Matt Chapman’s Cheltenham Tips
13:30 – Jingko Blue (each-way)
14:10 – Stay Away Fay
14:50 – Might I (each-way)
15:30 – El Fabiolo
16:10 – Minella Indo
16:50 – Unexpected Party (each-way)
17:30 – You Oughta Know (each-way)
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
13:30 – Jingko Blue (each-way)
Day 2 of Cheltenham 2024 starts with the Grade 1 Gallagher Novices’ Hurdle over two miles and five furlongs. Most will see this as a penalty kick for Ballyburn, and he will probably hack up. But at the short odds, that is not much use to you. With the dead eight set to line up, I’ll have a few quid each-way on JINGKO BLUE for Nicky Henderson and Nico de Boinville. My hope looks progressive and stayed on really well to score at Sandown last time. He looks a good stayer and jumps well – I’ll have few quid each-way.
14:10 – Stay Away Fay
Grade 1 company again in the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase over an extended three miles. I’ve been a huge STAY AWAY FAY supporter ever since I thought he had no chance in the Grade 1 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle this time last year and Harry Cobden said he would win, which he did at 18-1 (33-1 pre-meeting). This season the Paul Nicholls runner has scored at Exeter and Sandown over fences, looking a true stayer, and then finished third to the more experienced Capodanna and The Real Whacker in the Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham. He kept on well that day, and whoever beats him here must be a real star. Of course, Fact to File might be. But I’ll stick with Cobden’s mount.
14:50 – Might I (each-way)
A big handicap hurdle now over 2m5f. The one I’m risking here is MIGHT I for Harry Fry and Jonathan Burke. My selection has been chasing of late and won over fences in a match two starts ago. However, back hurdling he’s interesting off 142, having been fourth this time last year off 145 in the Martin Pipe behind Iroko. He has some other decent handicap form, and maybe the cocktails will be on him. A Mai Tai is my favourite. Hopefully, a few quid each-way will pay for a few.
15:30 – El Fabiolo
The big race of the day is the Grade 1 Queen Mother Champion Chase over two miles. The dead eight here, and in some ways, I’m tempted to look each-way. That said, I’m massively in the EL FABIOLO camp and expect him to prove the outstanding two-miler chaser of the season. Some question his jumping, and he can make errors, but at the end of the day, he’s won eight off eleven starts and never fallen. The Willie Mullins runner was too good for Jonbon last year in the Arkle and can repeat the dose under Paul Townend.
16:10 – Minella Indo
This is the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase over an extended 3m 5f. I wanted to oppose the former Gold Cup hero MINELLA INDO, but he will love the heavy ground and he really does have an excellent chance of winning with a mark of 159 and a fine fourth at the track last time when in a handicap. It’s his to lose under Rachael Blackmore.
16:50 – Unexpected Party (each-way)
Slick jumping is needed here for the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup over two miles. UNEXPECTED PARTY would want better ground, but he might be a very well-handicapped horse for Dan and Harry Skelton as he comes back in trip, and that pair know the time of day in handicaps. Last year’s Turners’ fifth hasn’t always excelled here, but he was a fine fifth in the Paddy Power Gold Cup and was rated 146 then. He’s now down to 138, and if held up off a strong gallop and could be very interesting each-way.
17:30 – You Oughta Know (each-way)
Day 1 closes with the Grade 1 Weatherbys Champion Bumper over an extended two miles. Anyone who claims they know what will happen here is simply telling fibs although, they might, of course, find the winner! For some time, I’ve been siding with YOU OUGHTA KNOW, who is one of many who goes for Willie Mullins. My selection, a son of Beat Hollow, scored well at Kilbeggan before going in at short odds at Galway. Up in class at Leopardstown, my hope found the class Jeroboam Machin too good but kept on well, suggesting a bigger field and stronger pace will suit. I’ll back him each-way.
So best of luck, and pray for Yeeehaaas. You hear me, Paddy?
Matt Chapman’s Cheltenham Tips
13:30 – Jingko Blue (each-way)
14:10 – Stay Away Fay
14:50 – Might I (each-way)
15:30 – El Fabiolo
16:10 – Minella Indo
16:50 – Unexpected Party (each-way)
17:30 – You Oughta Know (each-way)
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
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