Help Us (2021) and William Henry (2019) further illustrate this having been sent off 50/1, 33/1 and 28/1. With that in mind, I have decided to chance last season’s Triumph form with two horses I believe could improve plenty for the step up in trip. ICARE ALLEN 25/1 was a smart juvenile last term, finishing fourth in hot-looking Triumph. Vauban has run with credit this season in behind State Man, whilst Pied Piper, Fil Dor and Il Etait Temps have all won graded races. Reappearing in a competitive Fairyhouse handicap, Icare Allen shouldered top weight and ran a respectable race to finish third, staying on late close home. Put away for the Betfair Hurdle, things didn’t go to plan, and he ran a very disappointing race. Newbury had problems that week with watering and subsequently, the jumps track was just about as quick as it gets, officially being described as good, good to firm in places. Absolutely nothing came from off the pace that day and it was clear from an early point, Icare Allen was unsuited by the lightning-fast conditions underfoot. The handicapper dropped him 4lbs for that effort meaning he is on a mark of 145. The ratings of the horses finishing around him in triumph currently read Vauban (160), Fil Dor (151), Pied Piper (153) and Il Etait Temps (148). This gives me hope that Icare Allen is at least good enough to run a big race off 142. The recent rain that has fallen will be to his liking and he’s completely unexposed at this trip. I am hoping he could run a very big race. For similar reasons, I can’t ignore FIL DOR 16/1. I have no doubt he will improve for this step up in trip and despite not being as well handicapped as Icare Allen, I believe he is likely better than his current mark. He will relish the softer ground and warmed up for this with a good win over Grade 1 winner Sharjah, and decent novice Doctor Bravo. Gordon Elliott used a claimer on board Commander Of Fleet last year and it is interesting to see him secure the services of 5lb claimer Ben Harvey. Horses carrying big weights have won this before and I believe Fil Dor is capable of a very big run. Let’s hope last season’s Triumph form is as good as I think it is.3.30pm – Arkle Hero can dethrone reigning Champion Chaser
Is there a finer sight in National Hunt racing than the top two milers around locking horns on the Old Course at Cheltenham? Well, we get to see just that in the feature race on day two, The Grade 1 Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase over two miles. Reigning Champion Chaser Energumene was beaten by both Editeur Du Gite and EDWARDSTONE 6/4 in the rearranged Clarence House. Energumene didn’t jump with his usual fluency, and I don’t believe this year’s race will be run to suit. For all he has proven he can sit off the pace, I don’t believe he is seen to best effect doing so, but with Editear Du Gite set to go hard from the front, I would be amazed to see Townend may not want to take him on and risk getting racing too early on. Subsequently, I believe this race may set up for a closer and the classy closer in here is definitely Edwardstone. Arkle winners have an exceptional record coming back the following year to win the Champion Chase. Put The Kettle On, Altior and Sprinter Sacre have achieved the feat in recent times, whilst Douvan and Shishkin were sent off well-supported favourites. Edwardstone was beaten at the end of last season by Gentleman De Mee at Aintree but that run came after a tough campaign and I would be amazed if he was at his best. Reappearing in the Tingle Creek, Edwardstone cruised through the contest before powering clear up the Sandown hill. He unseated at Christmas time but ran a monstrous race in the Clarence House. Sitting way off the pace, I have no doubt in my mind, Tom Cannon was stalking Energumene. Unfortunately, he forgot about Editeur Du Gite and was forced to make up a ridiculous amount of ground in a very short space of time. Amazingly Edwardstone did so, only to get pegged back late on up the hill. A switch back to the tighter Old Course will suit and I think he will sit a little closer to the pace this time around. The race should be run to suit, and I think he will get the perfect tow into the contest. Proper heavy ground would suit Energumene, but Edwardstone has form on a softer surface and unless it is absolutely bottomless, I will be siding with Alan King’s stable star.[single_affiliate_freespins id=”3938″ ]
4.10pm – Delta Work can defend his crown
The most unique race of the week is next up on the card, the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase over three miles and six furlongs. Last year’s renewal saw Tiger Roll go out on his shield, giving his all only to be denied late on from a surging DELTA WORK 5/4. Gordon Elliott’s defending champion sets an almighty standard once again with his main rival coming from the same stable. Galvin finished fourth in last season’s Gold Cup and reappeared with a good win in a Grade 3 at Punchestown. His last two starts have been poor, and it is interesting to see connections opt to go for the cross-country route. Delta Work took the same path en route to the Aintree Grand National last year, and I think connections may be doing the same with Galvin. Delta Work ended up winning the cross-country last year, but it is worth remembering the deluge of rain that fell that day, turning the going drastically in his favour compared to Tiger Roll. Galvin certainly has his chance, especially if it isn’t too testing, but I believe this is a stepping stone for him, whereas this has been Delta Work’s target all season.4.50pm – Former Supreme Novices favourite can strike for the Tizzards
My favourite handicap of the week is the Jonny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup Handicap Chase over the minimum trip. In a race of this nature, I like horses that race prominently and are proven over further. Elixir De Nutz ticks both those boxes and I like his profile for the race. A Former Toleworth hurdle winner, ELIXIR DE NUTZ 16/1, was once rated 153 over hurdlers and well fancied for the Supreme before an injury forced him to miss the Festival. He subsequently lost his way and has been a slow burner over fences. His last two runs have been hugely encouraging though winning a handicap chase at Wincanton before finishing second in the Grade 2 Game Spirit Chase at Newbury last time out. Funanble Sivola won the race, and he is clearly a horse who thrives around Newbury, boasting excellent course form figures of 1211. Elixir De Nutz finished just over three lengths behind him, and I thought the handicapper was lenient raising him just the two pounds, up to a mark of 147. Given Funanble Sivola is a 160 plus horse on his day, I’d say Elixir De Nutz could have a few pounds in hand. His prominent style of racing should suit, and his proven stamina over further is always a plus when it comes to tackling the Cheltenham hill.5.30pm – Ricci runner can shine brightest out of ten strong string for Mullins
The new kids on the block get a chance to shine in day two’s curtain closer, the Grade 1 Champion Bumper. Won by the likes of Cue Card, Champagne Fever and more recently Sir Gerhard, the race has a rich history of throwing up a household name. Willie Mullins has an incredible Cheltenham CV but his record in the Champion Bumper is simply ridiculous. 12 victories since 1996, have seen him saddle the last three winners. He comes into this renewal with a typically strong hand, including current market second favourite Its For Me. Well-backed in the ante-post market in the week leading up to his racecourse debut, Its For Me arguably gave us the first “wow” performance of the year, travelling all over his rivals before effortlessly cruising clear. The form of that race wouldn’t amount to much but his Point to Point looks a strong piece of form. Four subsequent winners have come out of the race, including Grade 2 winner Rock My Way. John Kiely’s A Dream To Share currently heads the betting after a visually impressive performance at the Dublin Racing Festival. He looks to possess plenty of speed, and I believe Fact To File may reverse the form, with the Champion Bumper and Cheltenham as a track set to play more to his strengths. Patrick Mullins clearly thinks so too having opted to ride Fact To File over stablemate Its For Me. They often go a proper end-to-end gallop and I can see Fact To File out staying A Dream To Share up the famous Cheltenham hill. Western Diego has been all the rage on the preview circuit, and he certainly looks a talented individual after a comfortable success at Naas. Front running throughout, he travelled enthusiastically, interestingly running with a hood on. That would slightly concern me with regards to the atmosphere at Cheltenham. If he gets worked up and goes from the front, it will take a monstrous effort to see off his rivals up the Cheltenham hill. Stablemate CHAPEAU DE SOLEIL 12/1 was all the rage in the early ante-post markets but he was beaten on debut by the reopposing Better Days Ahead. Chapeau De Soleil lead throughout but was keen and never really settled. Approaching the later stages of the race and turning for home, he hung violently, and Patrick was forced to work miracles in the saddle just to keep him in the race. His chance had gone but when the outside rail stopped him hanging, he picked up and stayed on powerfully to the line, only going down by just over three lengths. Better Days Ahead looks like Gordon’s best bumper horse, so to get that close to him having done so much wrong was a huge effort. I think he will improve drastically for going left-handed and taking lead. A strong end-to-end gallop should really suit and the Mullins camp have never doubted his ability. The comparisons to 2020 Cheltenham Bumper winner Ferny Hollow are easy to see and I think Chapeau De Soleil can run a very big race.OFFER: Join SBK Bet £10 > Instantly get a £10 Free Bet – CLAIM HERE (promo code TAG30)
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