Cheltenham Day Two

1.20pm – Turners Novices’ Hurdle

Eleven runners but it is a bit embarrassing that only three are trained in the UK, and the rest are representing Ireland. That said, I am really hoping we can give them a metaphorical bloody nose here with The New Lion my idea of the winner – and Potters Charm my each way alternative. Dan Skelton genuinely feels he has a superstar on his hands in the unbeaten son of Kayf Tara who goes from strength to strength as he gains experience with a victory at Newbury last time out. Final Demand is only a fraction behind him in the market for Willie Mullins as I write and is also unbeaten, and he is the obvious danger, while the Twiston-Davies team are confident we will see a much better run from Potters Charm who was not at his best when second last time out in a race they wish they had never sent him to. 

2.00pm - Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase

This is normally a race I have oodles of time for but I have to confess, none of these have exactly set my pulse racing this season. According to my Irish sources Ballyburn is the next Arkle (we have all heard that before), and is a different beast at home where he schools immaculately and puts his stablemates firmly in their place. However, on race day he has yet to really impress despite wins at Punchestown and Leopardstown sandwiching a second to Sir Gino. In my view that have wisely swerved the Arkle over two miles where everything would happen that bit quicker and switched him to three miles plus here where I really hope we see him give his all for an impressive victory.    

2.40pm – Coral Cup

As tough as it gets all week with a maximum field of 26 set to go to post with a pair of reserves chomping at the bit to race given half a chance. Nicky Henderson has trained the winner of this race numerous times and I have to say that Impose Toi does look as if he has been laid out for a bit of a plot. Owned by J P McManus, the seven-year-old has a lot of stats against him with just the one run this season when winning by a length and a quarter at Newbury off 7lb lower, but I am hoping that was a deliberate act to keep his mark down for the big day here. Cheekpieces are added for the first time this afternoon to keep him on then straight and narrow, and if there is improvement to follow as expected after his first start in 10 months he looks an sensible each way bet, if there is such a thing.  

3.20pm – Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase

As if this contest wasn’t tricky enough they have changed it to a handicap this year onwards making the punters life ever more miserable. Many hate this race and see it as little more than a a novelty event (the bars will be busier I promise you), but something has to win it regardless and my vote goes to Galvin who can give Jack Kennedy a win at the Festival after returning from injury. Once seen as a genuine Gold Cup hope he hasn’t really lived up to those lofty aspirations but he did win the National Hunt Chase here in 2021 and finished a respectable fourth in the Grand National last year and with a close up second on his return to action at Fairyhosue in October, if he is sharp enough for this after a layoff he clearly has the class needed.

4.00pm - Queen Mother Champion Chase

The Champion Hurdle got a whole lot more interesting when Gordon Elliott decided to send Brighterdaysahead here as opposed to other targets, and she will undoubtedly attempt to serve it up to Constitution Hill in receipt of her 7lb mares’ allowance. She is hard to know after wins at Down Royal, Punchestown, and Leopardstown (by 30 lengths) this season, but she has 5lb to find on official ratings even allowing for her concession. The general consensus is that she will try to make this a test of stamina as she has already proven she stays further, but when I spoke to Nicky Henderson, trainer of the favourite, he didn’t seem particularly bothered by that prospect. His eight year old remains unbeaten under rules with a 10 out of 10 record over hurdles including this race in 2023 and although he missed the race last year, he ought to make amends in 2025.

4.40pm – Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup

Something unknown, trained by God knows who, has been campaigned with this in mind for a season or two and probably trained in Ireland, he or she will hack up after hefty market support – I just wish I knew its name!! For now I am sat here perplexed – a race at Cheltenham where only three of the 20 won last time out is a rarity in itself, but I am still leaning toward the chances of The King of Prs, albeit with minimum confidence. Trained in Ireland by /Gavin Cromwell who I have a lot of time for, the seven-year-old Dansant gelding has been brought along slowly this season with a couple of pales before success last timer out at Fairyhouse, and of a mark of 138 I am hopeful if not confident that there mat be a little more left in the locker to call upon if needed. 

5.20pm – Weatherbys Champion Bumper

You know and I know that I should hate these races where we have up to 18 runners, no fences or hurdles, one winner – and 10 of them victorious last time out  - but I love them, just not from as punting perspective. Willie Mullins trains market leader Copacabana who was impressive enough when winning at Navan but he is only one of a Mullins quintet and I am not even convinced he is their number one. I am fully aware I should be cold hearted and calculated when it comes to these things but I am also a proud Englishman, and that means my rose tinted glasses make the Paul Nicholls trained No Drama This End look even better than he really is! A 23 length point-to-point winner at Badbury Rings, he changed hands for £160,000 after that but looked decent enough when winning his bumper at Warwick despite being weak in the on-course market.  Sure to improve hand over fist for that, he would not be 14/1 were he trained in Ireland, and I am pretty hopeful he can land the place part of our bet at the very least.