Our expert tipster has analysed the card for day two at this year’s Cheltenham Festival and is confident he has picked some winners to go alongside those from day one. With it being St Patrick’s Day, the Irish runners will no doubt come to the fore and provide some cheer to those on the Emerald Isle.
Read on to get our Cheltenham horse racing tips for day two.
Cheltenham Festival Day Two
Wednesday 17th March
Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
Live on ITV
1.20pm – Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle – 2m5f
This great race has seen so many brilliant horses win it over the years. Istabraq, Envoi Allen and Faugheen are among those horses who have emerged triumphant in this contest over the past 25 years so you can be sure another top-class horse will win this.
Bob Olinger has a great chance as joint favourite at 5/2 (3.50). He likes to dictate matters from the front and has been in terrific form for Henry de Bromhead and Rachael Blackmore. He has been mightily impressive this season and continues to improve, thrashing Blue Lord at Naas last time out.
However, we think Bravemansgame could spoil Bob Olinger’s plan of leading and edge what is likely to be an enthralling duel. He was very impressive when winning the Challow Hurdle at Newbury in December and is on a four-timer. He looks to have a lot of improvement in him for the strong Paul Nicholls yard.
At a longer price, Bear Ghylls could be a really exciting bet to be on. This Nicky Martin-trained six-year-old has impressed in all three hurdle wins but will need to jump better than he has done so far. If he can, he should be in contention up the hill.
Tip: BRAVEMANSGAME – 10/3 (4.33)
Each way: Bear Ghylls – 14/1 (15.00)
1.55pm – Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase – 3m
This is one of the Cheltenham day two highlights and make sure you take a closer look at all our horse racing bets as the meeting gets ever closer.
Usually, horses who contest this race then go onto become Gold Cup contenders and in Monkfish, we could have a superstar for many years to come.
This horse is probably one of the bankers of the whole Festival. He has one all three novice chases in superb style and thrashed Latest Exhibition by 11 lengths at Leopardstown last month.
He travels strongly, jumps very well and doesn’t have any chinks in his armour. Mullins’ horse also won the 3m novice hurdle at the Festival last year so acts round the track.
Because he is an odds-on SP favourite, we want to point you in the direction of our promotion, where you can bet up to £10 and if your horse finishes second to Monkfish, you will receive up to a £10 Free Bet!
We think The Big Breakaway can potentially chase Monkfish home. He had good form over hurdles, finishing fourth to Envoi Allen at the Festival in 2020, and he has done well over fences. Kempton was probably too sharp for him last time and he will appreciate this galloping track. He is consistent, brave and can run a really good race.
Value/Promotion tip: The Big Breakaway – 10/1 (11.00)
2.30pm – Coral Cup – 2m5f
If the previous race wasn’t too much of a conundrum, then this will put anyone’s tipping skills to the test! This handicap is always one of the most competitive races at the Festival and this year looks to be no different with a host of horses in with chances.
Only one winner in the past 10 years came in at a single-price figure which means there is plenty of value to be had. We have drawn the line at two we think have very decent each way chances.
You Raised Me Up is a very interesting contender for Martin Brassil and has all the attributes to run a big race in this. He has shown that large fields hold no fears for him when he won at Naas a few weeks ago.
This eight-year-old could be well-in here. He is an unexposed type at this level and may well be ahead of the handicapper.
Thomas Darby is another horse we like. He is an ultra-consistent horse and usually runs a very honest race. Olly Murphy’s eight-year-old has run really good races at graded level, most recently at Kempton and is a likeable sort and represents very decent value in such a tricky race.
Each way: YOU RAISED ME UP – 16/1 (17.00)
Each way: Thomas Darby – 18/1 (19.00)
3.05pm – Champion Chase – 2m
This is the most prestigious race on day two of Cheltenham and has seen some of the greats of steeplechasing take this race down the years. Moscow Flyer, Master Minded, Viking Flagship and Edredon Bleu have all won this race and could another great be about to join them?
Chacun Pour Soi is the odds-on favourite and you can see why with his form. He has swept all before him in Ireland and has beaten most of today’s rivals over the past 12 months. He looks a good thing.
However, the small negative against him is he has never raced on Cheltenham’s unique undulations. However, it should hold no fear for him and his market rival, Altior, has plenty of question marks over him.
Once again, the superb NetBet promotion should come into play and Min holds a great chance of running a really good race.
This horse will be regarded as Mullins’ second string after the market leader but won the Ryanair Chase at the Festival last season. You can forgive his last run and he knows what it takes to win here.
Tip: CHACUN POUR SOI – 4/5 (1.80)
Value/Promotion tip – Min – 12/1 (13.00)
3.40pm – Cross Country Chase – 3m6f
This is one of the newest races added to the Festival calendar and has all the thrills and spills of the Grand National. To win this race, a horse needs nous, experience and a high level of stamina.
The favourite is Easysland at 11/10 (2.10). He won this race in convincing style from Tiger Roll last season but disappointed when fourth in November in the Cross Country course.
Can he bounce back again? There are plenty of question marks over these runners, including the beloved Tiger Roll. He looks past his mighty best and can easily be opposed.
One horse we really like is Shady Operator. He is an improving sort and although he hasn’t run on this unique circuit before, he won a race of similar ilk at Punchestown last time and he can take the spoils.
A horse we like at much longer odds is the admirable Kingswell Theatre. This 12-year-old upset the applecart when he beat Easysland and Tiger Roll in November and if he can get into a rhythm, he could run well at his big price.
Tip: SHADY OPERATOR – 11/2 (6.50)
Each way: Kingswell Theatre – 28/1 (29.00)
4.15pm – Grand Annual Handicap Chase – 2m
Much like the Coral Cup earlier on the card, this is another head-scratcher of a race. Plenty of the entries have engagements in other races but we like a horse who has this as his sole target.
Zanza, trained by Phillip Hobbs, is a lightly-raced seven-year-old who has shown a marked level of improvement this season. On his penultimate run, he breezed to victory at Newbury before falling at Cheltenham on his last showing.
However, he was cruising into contention before taking a crashing fall three fences from home, behind ante-post favourite for this race, Sky Pirate.
With Sky Pirate not assured to line-up here, this race can fall into Zanza’s lap. Memories of that race are clear and he would have probably won had he not taken a tumble. If he can get a clear round in, he will have a fantastic chance.
An outsider with a live chance is Paddy’s Poem. He has been in great heart this season and won his latest race at Wincanton. He will need to improve markedly to win but there is no reason why he can’t be in with an each way shout.
Each way – Paddy’s Poem – 22/1 (23.00)
4.50pm – Champion Bumper – 2m
This is a race that has generally gone the way of Ireland in the past 20 years. The stable of Willie Mullins has farmed this event so many times and he has plenty of chances once more.
He is represented by Sir Gerhard and Ramillies but we can’t look much past the favourite, Kilcruit. This six-year-old absolutely hacked up in probably the strongest National Hunt-Flat race of the season at Leopardstown last month. The manner of that win was absolutely breathtaking and it will take a good one to stop him.
The English challenge certainly will pose a threat. Rainyday Woman, for Paul Nicholls, has shaped with plenty of promise this season but we really like Elle Est Belle.
This Dan Skelton-trained five-year-old has raced just twice but remains unbeaten. What was taking was the manner of her win here in November, travelling well before showing plenty of guts to force a dead-heat. The big thing to take away from that is that she has won round here and for a young, inexperienced horse, that counts for a lot.
Each way – Elle Est Belle 20/1 (21.00)
With the Cheltenham Festival just days away, take a look at the rest of our online bets that you can enjoy with us at NetBet!
*Odds subject to change
