Cheltenham Day 2 (Wednesday)

The second day of the Cheltenham Festival is more commonly known as Ladies Day and it commences with an exciting staying novices hurdle and rounds off with the Champion Bumper. The main highlight of the day sandwiched in the middle of the card is the Queen Mother Champion Chase. The race is steeped in history and many household names including the likes of Moscow Flyer, Master Minded and in more recent times Sprinter Sacre and Altior.

Aside from all of that mouth-watering action, there is also the Glenfarclas Chase which sees horses cover almost every inch of Prestbury Park jumping anything that stays still for long enough. It is a helter-skelter of a race which is run over three miles and six furlongs. There have been some memorable performances in this race over the years with the brilliant Tiger Roll winning it three times.

At the time of writing, the 48-hour declarations for the day 2 races at Cheltenham Festival have not been announced. Nevertheless, we’ve picked the horses we believe you should consider in each race on the second day of racing action. Don’t forget to visit Punters Lounge every day during the festival to get our expert Cheltenham tips and free horse racing predictions.

Cheltenham Day 2 Tips

13:20 – Turners Novices’ Hurdle

The Turners Novices’ Hurdle tends to favour horses gifted with natural speed who are capable of surging ahead of competitors with stronger stamina. This was evident in 2023 when Impaire Et Passe swiftly took control of the race on the final turn, securing Willie Mullins his sixth victory since 2008.

Another strongly fancied Willie Mullins trained favourite here in Final Demand who is unbeaten having won a Limerick maiden hurdle by 15L despite not jumping that well and the Grade 1 2M 6F novice hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown Racecourse in early February.

He was mightily impressive that day and although he also entered the longer Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle his trainer has stipulated that this is his target. He has a major chance having impressed with the way he travelled at Leopardstown when quickening away from a decent field over the last. One we will certainly consider for our day 2 Cheltenham tips.

The best of the home challenge is the Dan Skelton trained The New Lion. He’s proved himself to be a top-class novice hurdler this season by winning at Chepstow and Newbury twice including the Grade 1 Challow Hurdle over Christmas by 4 3/4L from Wendigo. Darran Yates has since sold him to leading owner J P McManus and will race in his famous yellow and green colours for the first time here. He’s still unbeaten and looks sure to be thereabouts.

Gordon Elliott’s chief fancy is The Yellow Clay, who despite holding an Albert Bartlett entry is supposedly heading here and has piqued our interest for our Cheltenham day 2 predictions. He’s unbeaten in four starts over hurdles including the Grade 1 Lawlors Of Naas Novice Hurdle at Naas Racecourse in January. He’s highly progressive and it would be no shock were he to bustle up the big two in the market.

14:00 – Brown Advisory Novices’ Steeple Chase

Yet another event witnessing a decline in field sizes in recent times is the Brown Advisory Novices’ Steeple Chase. This is partly due to the inception of the Turners Novices’ Chase and also owing to the escalating standard of the National Hunt Chase.

Willie Mullins has the two at the front of the market and is a short price to take the first prize back to County Carlow. Ballyburn was a smart novice hurdler last season running away with the 2M 5F novice hurdle at this meeting by 13L and despite a defeat at the hands of Sir Gino at Kempton Racecourse over fences, where both track and distance were against him has won both of his other attempts over the larger obstacles either side.

His latest success came at the Dublin Racing Festival where he impressed in winning the Grade 1 Ladbrokes Novice Chase and has plenty going for him here to make him a serious consideration in our Cheltenham day 2 tips in 2025.

Stable companion Dancing City may end up his biggest threat on the day having won novice chases at Punchestown and Naas (Grade 3) already this season. Officially rated only 8lb behind Ballyburn he is being aimed at this race and should make his presence felt.

Another Irish challenger we are looking at for the Cheltenham Festival day 2 tips is Better Days Ahead who hails from the Gordon Elliot camp. He’ll need to improve on his hard-fought Grade 2 neck win from Stellar Story at Navan Races in February.

The best of the home team may well end the Nicky Henderson-trained Jango Baie who went down by the shortest of margins in a pulsating finish to the Grade 1 Scilly Isle Novice Chase at Sandown Racecourse in February won by the improver Handstands who misses the Festival. Yet to be out of the front two in seven attempts he will not be disgraced if taking up this entry.

14:40 – Coral Cup Hurdle

The initial handicap hurdle of the week is the Coral Cup Hurdle. It is typically regarded as the most prestigious. Similar to the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle, numerous recent victors have swiftly transitioned to or from Graded races in their subsequent outings.

This race favours lightly raced hurdlers, although last year’s champion boasted more experience than the norm. Consequently, younger contenders often shine, making it a venue for unexpected winners in recent times.

Dan Skelton’s lightly raced improver Be Aware is very much one to watch if taking up this engagement. Placed on all six career starts including in two top handicap hurdles here and at Ascot Racecourse this season over two miles he can improve further now stepping up to a trip he’s already proven at.

Although holding entries in two of the novice hurdles at the meeting Martin Bassil’s James’s Gate would be very much one to watch if going down the handicap route here. Third in the 2022 Bumper at this meeting, he’s now a second-season novice who’s won this season at Punchestown and Navan.

Dysart Enos appears capable of running a big race for locally based trainer Fergal O’Brien if taking up this option. She flopped at Ascot last time, but this step up in trip should suit this likeable mare who is already proven at the track.

Hamsiyaan, trained by shrewd handler Tony Martin was disappointing up at Musselburgh last time out, but he may not have got home over three miles that day and if lining up here should be given another chance over a three furlong shorter trip.

Another Irish contender who is worth considering is the Gordon Elliot-trained Maxxum who took the Grade 2 Boyne Hurdle at Navan in February and this race was mooted afterwards as his Festival target.

15:20 – The Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase

This upcoming Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase, which marks its 20th anniversary, remains a race that sparks diverse opinions. However, there exist notable figures in the sport who actively target this contest. Traditionally, the Irish have held sway in this race, with Gigginstown House Stud and JP McManus, prominent owners, claiming victory in the last nine renewals.

Gavin Cromwell’s Stumptown made a winning debut over the unique Cheltenham Cross Country fences at the November meeting here and appears to have been put away with this race in mind since. He obviously likes jumping these types of fences as he had previously won twice over the bank fences at Punchestown. He is sure to be thereabouts.

Cromwell also has previous Grand National runner-up Vanillier in his care and having excelled over the Punchestown banks fences last time could also be a threat.

Galvin is a former Grade 1 winning chaser who was last seen running second in a valuable hurdle race in the USA back in October. Gordon Elliot’s charge has previous experience with these unique fences and could be a player on the day.

Elliot also has another bow to his name here in the shape of Delta Work who won this event back in 2022 and 2023 as well as finishing runner-up in last year’s Grand National. He has shown little in three starts this season, but his canny trainer may well have had this race in mind for a while and is one to watch.

The French seem to do well in these Cross Country races and may well send over Hip Hop Conti who stays well and has plenty of experience at Pau on their cross country course and is one to bear in mind if making the journey across the English Channel.

16:00 – Queen Mother Champion Chase

The Queen Mother Champion Chase is the premier event on the second day, marking the pinnacle of the 2-mile chase category for the season. Precise and rapid jumping is crucial for clinching victory in the Queen Mother Champion Chase. Essential for any horse that we shortlist for our Cheltenham tips for Wednesday.

Following Badsworth Boy’s unprecedented triple triumph in 1983, 1984, and 1985, eight additional horses have secured victory twice, including the 2023 winner, Energumene. Nicky Henderson and Paul Nicholls have both claimed victory in the race on six occasions, positioning them alongside Tom Dreaper as the most accomplished trainers in Grade 1 history.

Nicky Henderson’s Jonbon will be a banker for many having won seventeen of his twenty races under rules. He’s looked as good as ever this season with comfortable victories here, Sandown and at Ascot. His jumping has been electrifying recently and is now looking good value for his initial purchase fee of £570,000. All three of his career defeats came at Cheltenham but there were excuses for all and there is no reason why he can’t show his best form at Prestbury Park and will be hard to beat in a race that is likely to cut up.

Joseph O’Brien’s Solness has been a revelation on his last two starts when gaining an easy early lead in Grade one’s at Leopardstown in coasting home, but he was firmly put in his place by Jonbon in the Tingle Creek Chase finishing 25L behind and his forcing tactics may not be as suited to this track.

Irish raider Marine Nationale chased home Solness at the Dublin Racing Festival and is a viable each-way player against the favourite Jonbon having already shown his liking for the track by winning the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle here two years ago.

The curve ball in the race is the French-trained Il Est Francais who has shown remarkable speed in two runs at Kempton over 3M, winning the Kauto Star as a novice and getting run down on the run in by Banbridge in this season’s King George VI Chase. Were he to line up he may be the greatest threat to Jonbon.

16:40 – Grand Annual Handicap Chase

Now into its third iteration on day two of the Festival. The Grand Annual Handicap Chase was once the concluding race of the entire event, and transitioned from the New course to the Old course in 2021, consequently undergoing a slight reduction in distance.

Despite this minor alteration, it continues to present a challenging handicap where novices and second-season chasers often excel. Keep an eye out for potential improvers. The victor frequently has prior experience in this race, underscoring the importance of reviewing the 2024 edition in depth.

Last year’s winner Unexpected Party will be back to defend his title although he will be higher in the weights. Dan Skelton’s grey has shown he’s in good form already this season and will be suited by a big field speed test like this. It makes them a strong pick for our Cheltenham Wednesday tips.

An interesting Irish raider is the Cian Collins-trained Jazzy Matty who ran well over course and distance in a novice chase back in October when runner-up to Path d’Oroux. Runner-up on his only run since in a handicap hurdle he would be one to watch were the ground to ride on the good side as that seems his optimum ground conditions.

Joe Tizzard’s west country challenger JPR One would be an interesting contender were he to take the handicap route rather than the Champion Chase or Ryanair Chase. The last time he was seen in a handicap he was winning the prestigious Haldon Cup at Exeter back in November and hasn’t been disgraced in two outings in top company since.

Gavin Cromwell’s King Of Prs took a heavy fall in this race last year but had had a busy time of it and should come here a fresher horse having won the Dan and Joan Moore Handicap Chase at Fairyhouse in January although he has crept up the weights since.

Cromwell is also likely to be represented by My Mate Mozzie who ran really well in a listed handicap chase at the Dublin Racing Festival in February when placing second and is another one to watch for the Wednesday Cheltenham tips.

17:20 – Weatherbys Champion Bumper

Since its inception, the Weatherbys Champion Bumper has consistently been dominated by Irish contenders and closes the action on the second day of the festival. Last year marked the 31st renewal of the race, with Irish-trained horses securing victory in 24 of those.

This event often serves as a launching pad for esteemed National Hunt competitors, boasting an illustrious Roll Of Honour featuring renowned names such as Florida Pearl, Monsignor, Cue Card, Champagne Fever, Envoi Allen, and Sir Gerhard.

Impressively, five out of these six champions went on to triumph at the Cheltenham Festival just twelve months later. In recent seasons, there has been a noticeable emergence of higher-rated contenders, showcasing proven form at the Graded level.

A race that traditionally goes to Ireland but the home team have a very smart-looking runner in the shape of David Pipe’s Windbeneathmywings who was ultra-impressive on his debut for Pipe when sauntering home to win by easing down 14L at Ascot in December looking a horse of immense ability. Having previously raced in Ireland three times he’s been unable to race again since but could be very smart.

Willie Mullins has been the trainer to follow in this race over the years and his mare Bambino Fever looks towards the top of his list having won an Irish point-to-point and bumpers at Punchestown and the mares grade 2 event at Leopardstown at the Dublin Racing Festival.

Another Mullins contender is Copacabana who made an impressive winning debut at Navan in February when well-supported in the market under Patrick Mullins. One to consider for the Cheltenham accumulator tips on day 2.

Gordon Elliot’s Giggingstown Stud-owned Kalypso’chance hasn’t been seen since December but is unbeaten in a point-to-point and bumpers at Punchestown and Navan and is in the ‘could be anything’ bracket at present.

Elliot also has Jalon d’Oudairies who hasn’t been seen since finishing a fine third in the race a year ago to Jasmin De Vaux and as he has only had three outings under rules is still qualified to run in this year’s renewal. He has had a recent racecourse gallop at Navan where he apparently pleased connections.

Wednesday’s Racecards at Cheltenham

Cheltenham Festival Trends Day 2

• The Irish seem to have a stranglehold on the Turners Novices’ Hurdle having now won 10 of the last 11 runnings.
• The market is a good guide for the Turners Novices’ Hurdle with seven favourites scoring in the past 13 years with the only double-figure priced winner in the last decade being Willoughby Court at 14/1 in 2017.
• The past 23 winners in the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase had all contested a graded novice chase earlier in the season.
• Seven years old is the most likely age of the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase winner with 20 of the last 25 winners being that age.
• Previous course experience seems useful in the Coral Cup Hurdle with 11 of the past 15 winners having trialled for this race here.
• Previous experience of this unique course in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase is a major advantage with 13 of the last 19 winners having run in the cross country race at either the November or December meetings.
• Leading owner J P McManus has an outstanding record in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase having won 7 of the last 19 renewals with Gigginstown Stud scoring in 6 of the last 9 runnings including Tiger Roll’s hat trick.
• Previous Festival winners have a good record in the Queen Mother Champion Chase with 14 of the past 24 winners having won here before.
• The previous season’s Arkle Novice Chase winners have a good record when taking on their elders in the Queen Mother Champion Chase with 7 winning from just 13 attempts.
• Since being named in honour of his father Johnny Henderson, son Nicky has run 39 horses in the Grand Annual Chase of which only two have won.
• Over the last 20 years, only two favourites have obliged in the Grand Annual Chase and there have been numerous big-priced winners at 22/1, 28/1 (twice) and even 66/1(Croco Bay in 2019).

Cheltenham Day 2 Offers

A number of online bookmakers are running Cheltenham day 2 betting offers for the festival. Here is a quick look at the best bonus promotions on the market.

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