Cheltenham Tips: Paul Jacobs’ full card preview for Day Two of the Festival

Top tipster Paul Jacobs zips through how he thinks the Champion Chase card will go.

Paul Jacobs’ Cheltenham betting tips:

1.30 Ballymore Novices Hurdle – Impaire Et Passe
2.10 Brown Advisory Novices Chase – Gerri Colombe
2.50 Coral Cup – Sporting John (each way)
3.30 Champion Chase – Edwardstone
4.10 Cross Country Chase – Galvin
4.50 Grand Annual Handicap ChaseElixir De Nutz
5.30 Champion Bumper – Better Days Ahead

1.30 Ballymore Novices HurdleImpaire Et Passe

Strength in depth wise this looks the best novice event with Hermes Allen and Gaelic Warrior having recorded RRP’s in the 160’s. The first named is trying to break the Challow Hurdle hoodoo, but with his already proven ability around the old course at Cheltenham he has solid claims. Impaire Et Passe has been the springer in the market with two highly impressive victories, latterly in the Moscow Flyer and the extra yardage can only be deemed a plus as will his slick jumping. I just prefer the Mullins’ charge of the market leaders. I was keen on Inthepocket if he ran here but he went in the Supreme on Tuesday. The professional Champ Kiely, Good Land and Seabank Bistro are preferred in that order behind those mentioned.

2.10 Brown Advisory Novices Chase – Gerri Colombe

This is one of the more ground dependant races and with a mixed weather forecast I have been slightly put off Thyme Hill who impressed me massively when he jumped beautifully in the Kauto Star at Kempton Park. Granted any significant give in the ground though, the Gordon Elliott charge Gerri Colombe has to be the pick. Between the final two fences at Sandown Park he looked to be in the pocket of Balco Coastal, but then seemed to engage overdrive and fired up the hill in the Scilly Isles.

I feel that form has been underrated and stepping up to three miles should bring about even more improvement in him. On a sounder surface, the slick jumping The Real Whacker would be a major force pressing on from the front, while at a price I am also sweet on Bronn if he runs here in preference to one of the staying handicaps.

Edwardstone

2.50 Coral Cup – Sporting John (each-way)

Most pundits are all over last year’s fourth Camprond, but as we saw last year his chance is weather and ground dependant. There is little doubt he is well treated on that form and has to be on the short list along with Run For Oscar and HMS Seahorse. However, in a handicap with the expected maximum field of 26 and enhanced place terms up for grabs I have to run the gauntlet on a big priced each-way play and the Philip Hobbs runner Sporting John could well fit the bill if turning out here following a better run than his fifth in the Grimthorpe Chase at Doncaster suggested.

I was really taken by the way he galloped and jumped with plenty of enthusiasm before racing so keenly. A mark of 151 requires him to bounce back, but the fire still burns bright and with non runner, no bet on a race which suits him perfectly. The eight-year-old is worth a punt especially if the rains comes.

3.30 Champion Chase – Edwardstone

I think both Edwardstone and Energumene can be forgiven their last runs at the track in the Clarence House behind Editeur De Gite and both will be more aware of the way their conqueror will run and not ignore him as they did that day as they preferred to keep tabs on each other. Granted proper soft ground I fancy the Irish champion to retain his championship, but that is not guaranteed.

On proper good ground, the value lies with Nube Negra and I took the 33/1 in February, but the weather forecast seems to have scuppered that to a degree. If pushed the pro that is Alan King’s runner would be the nod as a win-only proposition, albeit a tentative one.

4.10 Cross Country Chase – Galvin

I cannot understand why the Cross Country Chase is not a handicap as it would be a much better contest both as a betting event and an equine spectacle. Galvin was a smidgeon off being placed second in last year’s Cheltenham Gold Cup and has reportedly taken well to these obstacles.

The better the ground the better his chance and along with his stable mate and reigning champion, Delta Work, he is miles clear on my private ratings and of course on the official figures. Only a bog will see Galvin run below par and he can see off his esteemed rival with a bit of luck in the run.

4.50 Grand Annual Handicap ChaseElixir De Nutz

I love a novice in the Grand Annual and that made me strongly consider Dinoblue, the prolific Final Orders and the five-year-old Saint Segal. I was all over Rouge Vif but he isn’t running so I’ve landed on Elixir De Nutz. I have a sneaking suspicion that he will go well if the forecasters have got the rainfall count wrong and we get a repeat of last year’s downpour. He has looked a totally different animal this term, jumping well and showing great enthusiasm in his races. I was particularly taken by his run in the Game Spirit and apart from a poor run in the race last year, where he raced way too freely, he has a decent course record. A patient ride on soft ground would make him a massive player.

5.30 Champion Bumper – Better Days Ahead

It is hard to not have been impressed by the Navan performance of It’s For Me, the Grade Two Leopardstown win of A Dream To Share and the unbeaten Fun Fun Fun, the latter could be absolutely anything, but although he has a bit to find on the official figures we have yet to see the best of the Gordon Elliott charge Better Days Ahead who impressed JJ Codd immensely when cantering clear of his rivals at Fairyhouse last time out.

A lovely moving son of Milan, he will improve for better ground at the Prestbury Park track and have a chance of bridging the gap with those rivals. An out-and-out gallop would certainly suit this stamina laden gelding best and he is the best value at a double-figure price in a category of race that rarely fills me with enthusiasm.

Paul Jacobs’ Cheltenham betting tips:

1.30 Ballymore Novices Hurdle – Impaire Et Passe
2.10 Brown Advisory Novices Chase – Gerri Colombe
2.50 Coral Cup – Sporting John (each way)
3.30 Champion Chase – Edwardstone
4.10 Cross Country Chase – Galvin
4.50 Grand Annual Handicap ChaseElixir De Nutz
5.30 Champion Bumper – Better Days Ahead

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