Cheltenham The Open day 2 tips: Defi Du Seuil to Triumph in Trial

Cheltenham The Open day 2 tips

The Open meeting at Cheltenham continues into a second day headlined by the BetVictor Gold Cup, but there’s plenty of other horse racing betting opportunities on offer, including Defi Du Seuil odds in the opener on Saturday.

Colin Tizzard stable star Thistlecrack also makes his return to Prestbury Park in novices’ chase action, and Upswing appeals in the other valuable handicap chase.

Read Coral horse racing experts’ Cheltenham The Open day 2 tips in more detail below…

Defi Du Seuil odds appeal in opener

Proceedings at Prestbury Park get underway with the Triumph Hurdle Trial (12:40) and Defi Du Seuil should take all the beating in this Grade 2 contest.

Making a winning debut at Ffos Las last month with champion jumps jockey Richard Johnson on board, three-year-old Defi Du Seuil didn’t disappoint backers after leading the chasing pack home by an eye-catching five lengths.

The selection steps up in trip today and has Barry Geraghty in the saddle, but that shouldn’t present a problem judging by the nature of his Ffos Las form.

Taking control a couple from home, Philip Hobbs’ charge really impressed when opening the sails and drawing clear before the last, putting his rivals to the sword with plenty more seemingly in the tank.

Further improvement is expected here and, if we Defi Du Seuil produces it, another check-in to the winners’ enclosure looks likely.

French fancy Wealth Des Mottes a definite danger

Fellow French import Wealth Des Mottes is expected to shape as the main rival to Defi Du Seuil odds, with the Paul Nicholls entrant doing the business on debut at Clairfontaine a couple of months ago.

It remains to be seen how well he’ll cope with Cleeve Hill as Wealth Des Mottes makes his way around Prestbury Park, but judging by his bow he has bags ability and is one worth keeping a close eye on going forward.

Thistlecrack is back

Tizzard trained superstar Thistlecrack makes his much-anticipated return to Cheltenham in the MallardJewellers.com Novices’ Chase (13:15).

When last seen at this venue, he captured the World Hurdle, the feature on day three of the Cheltenham Festival, in breathtaking fashion.

Thistlecrack then followed up with another seven-length success in the Liverpool Stayers Hurdle at Aintree’s Grand National meeting.

He made his seasonal reappearance with a winning debut over fences at Chepstow and looked like he had never been away. Thistlecrack made all and drew clear of the pack to beat closest finisher Aqalim by four-lengths.

Winning partnership returns

That was Thistlecrack’s sixth win in a row since finishing runner-up behind Killultagh Vic in the Grade 1 Irish Daily Mirror Novices Hurdle at Punchestown in the spring of 2015.

Excuses can be made for that slight blot on his copybook, however, and backers will be delighted to see Coral ambassador Tom Scudamore back doing the steering.

The pair have enjoyed some fantastic winning rides together, including a couple of Grade 1 contests.

Connections will be hoping to further boost their stock ahead of next year’s Cheltenham Festival where Thislecrack has been made ante-post favourite for the Gold Cup. The rest of the field today are sure to take credit from finishing behind him.