After a brilliant opening first day of the Cheltenham Festival, day two is set to be another super afternoon of action.
The well fancied Old Park Star stormed up the hill to pass Sober Glory in a thrilling Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, Kargese saw off the top two in the market to take the Arkle and the sensational Lossiemouth put in a tremendous performance in the Champion Hurdle.
We will be hoping to witness similar scenes today in which looks another extremely competitive card.
Here are some horses who have a chance to write their names into Cheltenham Festival history later today.
13:20 – Turner Novices’ Hurdle – No Drama This End
A competitive novice hurdle kickstarts the day and the market leader No Drama This End has a superb chance of getting favourite backers off to a flyer.
The Paul Nicholls-trained horse has a had a tremendous campaign to date and is currently undefeated over the smaller obstacles.
This includes an impressive victory at the November meeting at Cheltenham, taking the Grade Two Albert Bartlett Novice’s Hurdle in convincing style.
A routine victory followed at Sandown before the six-year-old stormed to Grade One success in the Challow at Newbury over the Christmas period.
The Irish do have a strong hand in the race with both Skylight Hustle and King Rasko Grey but the impressive turn of foot No Drama This End possesses and his course form should be enough to see off their threats.
14:00 – Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase – Wendigo
A horse which is slightly further down in his respective market, however Wendigo has a strong chance in an open Brown Advisory.
Final Demand was the short-priced favourite prior to his run at the Dublin Racing Festival but after a lacklustre performance, several horses will now fancy their chances at Cheltenham.
Wendigo has had a solid campaign to date, taking to the track on four occasions and has been a consistent performer.
On his chase debut he finished a narrow second to Wade Out, with the pair being clear of the rest of the field.
He then landed a Grade Two at Newbury, staying on strongly to see off the Ben Pauling trained No Questions Asked.
The six-year-old then didn’t disgrace himself in the Kauto Star Grade One at Kempton on Boxing Day, once again showing his stamina after the last to run on into a close third.
The Jamie Snowden trained horse won on his last start at Ayr, with Gavin Sheehan cruising round the Scottish track with victory never in doubt.
The horse will appreciate some juice in the ground and a slower pace in the race to allow him to settle. He is definetly not without chance.
14:40 – BetMGM Cup Handicap Hurdle – Jingko Blue
The first handicap race of the card and the Nicky Henderson-trained Jingko Blue looks a solid profile for the race.
The seven-year-old has this season returned to hurdling after a mixed novice chase campaign, which included a Grade Two victory at Windsor.
He was an eye-catching second on trials day at Prestpury Park, finishing behind a leading Stayers Hurdle contender in Kabral Du Mathan.
Lucky Place finished back in third that day, meaning Jingko Blue split two 150+ rated horses in the Grade Two Relkeel Hurdle.
Based off of that run, a mark of 144 looks very lenient and the horse could have pounds in hand on the field.
He is lightly raced, only having had ten career starts and will go there with every chance of securing another Festival victory for the famous trainer.
15:20 – Cross Country Chase – Favori De Champdou
A usually competitive race, Favori De Champdou goes to the Cross Country with a very strong chance.
The Gordon Elliot-trained horse was a comfortable winner at Trials Day, putting in a great round of jumping to kick clear of the field.
He went up eight pounds for that success but with Stumptown set to also run here, the 11-year-old will carry 11 stone five pounds, rather than top weight.
The horse stormed to success in the Paddy Power Chase over Christmas, winning at a huge price of 66/1.
He will look to follow in the footsteps of the great Tiger Roll and Delta Work in the Gigginstown colours and record a third victory on the spin.
16:00 – Queen Mother Champion Chase – Majborough
The feature race of the day and market favourite Majborough will take the world of beating.
The six-year-old has always had question marks over his jumping, however he put in his best performance to date last time out at the Dublin Racing Festival.
Jockey Mark Walsh rode the horse prominently and jumped well throughout to storm to a 19-length victory over last year’s Champion Chaser Marine Nationale.
The latter has since been ruled out of this year’s renewal due to injury, making Majborough an odds-on-shot for the race.
He disappointed at last year’s Festival in the Arkle, when his jumping frailties came to fruition and saw the horse finish third.
However his jumping seems to have improved since then and a fast-pace will suit the JP McManus owner horse down to the ground.
16:40 – Grand Annual – Vanderpoel
A wide-open race, the improving Vanderpoel is rightfully towards the top end of the market.
The seven-year-old finished third in its beginners chase, behind Arkle contender Jax Junior and the consistent Lump Sum.
He has since finished second at Lingfield before consecutive victories at Ascot and Sandown qualified the horse for the race.
His jumping and speed away from his fences are two stand out qualities of the horse in a race in which both of these characteristics are put to the test.
Trainer Ben Pauling had the horse down as his Arkle hope at the start of the season but will go here with a great chance to make it a hat-trick of successes.
17:20 – Champion Bumper – Bass Hunter
The concluding race of day two, Bass Hunter could potentially outrun his odds.
The six-year-old won on debut at Newbury in comfortable fashion, kicking clear of the field to win by a resounding eight lengths.
The form of that race has been franked, with the runner up, third and fourth all winning next time out.
He then showed his character when winning at ascot just before Christmas, fending off the threat of Tally Ho Back to remain undefeated.
He deserves his place in the race and has a strong chance of recording a first Festival victory for trainer Chris Gordon.
