Cheltenham Day 2

Mullins, who has three rides on Day 2 at the Cheltenham Festival, tells us which horses he would include in a Placepot for the Wednesday action.

For every day of the Cheltenham Festival 2022, we are pitting Mullins’ Placepot picks against those from oddschecker horse racing expert Steve Ryder to see who comes out on top!

RACE NUMBER DANNY MULLINS STEVE RYDER
1 Sir Gerhard Sir Gerhard
2 Bravemansgame L'Homme Presse
3 Unexpected Party & Ashdale Bob Camprond
4 Chacun Pour Soi Shishkin
5 Easysland Delta Work
6 Amarillo Sky & A Wave Of The Sea Embittered

 

And don’t forget, there is a free Placepot for all tote.co.uk customers on each and every day of the Festival. For all the information you need, click on the offer below.

Race 1 (13:30) - Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle

Danny Mullins - Sir Gerhard 

Sir Gerhard is a banker here. I think the step up to two and a half miles will give his jumping more of a chance, he definitely looks the best horse in the race.

Steve Ryder - Sir Gerhard

The defection of Ginto to the Albert Bartlett has made the task of Sir Gerhard easier in this race and I do feel the favourite is going to prove extremely hard to beat. 

The Willie Mullins trained seven-year-old won the Champion Bumper at the festival last season and is unbeaten on his two starts over hurdles this season. 

The slower pace of this 2m5f race should help his jumping which wasn’t foot perfect at Leopardstown in the Grade 1 at the Dublin Racing Festival and I expect him to maintain his unbeaten record over hurdles. 

Race 2 (14:10) - Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase 

Danny Mullins - Bravemansgame

Bravemansgame is the one I would have here. I don't think he’ll finish outside of the first three. He’s been very good and his jumping has been very slick so far this season. L’Homme Presse might give him something to think about but Bravemansgame is the one they all have to beat.

Steve Ryder - L’Homme Presse 

I feel Venetia Williams has made the correct decision in coming to this race with L’Homme Presse and his proven course form over the likes of Bravemansgame, Ahoy Senor and Capodanno should make him hard to beat in this race. 

The seven-year-old is unbeaten in his four starts over fences including an impressive Grade 2 victory at Cheltenham in the Dipper Novices’ Chase on New Year’s Day. He followed up in the Grade 1 Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase last time by an impressive 21 lengths with subsequent Grade 2 winner Pic D’Orhy a further six lengths back in third. 

Bravemansgame has been impressive over fences so far this season but has slight question marks about the track following his tame finishing effort in the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle last season and I feel L’Homme Presse could outstay him up the hill.

Race 3 (14:50) – Coral Cup

Danny Mullins - Unexpected Party & Ashdale Bob 

To find the winner of this is very tricky, anything could happen. 

I’d have Unexpected Party for Dan and Harry Skelton. Dan does very well in the handicaps at Cheltenham; the rain won’t be any inconvenience to him. 

Ashdale Bob has plenty of weight on his back but he handles softer ground. There is a very good claimer in the saddle with Jack Foley aboard.

Steve Ryder - Camprond

I am hoping that the patience of JP McManus and Philip Hobbs will be rewarded in this race with Camprond as he comes here following a 122-day break since an eye-catching run in the Greatwood Hurdle. 

The six-year-old finished fourth but the form is working out well with second place that day Adagio pushing Goshen close in the Grade 2 Kingwell Hurdle last time, fifth place Tritonic winning a valuable handicap at Ascot on his next start, sixth place Glory And Fortune winning the Betfair Hurdle, seventh place Marie’s Rock winning a listed race last time and even eighth place Botox Has winning the Grade 2 National Spirit Hurdle.

Camprond has remained unchanged off a mark of 140, is 2/2 over intermediate trips and also brings strong course form into the race; he looks a very solid contender at a double figure price.

Race 4 (15:30) – Champion Chase

Danny Mullins - Chacun Pour Soi 

This is going to be a proper exciting two mile chase, Chacun Pour Soi is the one I’d go with here.

Energumene and Shishkin are the two slightly younger horses and the ones all the talk is about but I think if Chacun Pour Soi gets a true run at the race he’s the one I think will win. 

Steve Ryder - Shishkin

The Nicky Henderson trained Shishkin extended his winning sequence to 10 with a victory over Energumene in the Clarence House Chase at Ascot last time and he should prove hard to beat in this race. 

The eight-year-old has fantastic Cheltenham Festival form with victories in both the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and the Arkle Novices’ Chase the last two years and he has looked just as good this year so far in his two starts.

Energumene looked to have the selection in trouble at Ascot but Shishkin stayed on well at the finish to win by a length despite jumping left handed at times and making a couple of mistakes throughout the race. He will relish this hill and should prove too strong for the Willie Mullins trained duo of Energumene and Chacun Pour Soi.

Race 5 (16:10) – Cross Country Chase

Danny Mullins - Easysland

This is a competitive heat. There are plenty of runners in this one and JP McManus has a few in here. 

Tiger Roll might be having his last run ever. It would be great to see him go out as a winner but the one I would go with in this race is Easysland. He was second last year to Tiger Roll, he’s had two runs over Hurdles in February and that should have his fitness spot on for the three miles six furlong trip. 

Steve Ryder - Delta Work

Reigning champion Tiger Roll looks a worthy favourite for this race given his experience of the course but I am willing to take a chance on his stablemate Delta Work who is fascinating contender if he takes to this discipline. 

The nine-year-old is a five-time Grade 1 winner over fences and is also a previous Cheltenham Festival in 2018 when he won the Pertemps Handicap Hurdle. He finished a close fourth behind Frodon, Galvin and Minella Indo at Down Royal on his reappearance before slightly disappointing at Leopardstown in Grade 1s on his next two starts. 

This represents a huge drop in class and from videos of him schooling it appears that he has taken to this new discipline well. He may not be able to cope with Tiger Roll over this specialist track under his optimum conditions but I cannot see him being far behind.

Race 6 (16:50) – Grand Annual

Danny Mullins - Amarillo Sky & A Wave Of The Sea

Amarillo Sky had a good win at Newbury in February, the ground will be tough enough going and he’s shown he can handle it. 

Shane Fitzgerald claims a valuable 5lbs off A Wave Of The Sea. Shane does very well in Ireland. He won well at Leopardstown last time out over two miles one furlong, he had a good run earlier in the season in the Munster National over three miles on soft ground. The fact that he can jump well in a shorter trip and has the stamina as well should stand him in good stead in this tough test.

Steve Ryder - Embittered

The Joseph O’Brien trained Embittered was sent off 9/2 favourite for this race last year only to fall when still travelling well. He is an experienced second season novice chaser who won a couple of novice chases in August and October including a Grade 3 at Punchestown. 

Since then, connections have appeared to want to look after his mark by running him behind the likes of Riviere D’Etel and Blue Lord and as a result the handicapper has dropped him down to a mark of 140 in Ireland. The UK handicapper has added 5lbs so he runs off a mark of 145 which is 1lb lower than in this race last year and he should run well if he gets a clear round this year.