Cheltenham Tips: Paddy Power’s Wednesday Cheat Sheet for Day Two of the Festival

A lot will depend on how much rain we get and Journey with Me is a very strong stayer. Stage Star has to be respected.

Sir Gerhard looks in great form and I don’t have any worries about the trip. It’s his to lose. Three Stripe Life was behind him at Leopardstown and I don’t see how he turns the form around.

The step up in trip should help last year’s Champion Bumper winner SIR GERHARD combat the jumping issues we saw last time when winning at Leopardstown.

It’s difficult to look beyond SIR GERHARD. I Am Maximus might run well behind him and looks a play each-way in the without Sir Gerhard market.

I can’t see a shock here. SIR GERHARD would have had a huge chance in the Supreme for Willie Mullins and this looks easier.

If Ahoy Senor’s jumping holds up he will be a major player against L’Homme Presse and Bravemansgame. L’Homme Presse has been very impressive so far but does he have the stamina over this 3m trip.

This is a wide open race. I like L’Homme Presse and Capodanno. I have doubts over Bravemansgame  and Ahoy Senor so take your pick of the first two.

L’Homme Presse shapes as if this three mile trip is well within his compass. An impressive performance in the Dipper Chase here on New Year’s Day boosted his profile and gives him the edge over his rivals.

FAROUK DALENE is underestimated in the market and the forecast rain will really suit him.

BRAVEMANSGAME  has come into his own over fences and just looks a natural. Stamina does not seem an issue and he’s already a Grade 1 winner this term when defeating Ahoy Senor at Kempton.

Good Risk At All needs one to drop out to get a run but has a great chance if that happens. If it doesn’t then Comprond can take advantage.

I have been sweet on Saint Felicien since I watched him win at Gowran Park back in November. That was a taking performance. Davy Russell rides Grand Roi and he could be one for the places.

Saint Felicien looks a smart prospect for trainer Gordon Elliott so it may pay to take advantage of what might be the last time we’ll see him in a handicap. A mark of 149 for a horse once considered a Champion Hurdle prospect is too good to pass over.

INDIGO BREEZE has crept in at the bottom of the weights and would look nicely treated. He is my each-way play in the race.

I’m having a few quid each-way on GOWEL ROAD. He gave 14lbs  and a beating to Unexpected Party earlier in the season but now only has to concede 3lb to that improving rival.

He’s won a Supreme Novice Hurdle and an Arkle Chase and now Shishkin can complete the treble by winning the Champion Chase.

This race has everything and I don’t see how Energumene will overturn the Ascot form with Shishkin.  Of the others Nube Negra has a chance of hitting the places at least.

Two-time Festival winner Shishkin  can maintain his unbeaten record for the hat-trick. His defeat of Energumene  at Ascot leaves me in no doubt he can confirm that superiority again.

Shishkin will be tough to beat but at the prices I will side with ENERGUMENE to reverse the form of their clash at Ascot.

This won’t take long as I have long banged on Shishkin to come out on top from the days he was odds against. Nothing this season has changed my mind, and the delay to the campaign is probably to his advantage.

DELTA WORK could spoil Tiger Roll’s party and even though that would be a shame – this is Cheltenham! His last 15 runs have been in Grade 1 races and if he takes to the Cross Country fences he has a big chance.

The ground is the key to Tiger Roll’s chances. He wins if it’s good ground. Delta Work will be a danger if it rains.

Dual Grand National winner Tiger Roll can bring the house down with a sixth Festival win despite being 12 years old. Fellow veteran Potters Corner has run some eye catching runs in this division and can hit the places.

SHADY OPERATOR has taken really well to Cross Country fences and has a decent each-way chance.

Time for the funny fences here in the Cross Country Chase and I’m going to risk DIESEL D’ALLIER each-way against the big guns on the off chance they have an off day.

Sky Pirate can go back-to-back in the race he won last year. He’s only 4lb higher in the weights and will travel sweetly in this big field. He gets a big swing at the weights with Before Midnight too.

Poseidon finished half a length behind Embittered at Killarney last August and he’s 4lbs better off than him now. He’ll do for me.

Last year’s winner Sky Pirate looks primed to run another big race back in a contest that sets up ideally for this strong travelling big-field specialist. He’s only 4lb higher than last year and worth siding with again.

EMBITTERED fell when favourite for this contest last year and off a 1lb lower mark this time round, he should go well again.

THYME WHITE really came good over fences at Doncaster last time and has each-way claims for Paul Nicholls and Bryony Frost. His handicap mark of 142 looks workable.

FACILE VEGA has been super impressive in his two wins and Patrick Mullins has chosen him over the stable’s six other entries. American Mike looks the biggest danger.

I’ve always been in the Facile Vega camp and I’m not going to jump ship now. The Gordon Elliott camp have been shouting from the rooftops about American Mike and you have to respect that.

I was Quevega’s biggest fan and am thrilled that Facile Vega has inherited her brilliance. I’d be amazed if there’s anything in the field to match him.

REDEMPTION DAY is very well regarded by connections and is too big a price to ignore in relation to his stablemate Facile Vega.

A bit of a guessing game. Clearly Facile Vega and American Mike both look very good but I’m chancing JAMES’S GATE for Willie Mullins and Sean O’Keeffe against the big two.