Cheltenham Festival Wednesday racecard, schedule, runners and riders & day 2 tips

Day two's shaping up to be a thriller!

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It’s Ladies’ Day on Wednesday at the 2022 Cheltenham Festival and we have seven cracking contests on the agenda.

Four of which are Grade 1s including the second round of Shishkin v Energumene as the leading two-milers meet in the afternoon’s feature at 3:30pm, the Champion Chase, although Chacun Pour Soi could spring a surprise if Willie Mullins’ other contender can fire on English soil at the third time of asking.

Sir Gerhard is the hot favourite to win the opener, the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle, after being rerouted from the Supreme, while the likes of Bravemansgame, Ahoy Senor and L’Homme Presse are towards the head of our betting market for the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase.

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Tiger Roll is set to make his final appearance before retirement as he goes for a sixth Cheltenham Festival triumph in the Cross Country Chase at 4:10pm, and the afternoon’s action is completed by the Champion Bumper as Facile Vega faces American Mike.

We like to think we’re helpful folks here at Paddy Power News so we’ve gathered all the information you’ll possibly need about the races over on our nifty Racecards page including the runners and riders, weights, odds and horse-by-horse analysis.

You can head over to the Racecards tab at the top of page now to start swotting up, otherwise, you’ll find the Cheltenham Wednesday race schedule, start times and Timeform’s tips below.

1:30pm: Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1)

SIR GERHARD wasn’t foot perfect in the Brave Inca at Leopardstown but still proved way too good for the opposition in what has traditionally been the key novice trial for this meeting. That sets the clear standard and, with hopes high that he will stay this trip, he’ll take some stopping. Stage Star and Journey With Me have done everything right over hurdles so far and they head the opposition.

2:10pm: Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) (Registered As The Broadway Novices’ Chase)

BRAVEMANSGAME has made a brilliant start to life over fences and is fancied to make it 5-5 here with his impeccable jumping sure to stand him in excellent stead for this demanding event. His old foe Ahoy Senor will be well suited by this stamina test and should push Paul Nicholls’ top-class prospect close though, with Capodanno likely to prove best of the Irish contingent and claim minor honours.

2:50pm: Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3)

Gordon Elliott is mob-handed and his SAINT FELICIEN could prove a handicap snip. This exciting ex-French recruit lost his unbeaten record when second to Darasso at Naas but that was still a fine effort and this step up in trip is also a big plus. Good Risk At All (reserve) impressed at Ascot and is next best (if he gets a run) ahead of the seIection’s stablemate Indigo Breeze and Fastorslow.

3:30pm: Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase (Grade 1)

A mouth-watering rematch between SHISHKIN and Energumene and Nicky Henderson’s star can uphold the Clarence House form and make it 3 Festival wins in a row. Shishkin’s strong finish at Ascot proved decisive and that could be the difference again up the Cheltenham Hill which he knows well. Willie Mullins, still seeking a first win in this race, has another strong contender in Chacun Pour Soi.

4:10pm: Glenfarclas Chase (A Cross Country Chase)

This is reportedly TIGER ROLL’s last race and how fitting it would be if he could end his remarkable career with a fourth success in this and a sixth Festival win all told. He hasn’t shown that much this term but it was a similar story before he bolted up last year and he’s taken to see off classy stablemate Delta Work, who makes his cross-country debut. Shady Operator may prove best of the rest.

4:50pm: Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup Handicap Chase (Grade 3)

A host holding sound claims in a typically intriguing renewal, including low-mileage ANDY DUFRESNE. A dual winner as a novice last term, he ran right up to his best when second at Naas in November, conceding 7 lb to a decidedly smart rival. He can provide JP McManus with his fourth victory in this since 2012. Stablemate Buddy Rich, Thyme White and last year’s winner Sky Pirate can also feature.

5:30pm: Weatherbys Champion Bumper (A Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race) (Grade 1)

A potentially strong renewal for which it’s hard to oppose FACILE VEGA, who eased to victory on debut, then barely broke sweat to land a Grade 2 event at Leopardstown. American Mike did everything right when scoring by wide margins on his two Rules outings to date, so he’s likely to be on the premises for another top Irish yard, and the selection’s stablemate, Redemption Day, is also a player.

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