Check out Road to Cheltenham's tips for Day Two of the Cheltenham Festival.
Road to Cheltenham's Day Two Tipping Results
I’LL SORT THAT (25/1, 0.5pts E/W – 4 Places) LOST
WESTERN FOLD (14/1, 0.5pts E/W – 4 Places) LOST
THE YELLOW CLAY (8/1, 0.5pts E/W – 5 Places) LOST
PIED PIPER (22/1, 0.5pts E/W – 4 Places) LOST
RELIEVED OF DUTIES (12/1, E/W – 5 Places) LOST
THE MOURNE RAMBLER (15/2 - 1pt Win) WON
Mares Novices Hurdle
Mares Novices Hurdle Tips
I’m taking a flyer on the Dan Skelton-trained MILLE ET UNE VIES in this. Bambino Fever and Oldschool Outlaw set the standard on British and Irish form but Skelton’s mare brings a good level of French form to the race and she’s a fascinating runner.
She has been given a BHA mark of 135 and also receives a 10lbs swing in the weights as she’s only a 4-year-old. Look, we’re yet to see her on these shores but the formlines with Olga De Kiev and Delmegan are solid enough to tempt me to take a punt.
Jack Richards Novices' Chase
Jack Richards Novices' Chase Tips
One of my strongest handicap fancies of the week, MEETMEBYTHESEA could be thrown in off a mark of 139 and I’m hoping he can give Ben Pauling another Festival success. He has a lovely racing weight and I’m expecting a big run on Thursday afternoon.
He has been campaigned with the spring in mind and he needed that run in the Game Spirit Chase to qualify for a Festival handicap. He looks to have plenty going for him and I cannot see him finishing out of the places. He’s NAP material.
Mares Hurdle Tip
WODHOOH comes here with just one minor blip on her hurdles record, and that was a narrow defeat to Champion Hurdle winner Lossiemouth at Aintree last April. She looks to have a favourite’s chance and she’ll take some beating if she jumps round.
Gordon Elliott loves this mare and a Wodhooh victory will take some of the pressure off going into the Stayers. The Cullentra House handler was sweet on her chances even before Lossiemouth diverted to the Champion – hopefully she does the business.
WODHOOH (NO BET)
Stayers Hurdle
Stayers Hurdle Tips
Will there be enough juice in the ground for TEAHUPOO to be seen to best effect? For me, he isn’t as ground dependent as some seem to think – with Grade 1 victories on quicker surfaces at Punchestown and Leopardstown in recent years.
He’s been the horse of a lifetime for connections and many seem to forget that he is a seven-time Grade 1 winner. Honesty Policy and Kabral Du Mathan are the new kids on the block but Teahupoo sets the standard and he was better than ever last time out.
TEAHUPOO (9/2) 1pt
Ryanair Chase
Ryanair Chase Tips
I was delighted to see IMPAIRE ET PASSE declared for the Ryanair Chase and he will be on the premises under Paul Townend, that’s for sure. He may not be as classy as Fact To File but he’ll stay strongly and he is a five-time Grade 1 winner in his own right.
Having suffered a minor setback earlier in the year, connections opted to take their time and target the spring. He was a good winner of the Ballymore as a novice hurdler and I’d be shocked if he wasn’t in contention in this – although it does look a hot enough race.
Pertemps Final
Pertemps Final Tips
The Skeltons plotted Madara to perfection to win the Plate on Tuesday and SUPREMELY WEST looks like he’s been laid out for the Pertemps Final in similar fashion. The form of his qualifying run looks very strong and he comes here off a 2lbs lower mark.
There was a stewards report as long as your arm following his run at Cheltenham back in December and he’s been campaigned smartly in the meantime. Better ground, the step back up to three miles and ‘sun on his back’ should see him go very close.
Kim Muir
Kim Muir Tips
I’ve been looking forward to seeing KIM ROQUE up in trip for a while and the Kim Muir could be right up his street. Priced as high as 50/1 for the race a few weeks ago, he has been well backed in recent days and he can go close for the Joseph O’Brien team.
The trip is a slight unknown but the better ground will give him the best possible chance of thriving over the extended distance. He’s a proficient jumper and he can be exuberant at times but if John Gleeson can get him settled early on, we could be onto a winner.
