It’s Ladies Day at Cheltenham Festival 2018 and I’m looking forward to meeting up with JP and sharing a few pints of Guinness. Let’s hope we can celebrate a few winners together. Enjoy Day 2!
1.30 – Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) (Registered As The Baring Bingham):
Nothing is a certainty at Cheltenham but Samcro hasn’t put a single foot wrong and it will take a fine performance to beat him. The manner with which Gordon Elliott’s star dismissed Duc Des Genievres in the Deloitte was astonishing and it also gave his form real substance over hurdles too for the first time, something underlined by the run of Paloma Blue (fourth there) in the Supreme yesterday. With a fine ante post position on Next Destination to boot, we can have an each/way shot with Duc Des Genievres, who has found only Next Destination and Samcro too good in his two starts. He was pitched into the deep end of Grade 1 company on both occasions which gives an extremely positive vibe about him, and the ground has turned right for him too.
Advice: 3 pts win Samcro (8/11 general), 1 pt each/way Duc Des Genievres (12/1 general)
Already Advised for Members: 1 pt each/way Next Destination, 2018 Ballymore Novices Hurdle (8/1 Boylesports)
2.10 – RSA Insurance Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) (Class 1) (5yo+):
This is very well contested and the field are hard to split. On the basis of yesterday’s National Hunt Chase, not much separates the best of the British and Irish novice chasers and Black Corton’s trashing of Ms Parfois, giving hr a Grade 1 penalty, looks rock solid now and whilst he has been on the go since the summer, he shows no sign of abating and a bold bid ought to be expected.
Monalee’s win in the Flogas Novice Chase over Al Boum Photo and Dounikos is rock solid form and all three ought to go well again with the step up in trip perhaps ideal for Al Boum Photo and Dounikos against Monalee, who appeared to have real zest at that trip.
Presenting Percy’s second to Our Duke, when he made him pull out all the stops, is the best form in the race and there’s no reason for him not to go close.
Advice: 1 pt each/way Black Corton (15/2 general)
2.50 – Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3):
William Henry’s Lanzarote win has worked out brilliantly and he might actually have been leniently treated with just a 6lbs rise for it. Spiritofthegames was third in the Betfair Hurdle behind Sky Bet Supreme runner-up Kalashnikov, third Red Indian finishing runner up at Towcester, fourth Topofthegame winning at Sandown (also runs here, is on worse terms but can go very well) and the seventh Le Patriote winning at Ascot and the eighth Dentley de Mee taking second in the EBF Final at Sandown on Saturday. The ground ought to be fine too.
Advice: 1 pt each/way William Henry (8/1 general)
3.30 – Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase (Grade 1) (Class 1) (5yo+):
This ought to be a thrilling spectacle here and it’s one to savour mainly with a good position. The bet of the top three is Min, who was so impressive in the Dublin Chase at Leopardstown which looked a fantastic preparation for this given the pace that Special Tiara showed that day. There have been no holdsup with his preparation, whilst Altior was lame on Monday and has already got the bounce factor to cope with, whilst Douvan has been off since sustaining a pelvic injury in this last year and needs great leap of faith to be backed.
Advice: 2 pts win Min (7/2 general)
4.10 – Glenfarclas Chase (A Cross Country Chase):
If the Last Samurai takes to these obstacles then he’s got to have a major chance but Cause Of Causes has win at the Festival for the last three seasons and knows this course like the back of his hands so there’s no great appeal to take him on with Tiger Roll or Auvergnat.
Advice: 2 pts win Cause Of Causes (3/1 general)
4.50 – Boodles Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3):
Mitchouka hasn’t put a foot wrong in all her starts this season and has some of the very best form courtesy of her run ins with Espoir D’Allen. A couple of wins should have done her confidence the world of good before this too and a big run is hoped for. Paul Nicholls has done well in this so his Act Of Valour is second choice after a return to form at Musselburgh. He fought well to beat Look My Way on debut at Newcastle and that form has not worked out badly at all.
Advice: 1 pt each/way Mitchouka (12/1 general), 1 pt each/way Act Of Valour (10/1 general)
Good luck today and for St Patrick’s Day and Gold Cup Day previews and tips check out our Cheltenham Festival 2018 Race Previews and Tips.
