*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
WHAT A DAY – AND THERE’S PLENTY MORE TO COME!
THE GANG ARE BACK AGAIN WITH THEIR DAY TWO CHEAT SHEET
HERE’S THE REST OF YOUR TOP TIPS FOR WEDNESDAY
- Matt Chapman’s 7 top tips for Day 2 at Cheltenham
- Ruby Walsh’s Wednesday Cheltenham Cheat Sheet
- Mick Fitzgerald’s top tips for EVERY Wednesday Cheltenham race
- Top Paddy Power trader Frank Hickey picks his Cheltenham tips
- Sky Sports’ Gina Bryce picks her punts for Wednesday at Cheltenham
- He picked an 18/1 winner on Tuesday – here’s Paul Jacobs picks for the rest of Cheltenham
Supreme Novices Hurdle (13:30) – Constitution Hill
Last year’s thrashing by the Irish raiders may have left many with confidence low heading into his year’s Festival but in Constitution Hill I think the UK have an ace in the pack to take an early lead. Two strong staying, impressive performances at Sandown on differing surfaces are major positives about a laidback horse who should have the ideal temperament to deal with the 70,000 strong crowd he’ll be faced with come Tuesday. The manner in which he pulled clear accelerating off heavy, testing ground in the Tolworth really took my eye and I think he can follow in the footprints of Nicky Henderson’s former recent winners of the race Shishkin and Altior.
Arkle Chase (14:10) – Riviere Detel
With the Supreme in the bag for the UK, confidence may role on to Edwardstone in the Arkle who has been a clinical efficient winning machine this season with four victories to his name. However, while heart may be with Alan King’s Henry VIII Novices Chase winner head means I’m siding with the Irish form and tough Irish Arkle runner up Riveiere D’etel.
A last fence mistake, interference from Blue Lord in the closing stages and the fact she raced up on the early pace mark up a performance that saw her coming back at the line in gutsy fashion last time whilst her runner up effort to the would be favourite for this race Ferny Hollow at Christmas further bolsters her profile. With the mares’ allowance again in hand and an ability to handle any type of ground, I think she could prove too strong for the favourite to level the scores after race two.
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Ultima Handicap Chase (14:50) – Lostintranslation
Evergreen 11 year old Vintage Clouds defied his age and the stats last year when winning the contest on his fifth attempt and Im going to stick with a similar formula and take a swing at Lostintranslation for the Tizzard team. Stepping into handicap company for the first time in his life with plenty of weight to carry, this Grade 1 winning chaser finished a close third in the Gold Cup just two years ago.
A heart-warming win at Ascot at the start of the season on his preferred good ground proved he can still travel and jump with enthusiasm and with similar conditions forecast on Tuesday, cheekpieces reached for and stamina on his side I’ll be hoping he can recapture his old zest and show the young guard how its done.
Champion Hurdle (15:30) – Appreciate It
Defending Champion hurdler Honeysuckle notched up her tenth success at the highest level last time with a third Irish Champion Hurdle victory and has done little to suggest her utter dominance of this division is going to end any time soon. However, this will be the first time she’s faced an unknown quantity like last year’s Supreme winner Appreciate It. The lack of a run this year means we have to trust he can return to those same dizzying heights in open company after a year on the sidelines but I think this strong staying hurdler with an excellent run in the 2020 Champion bumper also to his name, may just set a searching test up front and prove tough to catch.
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Mares Hurdle (16:10) – Burning Victory
Willie Mullins has won this race nine times as well as saddling the runner up in the last three renewals and I fancy Burning Victory to reclaim a race Mullins has made his own. Whilst six time winner of the race Quevega clearly had her own way of doing things, recent winners have shown an ability to stay further than this trip and usually boast strong form against the boys, both boxes which were firmly ticked by Burning Victory in the Grade 1 Christmas Hurdle when travelling beautifully through the race over three miles behind Klassical Dream and Flooring Porter. A decisive win in the Grade 3 Quevega Hurdle last time should have put her spot on for the task in hand. The former Triumph Hurdle winner can land her second Festival win.
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Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (16:50) – HMS Seahorse
Its been well publicised that the French recruit Gaelic Warrior has been handed a mark some 10lb shy of what connections were expecting based on French form and the market reflects that accordingly as he attempts to make his UK debut a winning one. It’s a short price to take about a horse we know little about so I’ll take a chance on the improving HMS Seahorse for last year’s Pertemps Hurdle winning trainer Paul Nolan. His form behind top class juveniles Pied Piper and Vauban first time out before a good run behind the subsequent Grade 1 Spring Juvenile fourth The Tide Turns reads well. He appears to have a favourable mark and crucially the return to better ground on which his best flat form came for Aidan O’Brien could see this horse take another huge step forward.
National Hunt Chase (17:30) – Run Wild Fred
Despite the market often favouring unexposed chasers in this race, the profile of recent winners suggests it pays to side with experience over promise. Run Wild Fred has won the Troytown and been placed in big handicaps of the calibre of the Irish Grand National and the Thyestes Chase in two seasons’ chasing. With 10 starts to his name so far, this hugely consistent stayer is the one to side with. A good season with form on varying ground conditions should put him spot on for the Festival and he ticks all the boxes to hand Gordon Elliott a fourth victory (fifth if you count late stable switcher Galvin, 12 months ago) in the race.
Gina Bryce’s Tips
- Supreme Novices Hurdle (13:30) – Constitution Hill
- Arkle Chase (14:10) – Riviere Detel
- Ultima Handicap Chase (14:50) – Lostintranslation
- Champion Hurdle (15:30) – Appreciate It
- Mares Hurdle (16:10) – Burning Victory
- Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (16:50) – HMS Seahorse
- National Hunt Chase (17:30) – Run Wild Fred
*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
CHELTENHAM TIPS TODAY
- Matt Chapman’s Day 1 Cheltenham tips
- Mick Fitzgerald’s horse racing tips for Cheltenham’s opening day
- Frank Hickey’s fancies for Day 1 at Cheltenham 2022
- Ruby Walsh’s Day 1 Cheat Sheet at Cheltenham
- Paul Jacobs’ each-way Lucky 15 for the whole festival
