Wednesday at the Cheltenham Festival brings Ladies’ Day, a Grand National winner and the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase in what is set to be a thrilling sequel to the drama of the opening day at the Jockey Club.
Kicking off Day Two is the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle, a Grade One race where Willie Mullins is hoping to claim yet another Cheltenham victory with 10/1 outsider The Big Getaway fourth favourite with the bookies but hotly fancied by online tipsters.
Envoi Allen is a near-heavy favourite going into this one despite The Big Breakaway being well tipped on soft ground.
Spenny’s tip: Envoi Allen.
At 14:10 comes the RSA Insurance Novices’ Chase.
Second up on Ladies’ Day we have Champ equal favourite with Minella Indo to claim the second race of the day.
Minella Indo is ridden by Rachael Blackmore- who was unsuccessful on yesterdays’ favourite Notebook in the Racing Post Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices’ Chase.
Copperhead and Willie Mullins’ Allaho who is at 9/2, round out the bookies’ top four.
Spenny’s tip: Minella Indo.
At 14:50 the Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle sees Nicky Henderson’s Dame De Compagnie take top spot in the betting at 6/1 despite impressive form from Willie Mullins’ Canardier and Franco De Port putting them at 9/1 and 10/1 outsiders respectively.
Spenny’s tip: Franco De Port.
In the big one on Ladies’ Day- the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase- the absence of superstar horse Altior has blown the betting wide open.
Altior, who pulled out lame after failing to recover from a splint problem, will not get the chance to defend his previous two Queen Mother Champion Chase titles.
Nicky Henderson told the BBC:
” We were genuinely optimistic that as long as recovery rate was maintained, he’d be sound this morning.
“It’s brutal, he’s never taken a lame step in his life. The timing is just ridiculous.”
Whilst Altior remains sidelined, Defi Du Seuil ridden by Barry Geraghty, becomes bookies favourite at 6/5 having won twice at the festival before.
Geraghty will be bidding for a record sixth win in the Champion Chase, having already won yesterdays’ champion hurdle on Epatante.
Willie Mullins also enters well placed Chacun Pour Soi at 11/8, who is racing on the course for the first time, but did gain the upper hand on Philip Hobbs’ Defi Du Seuil when the pair met last year at Punchestown, the rematch is one of the most anticipated at this years festival.
Spenny’s tip: Chacun Pour Soi.
16:10 brings the arrival of double and current Grand National winning horse Tiger Roll.
With more major wins than the rest of the field put together, and bidding for a third successive Cross Country Chase, it’s no surprise Gordon Elliot’s Tiger Roll is once again odds on favourite at Cheltenham this Wednesday at 10/11.
Easysland at 3/1 and Urgent De Gregaine at 12/1 round out the top three, but the 10 year old champion horse looks all set for an attempt to win next months’ Grand National at Aintree for an unprecedented third time alongside a victory here at the Jockey Club on Ladies’ Day.
Spenny’s tip: Tiger Roll.
16:50 and The Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle will see Aramax as hot favourite, followed by Paul Nicholls’ Mick Pastor, ridden by Barry Geraghty.
Spenny’s tip: Mick Pastor.
To conclude Wednesday at The Cheltenham Festival, the Weatherbys Champion Bumper will see Mr P W Mullins ride a W P Mullins horse, which is hard to look past in the tippings.
Spenny’s tip: Appreciate It.
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