Right. It’s Day 2 and Paddy must pay. Pay for all our drink, pay for all our food and pay out some winnings. You hear me Paddy?
I’m busting at the seams for the opening Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle, and my absolute banker of the day is Alan King’s YANWORTH. He’s not at ‘Douvan’ odds, and if he’s as good as his handler thinks he will bolt in. Now Barry Geraghty – don’t let me down.
I’m also with Barry in the RSA Chase, and have always been on the side of former World Hurdle hero MORE OF THAT for Jonjo O’Neill. The handler wanted to run him in the Gold Cup and if he’s got that kind of talent he can see off No More Heroes.
Jump over to all the latest odds on PP.com
Next up is a big handicap hurdle which, quite rightly, is a nightmare. But if there is a real improver in the field it has to be the Paul Nicholls-trained BAOULET DELAROQUE, who has gone up 9lb for his last win but gets plenty of weight in this handicap. He stays well.
The main event is the Queen Mother Champion Chase, and although it features three previous winners in Sprinter Sacre, Sire de Grugy and Dodging Bullets, all eyes are on last year’s Arkle hero Un de Sceaux.
Mullins’s hope is top rated on 172, and will probably win. But I’m keen to have a little of the hard-earned on FELIX YONGER each-way.
I think Felix Yonger will be ridden quietly out the back, and may well be good enough to pick up some pieces at decent odds. You can’t go for the favourites all the time!
The Glenfarclas Chase over the cross-country course is more competitive than ever. I’m tempted to go with another Nicholls inmate SIRE COLLONGES, who is fully capable of landing a prize like this.
The selection has ground to make up on Josies Orders, but the odds tempt me to give him another chance.
I’m taking a complete chance with the filly MISSY TATA in the Fred Winter, who was well beaten off 102 last time! However, I think she’s much better than that and off 132 she might squeak into the frame at massive odds. Could go in for the Gordon Elliott team.
Bumper races
Finally it’s the Weatherbys Champion Bumper, and the vibes about the Nigel Twiston-Davies trained BALLYANDY are infectious. Both the handler’s sons Willie and Sam love this horse. I hope they are right.
So enjoy Day 2. I’m so hoping Paddy is in total misery by the end of the day. Yeeehaaa!