After an exhilarating begin to Cheltenham on Tuesday, there are one other seven races to look ahead to on day two, with proceedings getting underway at 1.20pm within the Turner Novices’ Hurdle.
Right here, Every day Mail Sport brings you our professional racing ideas, that includes a variety, fundamental hazard and stay outsider for every race…
L’Eau Du Sud, ridden by Harry Skelton, powered to victory at Cheltenham in November
TURNER NOVICES’ HURDLE
1.20: GRADE ONE – 2 MILES, 5 FURLONGS
A full area of twenty-two line up, and Gordon Elliott seems to carry a powerful hand with each Skylight Hustle and Ballyfad.
Skylight Hustle was a formidable winner of a maiden hurdle at Fairyhouse earlier than touchdown the Future Champions Novice Hurdle at Christmas. As a point-to-point winner, the step up in journey ought to go well with him.
Ballyfad misplaced his unbeaten report when crushed by Speak The Speak — seventh in yesterday’s Supreme — within the Tattersalls Eire Novice Hurdle on the Dublin Racing Competition, although he formed as if an extended journey would play to his strengths.
Taurus Bay was defeated for the primary time in his profession on Trials Day over this intermediate distance, although he might outrun his lofty odds. The type of his earlier victory at Aintree has been boosted since.
SELECTION: SKYLIGHT HUSTLE… 14-1
MAIN DANGER: BALLYFAD… 11-1
LIVE OUTSIDER: TAURUS BAY… 33-1
BROWN ADVISORY NOVICES’ CHASE
2.00: GRADE ONE – 3 MILES, 1 FURLONG
Though Remaining Demand must bounce again from a below-par effort on the Dublin Racing Competition, the Willie Mullins-trained seven-year-old nonetheless has appreciable potential.
Overwhelmed by The New Lion, third in yesterday’s Champion Hurdle, within the Turners Novices’ Hurdle final season, he made a flawless chasing debut at Navan, profitable by 13 lengths. He adopted that with an eight-length success in a Grade One earlier than ending third final day trip at Leopardstown. This step up in journey might result in enchancment.
The novice chase Koktail Divin received simply at Leopardstown at Christmas was the identical contest received by Reality To File previous to his victory on this race in 2024.
Connor King has solely two horses in coaching, however Oscars Brother could also be overpriced given his wealthy vein of type.
SELECTION: FINAL DEMAND… 7-1
MAIN DANGER: KOKTAIL DIVIN… 8-1
LIVE OUTSIDER: OSCARS BROTHER… 12-1
BETMGM CUP HANDICAP HURDLE
2.40: 2 MILES, 5 FURLONGS
A full area for this newly- sponsored race, and it appears to be like fiercely aggressive. Jingko Blue has reverted again to hurdling this season after dropping his confidence over fences, and he caught the attention when ending runner-up behind Stayers’ Hurdle contender Kabral Du Mathan at Cheltenham on New Yr’s Day.
The handicapper has left him on 144, which might underestimate his possibilities. Connections of The Yellow Clay have opted to use first-time cheekpieces following a below-par effort at Leopardstown within the Christmas Hurdle final time. He makes his handicap debut right here, again at a course the place he cut up Champion Hurdle third The New Lion and Remaining Demand final season.
Ballyadam returns to the Competition for a sixth straight 12 months and has been positioned on this race in every of the previous two seasons.
SELECTION: JINGKO BLUE… 10-1
MAIN DANGER: THE YELLOW CLAY… 17-2
LIVE OUTSIDER: BALLYADAM… 20-1
CROSS COUNTRY CHASE
3.20: 3 MILES, 5 FURLONGS
The presence of final 12 months’s winner Stumptown means a number of horses are compelled out of the handicap, as he strains up off a lofty score of 162. Nevertheless, he might as soon as once more defy prime weight.
The nine-year-old faces three proficient rivals in Favori De Champdou, Desertmore Home and Vanillier however he has clearly been focused at this race once more after a 150-day break following his win within the Velka Pardubicka in October. Favori De Champdou was a formidable winner on Trials Day over this course and distance, however he competes right here from a mark 8lb greater, which is able to make life harder.
His Gordon Elliott stablemate Pied Piper boasts type figures of 131232 at Cheltenham throughout his profession and now tries this self-discipline for the primary time. He might outrun large odds in opposition to his elders.
SELECTION: STUMPTOWN… 11-4 (NAP)
MAIN DANGER: FAVORI DE CHAMPDOU… 5-2
LIVE OUTSIDER: PIED PIPER… 25-1
QUEEN MOTHER CHAMPION CHASE
4.00: GRADE ONE – 2 MILES
Majborough is odds-on to supply proprietor JP McManus with successful in at the moment’s characteristic race, and connections can be hoping cheekpieces work the trick for a second time.
A formidable 19-length winner of the Grade One Dublin Chase on the Dublin Racing Competition, the imposing six-year-old dominated a powerful area on his first begin within the headgear.
A winner of the Triumph Hurdle on the Competition in 2024, he completed third in final season’s Arkle after making two late blunders. He completed one place forward of the re-opposing L’Eau Du Sud that day, although the Dan Skelton-trained gray might present his house owners, which embrace Sir Alex Ferguson, with a victory right here.
L’Eau Du Sud has received 5 of his eight begins over fences and produced a career-best show on his reappearance this season when beating Jonbon by 15 lengths within the Shloer Chase over this course and distance.
He disillusioned within the Tingle Creek Chase simply three weeks later, however tends to indicate his greatest type contemporary, so it’s encouraging he returns right here after a 95-day break. His leaping is a serious asset and he can upset one other short-priced favorite on this race.
At larger odds, Irish Panther might make the body after connections opted to focus on this race moderately than the Arkle Problem Trophy on the opening day.
Though nonetheless a novice, with solely two runs over fences, he has loads of expertise on the age of 9 and will fill the locations forward of 2024 Champion Chase winner Captain Guinness, who’s fitted with first-time cheekpieces on the age of 11.
SELECTION: L’EAU DU SUD… 9-2
MAIN DANGER: MAJBOROUGH… 10-11
LIVE OUTSIDER: IRISH PANTHER… 14-1
GRAND ANNUAL HANDICAP CHASE
4.40: GRADE ONE – 2 MILES
13 of the earlier 17 winners of this have been novices or second-season chasers, and Be Conscious and Vanderpoel match that profile.
Be Conscious was second within the Arkle Trial over this course and distance in November, earlier than ending runner-up behind yesterday’s Arkle third Lulamba within the Grade One Henry VIII Novices’ Chase on his subsequent begin. After one other second-place end in a Grade Two final day trip, connections have lowered their sights and enter a handicap off an interesting mark of 147.
Vanderpoel should overcome a slight concern about returning to a left-handed observe, with each of his victories over fences having come on right-handed programs.
Jour d’Evasion has received his final three over fences and, though he steps up in grade, he has the everyday profile of winners of this.
SELECTION: BE AWARE… 6-1
MAIN DANGER: VANDERPOEL… 8-1
LIVE OUTSIDER: JOUR D’EVASION… 16-1
WEATHERBYS CHAMPION BUMPER
5.20: GRADE ONE – 2 MILES
Gordon Elliott saddled the primary three within the Grade Two bumper on the Dublin Racing Competition, with Broadway Ted, With Nolimit and Charismatic Child, so it’s notable secure jockey Jack Kennedy has opted to trip Maintain Him Firm.
The gelding has been faultless in two bumper begins. His win at Leopardstown at Christmas was achieved within the method of a powerful stayer, suggesting this distinctive check might play to his strengths. Willie Mullins, who has received this a report 14 occasions, fields, amongst others, unbeaten pair Quiryn and Our Set off, in addition to long-term ante-post favorite Love Signal d’Aunou.
Quiryn made a putting debut when profitable at Naas and is the selection of Paul Townend forward of Our Set off, a full brother to Gaelic Warrior, one of many main contenders for Friday’s Gold Cup.
SELECTION: KEEP HIM COMPANY… 8-1
MAIN DANGER: QUIRYN… 9-1
LIVE OUTSIDER: OUR TRIGGER… 12-1
THE WIZARD OF ODDS
By CHRIS BAKER
1.20 – Turner Novices’ Hurdle
- Ranking: Every of the final 17 winners had a score of at the least 142.
- Betting: 16 of the final 17 winners got here from the highest 4 available in the market.
- Current type: 11 of the final 12 winners, together with the final 10, received final day trip. A number of got here into the race unbeaten over hurdles.
Verdict: NO DRAMA THIS END is the main British hope and is held in extraordinarily excessive regard by connections. He comes into this unbeaten in his three begins over hurdles and ticks numerous containers when contemplating the tendencies of earlier winners. His two Grade Two wins have been adopted by victory within the Grade One Challow Novices’ Hurdle at Newbury in December, and coach Paul Nicholls may have him spot on for at the moment.
2.00 – Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase
- Ranking: 14 of the final 17 winners, together with the final 11, have been rated 150+.
- Betting: 13 of the final 17 winners, together with 10 of the final 11, got here from the highest 4 available in the market.
- Current type: 9 of the final 12 winners received final day trip, with six of these coming into the race having received their final two begins.
- Age: 14 of the final 17 winners have been aged seven years outdated.
- Coach: Three of the final 5 winners have been skilled by Willie Mullins.
Verdict: This appears to be like an enchanting contest, with little to decide on between market chief Romeo Coolio and Kaid d’Authie. Romeo Coolio is unbeaten over fences and has appeared a category act. Nevertheless, this represents a giant step up in journey for Gordon Elliott’s runner, so slight desire is for the Willie Mullins-trained KAID D’AUTHIE, who has received each begins since ending second at Punchestown on his chasing debut. His newest victory got here in good fashion within the Grade One Ladbrokes Novice Chase at Leopardstown.
4.00 – Queen Mom Champion Chase
- Ranking: 16 of the final 17 winners have been rated 159+. Of these, eight have had a score of 170+.
- Betting: 14 of the final 17 winners, together with the final eight, got here from the highest three available in the market.
- Final day trip: 10 of the final 12 winners completed within the prime three final day trip.
- Coach: 4 of the final 5 renewals have been received by Willie Mullins or Henry de Bromhead-trained horses.
Verdict: MAJBOROUGH is a really sturdy match in opposition to these key tendencies and appears a worthy favorite. He was vastly spectacular on the Dublin Racing Competition when pulling 19 lengths away from the sector to win. Il Etait Temps may very well be a giant hazard however has to bounce again from a fall final day trip.
PLACEPOT
Champion Chase favorite Majborough and the in-form Favori De Champdou look to be stable placepot bankers. The ultimate leg appears to be like the trickiest puzzle to resolve, so three choices have been made.
RACE ONE: (12) No Drama This Finish, (2) Ballyfad
RACE TWO: (4) Kaid D’Authie, (10) Romeo Coolio
RACE THREE: (4) Fortunate Place, (3) Storm Coronary heart
RACE FOUR: (2) Favori De Champdou
RACE FIVE: (8) Majborough
RACE SIX: (2) Calico, (8) Jazzy Matty, (4) Be Conscious
2 x 2 x 2 x 1 x 1 x 3 = 24 strains
