Today's Tote Placepot Tips for Cheltenham Day 2

Leg 1 Selections: Hermes Allen, Champ Kiely

A strong line-up for the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle to open the second day of the Cheltenham Festival. While Impaire Et Passé has looked impressive in winning both his starts to date, his time-figures haven’t quite been on the same wavelength as what some of his rivals have achieved and is worth taking on at short odds. HERMES ALLEN made it three-from-three in this sphere when powering to success in the Grade 1 Challow Hurdle last time and he won over track and trip two starts ago as well. He is fancied to pose a big threat in the opener. 

I also like Willie Mullins’ other runner CHAMP KIELY, who has won four of his five starts and beat some good horses when winning the Grade 1 Lawlor's of Naas Novices' Hurdle last time from the front. On a line through a couple of horses, he has the beating of Gaelic Warrior on these terms and Danny Mullins will maintain the partnership as well. He must enter calculations as it will take a good performance from something else to lower his colours. 

Leg 2 Selections: Thyme Hill, Sir Gerhard

THYME HILL is the one I like. He goes extremely well at the course and has technically yet to finish outside the frame here. He was second in last season’s Stayers’ Hurdle, fourth in the Albert Bartlett and third in a Champion Bumper too. Additionally, he has fared best of the British in all three of those starts at the Festival and that certainly bodes well for his chances. He impressed in beating McFabulous in a Grade 1 last time and has excellent claims. 

SIR GERHARD has won at the Cheltenham Festival for the last two years, which includes the Champion Bumper and Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle and he made a pretty nice return/chase debut in January, where he won by 38 lengths. I know he wasn’t foot-perfect but he still won in a canter and he is sure to improve. He is light on experience in this sphere compared to a few of these but has a lot of class and should be able to at least make the frame. 

Leg 3 Selections: Nells Son, Fil Dor, Beacon Edge, An Epic Song

NELLS SON was in the process of running well last time before he took a tumble three out and shaped up well here two starts back off a two pounds lower mark. He is on a nice mark and weight, so it would come as no surprise if he reached the frame. FIL DOR has a lot of class and has been mixing it with some good horses, including the likes of Sharjah, who he beat last time, and was second in last season’s Triumph Hurdle. 

BEACON EDGE was fourth in the 2021 Stayers’ Hurdle and has a lot of other high-class form in the book in this sphere. He ran very well when third in the Boyne Hurdle last time and will make his handicap debut off a lenient mark. His rider takes off three pounds and he too brings Grade 1 form to the table, so Noel Meade’s charge is of strong interest with the capabilities to run a huge race with track, trip conditions in his favour plus a workable mark. I’ll be surprised if he isn’t at least in the first five at the finish. AN EPIC SONG completed the quartet. 

Leg 4 Selections: Energumene

The feature race and last year’s winner ENERGUMENE is fancied to defend his crown. I know he was beaten in the Clarence House last time when only third but he is better than that and I expect his rider to go back to instigating positive tactics, which will see this horse to best effect. 

Yes he was held up when he won this last year but I don’t think those tactics will work in this year’s renewal, so I assume he will sit on the girth of Editeur Du Gite. His whole campaign has been built around this race again and, with conditions to suit, Willie Mullins’ high-class chaser is taken to retain his crown. 

Leg 5 Selections: Franco De Port, Galvin

Willie Mullins’ classy FRANCO DE PORT must have a serious chance of collecting the spoils if he adapts to the unique course. His third in the big Grade 1 race in France, the Grand Steeple-chase De Paris on his first go over 3m5f on heavy ground, is high-quality form. He is a former Grade 1 winner and is partnered by Patrick Mullins, who is familiar with this race. He has been competing in Grade 1 and 2 events all season and this long-term plan could pay off with this eight-year-old. 

GALVIN is also a Grade 1 winner, who was fourth in last season’s Cheltenham Gold Cup, and while he has not quite been at the top of his game this season, he is the highest rated runner in the field and has stamina in abundance. He won the National Hunt Chase a few seasons ago over 3m5f, and his jumping is generally good. Davy Russell knows him better than most and I am confident he can go close if he takes to the course. 

Leg 6 Selections: Sizing Pottsie, Coeur Sublime, Midnight Run, Battleoverdoyen

SIZING POTTSIE will love conditions and warmed up for this with a spin in the Grade 1 Clarence House when last spotted. The nine-year-old will be having his first handicap start since competing in the Topham over the National fences when rated 155 and is down to a mark of 140. He won a good-quality Grade 2 on soft ground around this time last year and this appears to be a long-term project. He has to be given a chance with headgear applied. 

COEUR SUBLIME was well held in the Arkle last season and should have gone for this race instead, however, he gets that chance now and his narrow defeat to Blue Lord is a key piece of form. With a clear round, he should be on the premises, as he’s one of the classier horses in the field and goes into handicaps with Grade 1 form in the book. 

MIDNIGHT RUN was off the mark in a Grade 2 on his penultimate start and couldn’t land a blow at the highest level last time. That said, he makes his handicap debut off a fair mark and the nature of this race should be right up his street with Bryan Cooper booked to ride. He has each-way possibilities in a wide-open contest. 

BATTLEOVERDOYEN is lurking on a dangerous mark and wasn’t far behind Coeur Sublime at Naas last time in a Grade 3 event. He is four pounds better off with that rival and is on the same mark as when fourth Fairyhouse on similar ground back in February. I can see Jordon Gainford is booked to ride, which is a positive sign, and the last time he ran at the Festival, he was fourth in the formerly-known RSA Chase.