Cheltenham Festival Tips: Sporting Ferret’s Best Bets for Day Two of the Festival

Cheltenham Festival 2021: Day Two Tips

After a successful Day One of tipping at the Cheltenham Festival, including four winners and three seconds. We’re back, hoping for similar results on Day Two at the Festival. 

Here is our race by race guide for Day two of the Festival. 

1.20 pm: Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1)

Tip – Bravemansgame to win the Ballymore (4/1) 

The Ballymore has been a race passed around between Ireland and the GB over recent years. We believe the British can keep that going with the Paul Nicholls trained, Bravemansgame.

The six-year-old was an emphatic winner of the Grade 1 Challow Hurdle last time out, beating the promising Evan Williams horse, Star Gate, by ten lengths. This would be a big step up in class, but his trainer has made it known how much they think of this horse, even saying it’s their best chance of the week. 

His main threat and current market leader would be the Henry De Bromhead trained Bob Olinger, who has looked very impressive in Ireland. He beat Blue Lord last time out at Naas, who subsequently fell in today’s Supreme Novices Hurdle when looking likely to fill the places behind stablemate Appreciate It. 

Other threats include Gaillard Du Mesnil, who is the mount of Paul Townend for Willie Mullins. Since leaving France, he has shown great promise and was a dominant five-length winner in a Grade 1 at Leopardstown last time out. 

 Key Stats

• 12 out of the last 12 winners were aged 5 or 6
• 5 out of the last 12 favourites have won
• 9 out of 12 winners had at least 1 previous win in a grade 1-3 race

1.55 pm: Brown Advisory Novices Chase (Grade 1)

Tip – Monkfish to win the Brown Advisory (4/11) 

Not much of a price now, but the one undoubtedly to beat is the Willie Mullins trained, Monkfish who looks to be a class above the rest of the field.

The seven-year-old has looked electric this season, winning all of his three starts in Ireland comfortably. You won’t see a more exciting Novice Chaser than Monkfish, who looks to be a fascinating prospect. His latest run was in the Grade 1 Flogas Novice Chase at Leopardstown when he dominated the field by over ten lengths. He was also the winner of last years Albert Bartlett, so there is no doubt that he will handle the track, and conditions look to be in his favour. 

One to mention at a price would be the Philip Hobbs trained Sporting John, who looked back to his best last time out winning the Grade 1 Scilly Isles at Sandown. He’d need to find more here to beat Monkfish, who seems extremely solid. 

Key Stats

• 9 out of the last 12 winners were aged 7
• 4 out of the last 12 winners were favourites
• 9 out of 12 winners had previously won a grade 1-3 race

2.30 pm: Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3)

Tip – Thomas Darby to win the Coral Cup (14/1)

The next race of the day is the big handicap of the week, with a massive 26 runners taking their chance. We like the look of Thomas Darby for the Olly Murphy team. This eight-year-old has been nothing but consistent this season, only beaten a total of 11 lengths in his last four starts. Although running off top weight here in what looks like an open handicap, we believe Thomas Darby has solid each-way claims and has been in fantastic form leading to the race. He finished a close two-length second to McFabulous last time out in a Grade 2 at Kempton and looks to have the best form in the race. 

Others to note include Koshari and Grand Roi. The latter is currently the market favourite and finished a four-length second to Bachasson last time out in a Grade 3 hurdle at Naas. He is stepping up in trip for the first time, which looks to suit. The other is Koshari, who is Paul Townend’s pick of the Mullins horses. He was well beaten last time out in a handicap hurdle at Leopardstown but looked to be given an easy race and merits consideration now stepping back down in trip. 

Key Stats

• 9 out of the last 12 winners were aged 5-7
• 1 out of the last 12 winners were favourites
• 10 out of 12 winners had a rating of 140 or higher

3.05 pm: Queen Mother Champion Chase (Grade 1)

Tip – Chacun Pour Soi to win the Champion Chase (8/11)

The second Championship Race of the meeting is the Queen Mother Champion Chase, which has since lost part of its excitement with the announcement that the Nicky Henderson star, Altior, would not make it to the Festival. 

The market is headed by Chacun Pour Soi, who looks the one to beat and has the strongest form in the race. His latest run in the Grade 1 Dublin Chase is arguable his most impressive performance yet dominating the field without dropping the bit. The nine-year-old’s main concern would be that he has never run at Cheltenham before, whereas others in the race have. If he handles the track, he would have a massive chance. 

Another to note is the Henry De Bromhead trained Put The Kettle On. He finished eight lengths behind Chacun Pour Soi in the Dublin Chase, and has proven Cheltenham form winning last years Arkle at the Festival.

Key Stats

• 9 out of the last 12 winners were aged 8-10
• 5 out of the last 12 winners were favourites
• 10 out of the last 12 winners were rated 164 or higher

3.40 pm: Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase 

Tip – Easysland to win the Cross Country (5/6)

The next race and a Festival favourite for some is the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase over the extended 3 miles 6 furlongs. A race dominated in the past by the two-time Grand National winner Tiger Roll, who returns again this year. 

However, last years Cross Country Champion, Easysland, has come back for seconds in this race and looks like the one to beat for the French raiders. The seven-year-old won this race emphatically last year beating a tired Tiger Roll into second by 17 lengths. The two are currently one, two in the betting, and it’s likely we will see a repeat of last years running. 

The pair have something to prove however, with both being beaten on seasonal reappearance. Easysland was beaten a tired fourth at the Cheltenham November meeting and looks to bounce back from that defeat. Tiger Roll also pulled up in that same race. 

One at a price would be Defi Des Carres for the Charlie Mann team and ridden by jockey Harry Bannister. This talented eight-year-old was a cross country specialist in France who looks to strut his stuff now trained in England. It wouldn’t be a surprise if he is rejuvenated by the Cross Country format that he’s so used to in France. 

Key Stats

• 11 out of the last 12 winners were aged 8 or older
• 2 out of the last 12 winners were favourites or joint-favourites
• 10 out of the last 12 winners were rated 136 or higher

4.15 pm: Grand Annual Challenge Cup (Grade 3)

Tip – Ibleo to win the Grand Annual (10/1)

The penultimate race of the day is another high-class handicap, this time just short of 2 miles. The Joseph O’Brien trained Embittered heads the market. He was well-beaten on his previous starts, albeit by two very talented chasers in Energumene and Franco De Port. 

However, Ibleo could be worth chancing at a price. The highly consistent eight-year-old has done nothing but improve this season and looks like he could have another great run under his belt. He won his last outing at Doncaster beating The Big Bite in a competitive Handicap Chase. Since January 2020, he has won four of his previous seven starts, finishing second in all of the rest.

This would undoubtedly be his most formidable challenge yet, but he has form around Cheltenham and has done nothing wrong all season. He looks to have a solid each-way chance.  

Key Stats

• 9 out of the last 12 winners were aged 7-9
• 2 out of the last 12 winners were favourites
• 10 out of the last 12 winners were rated 138 or higher

Ibleo wins at Doncaster today, his fourth chase win in the year – finished 2nd in the others…? https://t.co/5FWzrAmBNw pic.twitter.com/Pr9OJVWu4Z

— Venetia Williams (@VenetiaWRacing) January 29, 2021

4.50 pm: Champion Bumper (Grade 1)

Tip – Kilcruit to win the Champion Bumper (15/8)

The seventh and final race of the day is the Champion Bumper. Last years running was won by Ferny Hollow, who unfortunately picked up an injury and was out for the season. Second, that day 12 months ago was Appreciate It, who was a dominant victor of today’s Supreme Novices Hurdle. This year looks to host some excellent prospects for the future. 

The market is headed by the worthy favourite and one to beat, Kilcruit. He has done nothing wrong this season and is a perfect two from two in Irish Bumpers. The six-year-old was a dominant 12 length victor of the Grade 2 Goffs Future Stars Flat race on his last outing in Leopardstown. He looks the one to beat of the Irish contenders with his stablemate Sir Gerhard looking a real threat. The two dominate the market and look to have it between them in this years running. 

However, one to mention at a price would be the Dan Skelton trained Elle Est Belle, who is a perfect two from two with a victory on his last outing at Cheltenham during the November meeting. 

Key Stats

• 11 out of the last 12 winners were aged 5-6
• 2 out of the last 12 winners were favourites
• 12 out of 12 winners won on their previous start before the Champion Bumper

We hope you enjoyed the article ‘Cheltenham Festival 2021 Day Two Tips.’ Who is your nap of the day for day two of the Festival? Do you agree with our predictions? Let us know!

Read more on horse racing here:

• Cheltenham Festival 2021: Champion Hurdle Preview
• Photo Finish Set to Spark Mullins Festivities 
• Cheltenham Festival 2020: Al Boum Photo Wins the Gold Cup