Day two of the Cheltenham Festival promises to be a cracker, with the likes of The New Lion, Ballyburn, Jonbon and Marine Nationale all in action. I’ve given my through-the-card selections for the card – including a couple that will prove extremely popular winners for the Cheltenham crowd!
1:20pm – Turners Novices’ Hurdle
The New Lion was impressive when easily winning the Challow (with Wendigo in 2nd), but I think he’ll have to improve further to get the better of FINAL DEMAND, who looks another potential superstar for Willie Mullins. The Irish trainer has dominated in this race, winning the last three renewals and he looks to have a good chance of landing a fourth successive win. Final Demand was ultra impressive when winning at the Dublin Racing Festival and with Paul Townend on board, he should take some stopping in the opener.
TIP – FINAL DEMAND
2:00pm – Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase
This could be yet another Willie Mullins winner, with BALLYBURN looking a solid option to give the master trainer back to back winners in the race. His sole defeat over fences came when dropping back in trip to take on Sir Gino – something that is a tough task for any horse! Asides from that, he has won both other runs over fences, including a Grade 1 win last month. This step up in trip should bring out further improvement and he certainly looks the one to beat.
TIP – BALLYBURN
2:40pm – Coral Cup
A wide-open handicap, but there’s a couple I like in here. Maxxum is capable of running a big race off top weight, but the one I want to side with is SANDOR CLEGANE for Paul Nolan. He has a good record at Cheltenham, putting in two career-best efforts at the last two Festivals, and has run well lately in a couple of Graded races back in Ireland recently. He should have a big chance and looks an excellent each way bet in the race.
TIP – SANDOR CLEGANE
3:20pm – Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase
Gordon Elliott has a fantastic record in this race and GALVIN can enhance that record. The 12YO finished runner-up in the race in 2023 and did well to finish fourth in the Grand National last year on ground softer than ideal for him. The ground shouldn’t be as soft this time around and he should be able to run a big race – Mister Coffey has a tendency to finish second, so the Galvin/Mister Coffey forecast could be a good bet!
TIP – GALVIN
4:00pm – Queen Mother Champion Chase
This could finally be the year JONBON breaks his Cheltenham Festival duck, having yet to win from two previous attempts. He likely won’t get a better opportunity too, as he’s comfortably the highest rated in the race and comes into this with the best form. He easily beat two-time Champion Chase winner Energumene in this year’s Clarence House Chase, and barring any mistakes he should be hard to beat. Marine Nationale looks the chief danger, but he would have to put in a career best effort to beat Nicky Henderson’s star.
TIP – JONBON
4:40pm – Grand Annual Chase
If this tip is correct, it could be the loudest cheer of the day, possibly the week, as I believe JAZZY MATTY can win and take the roof off. With an excellent record at Cheltenham that includes a win in the 2023 Fred Winter under an excellent ride from the late Michael O’Sullivan, who tragically passed away earlier this year. Jazzy Matty has been in excellent form over fences and looks to have been targeted for this, so I’m really hoping he can make this a memorable victory.
TIP – JAZZY MATTY
5:20pm – Weatherbys Champion Bumper
This is another race that the Irish have dominated, and judging by the betting, it’s likely to be a similar outcome again this year. I have to agree with the betting, and the one I think looks the likeliest winner is GAMEOFINCHES, who looks a potential superstar in the making. He ran out an easy winner of his sole bumper at Punchestown last month, where he hardly could have been more impressive, and with Paul Townend jocked up for the ride, he looks the one to side with.
TIP – GAMEOFINCHES
DAY 2 TIPS
1:20PM – FINAL DEMAND
2:00PM – BALLYBURN
2:40PM – SANDOR CLEGANE
3:20PM – GALVIN
4:00PM – JONBON
4:40PM – JAZZY MATTY
5:20PM – GAMEOFINCHES
wRacing Club is set to have our first-ever Cheltenham Festival runner, as WENDIGO lines up in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle on Friday. A limited number of shares are still available – become an owner in a Cheltenham Festival runner for just £75 HERE.
