It’s Day Two of the 2025 Cheltenham Festival! Did you all get your winners? Do you want some today?
One of the best in the business, Mick Fitzgerald, is here to give us his tips on Day Two of the festival.
You can check out Paddy’s complete list of options across all markets on Cheltenham betting as we continue with the racing action.
Mick Fitzgerald’s Cheltenham Day Two tips
13:20 – Final Demand
14:00 – Dancing City (Each-Way)
14:40 – Be Aware
15:20 – Busselton
16:00 – Jonbon
16:40 – Unexpected Party
17:20 – El Cairos (Each-Way)
13:20 – Final Demand
Will the ground be soft enough for FINAL DEMAND on Wednesday? The softer it is the more he looks to be the winner. I respect The New Lion, but Final Demand could be one with a bright future.
14:00 – Dancing City (Each-Way)
It’s a shame we don’t get the eight runners as DANCING CITY is a great each-way bet. He’s a very good jumper, who will stay, and looks a slogger in what could be quite a fight up Cleeve Hill. Ballyburn put up a very good performance at Leopardstown to win last time over 2m 5f, but at the prices I’d sooner have Dancing City on my side to be in the first two.
14:40 – Be Aware
The Coral Cup is one of the most competitive handicaps of the season and I really like BE AWARE for Team Skelton. He’s been coming along nicely all season when placed over 2m in some big handicaps. The step up in trip to 2m5f off a lovely racing weight can see him go very close.
15:20 – Busselton
Another who has a lovely racing weight is the Joseph O’Brien-trained BUSSELTON in the Cross Country Chase. He gets a lot of weight (more than 14lbs) from the well fancied Stumptown and Galvin. The ground might be a little bit softer on the Cross Country track, and while it’s not ideal for him, it will also hinder those carrying lumps of weight. He had a nice spin around here when sixth to Stumptown in December, but should be a lot sharper now.
16:00 – Jonbon
The Champion Chase is the feature race of the day and revolves around JONBON. There’s eight runners declared and plenty of pace in the field, so he’s not going to have it all his own way up front. I want to see him finally win a race at the Cheltenham Festival and this could set up for him to do just that.
16:40 – Unexpected Party
The Grand Annual handicap chase over 2m is a great spectacle. UNXPECTED PARTY won it last year for the Skeltons. Everything about his season has been geared to this race and despite being slightly higher in the weights, he still looks reasonably treated.
17:20 – El Cairos (Each-Way)
The Champion Bumper usually comes down to which of Willie Mullins’ runners you think will win, but it might be different this time. The home challenge features a couple of decent performers in Paul Nicholls’ No Drama This End, and in particular, Gary Moore’s unbeaten EL CAIROS. Connections feel the latter could be a decent horse on the Flat if it comes to it, so I’ll take him each-way for the finale on Wednesday.
Mick Fitzgerald’s Cheltenham Day Two tips
13:20 – Final Demand
14:00 – Dancing City (Each-Way)
14:40 – Be Aware
15:20 – Busselton
16:00 – Jonbon
16:40 – Unexpected Party
17:20 – El Cairos (Each-Way)
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