Cheltenham Day 2: Altior and Black Corton to star on Ladies’ Day
Published:
All your tips for day two at Prestbury Park
After a superb first day’s racing for the punters at Cheltenham, day 2 could see a handful more Festival favourites hose up.
Footpad, Coo Star Sivola, and Buveur D’Air all justified their favouritism, with Apple’s Jade a shock loser in the Mares’ Hurdle.
Today sees another seven superb renewals to look forward to, including the Queen Mother Champion Chase as the feature race of the day.
The Coral News Team give you their best bets for day two, and tip up all seven races…
3:30 Queen Mother Champion Chase – Altior
Alongside Buveur D’Air, Altior looks to be one of the safest bets at this year’s festival. Nicky Henderson’s charge is simply the best horse in the race.
His main challengers in Douvan and Min have big question marks over them. And Altior has smoked the likes of Politologue already this season.
Henderson’s eight-year-old is a two-time Cheltenham winner, having beaten Min in the 2016 Supreme, and last year’s Arkle.
The ground may be a slight hindrance but it’s his race to lose.
2:10 RSA Novices’ Insurance Chase – Black Corton each-way
This is one of the most exciting races of the entire festival – a true test of a chaser’s character. Many expert observers have heavily tipped up Presenting Percy.
However, at the short-ish odds, there’s another horse in this renewal that the Coral News Team like. The fearless Black Corton has a very special relationship with newbie jockey, Bryony Frost.
The pair have struck up an amazing combination, winning seven of their eight starts together. He’s already won Grade 1 and Grade 2 races this season, and was very impressive at Ascot last time out.
Paul Nicholls’ seven-year-old has what it takes to cause an upset.
5:30 Champion Bumper – Felix Desjy each-way
Gordon Elliott didn’t have the best of day’s yesterday with short favourite Apple’s Jade chinned in the Mares’ Hurdle.
However, you can’t keep a great trainer down for long. Elliott will be confident of a decent second day with Samcro going in the Ballymore Hurdle, and Felix Desjy going in the Champion Bumper.
In fact, the latter is his only entry in this year’s renewal – a race he won last year. That’s a possible nod to the regard in which he holds the five-year-old.
He was a little workmanlike when winning at Down Royal last time out. But he should take a lot of beating here.
Cheltenham Day 2 Racing Tips:
1:30 Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle – Samcro: One of the Irish bankers this week. Hugely impressive at Leopardstown last time out, and has won on his six starts to date.
2:10 RSA Novices’ Insurance Chase – Black Corton e/w
2:50 Coral Handicap Hurdle – Topofthegame: Progressive six-year-old with loads of staying power and will love the soft ground. In with a chance of at least a place.
3:30 Queen Mother Champion Chase – Altior
4:10 Glenfarclas Chase – Tiger Roll: Made his cross-country debut last time out here. Only eight, a dual Festival winner. Should have a lot more to give.
4:50 Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle – Look My Way e/w: In excellent form, second to Apple’s Shakira last time out, should be a player here.
5:30 Champion Bumper – Felix Desjy e/w
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing
