Aidan O'Hara's Betting Tips for Cheltenham Festival Day 2

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Aidan O'Hara Cheltenham Day One Results

Quinta Do Lago - 1pt E/W @ 33/1 - LOST
Hyland - 1pt Win @ 10/1 - LOST
Eyed - 0.5 E/W @ 80/1 - LOST
Holokea - 1pt E/W @ 33/1 - LOST
Day 1 Trixie - 1pt - LOST
Mino Des Mottes - 1pt E/W @ 40/1 - LOST
Moon d'Orange - 1pt E/W @ 66/1 - PLACED (+12.2pts)

Aidan O'Hara Ante-Post Day Two Portfolio

Grand Annual Chase

Horse: Inthepocket (1pt Win)
Ante-Post Price: 14/1
Current Best Price: 9/1

Turners' Novices' Hurdle

Horse: Laurets D'Estruval (1pt E/W)
Ante-Post Price: 33/1
Current Best Price: 50/1

Turners' Novices' Hurdle Tips

The Dublin Racing Festival form to a huge beating yesterday in the Supreme, and it’s bound to have a big effect on the market here.

I put up Laurets D’estruval earlier this week, at 33/1 with 3 places as I felt it would be backed. As it turns out similarity to a lesson I haven’t learned in 20 years of punting at the festival, it’s better to leave until the day about 90% of the time. We paid the price yesterday missing out on a place having 4 place terms in the Fred Winter.

I am going to add a further ½ point EW on that selection at 50/1 with 4 places, as much to get the 4th place as to avoid the annoyance of it finishing in the most obvious place possible after backing it 3 places. Aside from that, I do fancy it and it has form unrelated to the DRF and could be anything. Anyone that isn’t on already have an advance getting the 1.5 pts on ew at the 4 places.

I do have another selection in this at a huge price. I’ve had Free Spirit in mind for the festival since I saw him debuting in a grade 2 race earlier this year. I though it was a very nice first run and there is no way in the world I can let him go at 125/1 without a bet, given I thought there would be little between him and Sober from the same race, and that horse has been backed into 2nd fav here at 7/1.

½ Point EW - Laurets Destrulval - 50/1 4 places (Ladbrokes)
1 Point EW Free Spirit - 150/1 (Ladbrokes) - 125/1 4 places generally

Brown Advisory Novices' Chase Tips

This is an absolute belter of a novice chase, possibly the best novice race I’ve seen in a decade. One of my thoughts for the festival early was Koktail Divin is a future star. The decent ground here is ideal. That run at Christmas, was just outstanding. He bolted up in a decent race, but the manner of his jumping and travelling was just exceptional to the eye.  I can't wait to see him hopefully flying around here

I’m also going for Salver here at a huge price. I think he comes out well on a second look at the Kauto Star. He was rousted along far too early to try to get near the winner Kitzbul. This longer trip on slightly softer ground should suit him better, additionally in his next race Salver was given more of a chance to pick up a leader and ran much better as a result. I would put him on a par with 9/1 shot Wendigo, so we will be having abet at up to 50/1

1 Point win Koktail Divin 15/2 
1 Point EW Salver 50/1 (4 Places)

Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase Tips

This is a poor case of getting in wrong ante post again here. I’ve gone on about Fakir Doudairies being my pick for this for at least a month. I should have realised there would be better terms ante post as it was 25/1 with 4 places at ¼ place terms. I suppose I hoped he would drift. I got it wrong, and now I'll just have a regular win bet at the 14/1. He was poor in this last year but has moved to the original banks expert and showed a fair bit of improvement over the obstacles in Punchestown earlier this year. If this horse is withing a stone of some of his very good form not that long ago, he is on a great mark here. He also liked decent ground.

I feel the top two in the market have a lot of weight here, and although it does matter less in this race, it still must be carried a long distance here. With that in mind I’ve gone for another classy type off a good mark. Conflated ran in the same race as my main selection and finished 3rd. He is worse of with the winner here, but still has a lovely weight to carry around, and this will have been the plan for a stable with a great record in this.

1 Point EW Conflated 33/1 (4 Places - 365/Ladbrokes)
1 Point win Fakir D’oudairies 14/1

Grand Annual Tips

We have already put up Inthepocket at 14/1 about a week ago, and in this case, we may have got it right, so I’m happy enough with that. I see him having a possible class edge here and a good mark that’s ready to be exploited.

I’m also going with a shot in the dark in Boothill. He is getting on a bit, but that hasn’t stopped horses running well in this before.

He ran well in 2025 a few times of a mark of 160 in graded chases. It's pretty obvious he was far too high. He has gradually improved in 3 runs this year always miles out the back. He is down a stone to 145 for a trainer who knows how to target one. I think it worth closing our eyes and putting the money down here, as the chance of improvement ,even at the age of 11 seems a fair bit better than the 40/1 he is.

1 Point EW Boothill 40/1 5 places generally

1 Point Win Inthepocket 14/1 (Advised already antepost)

BetMGM Cup Handicap Hurdle Tips

This is an unbelievably tough race. I’ve come down on Sony Bill. His run at Punchestown in the 4yo grade 1 was really good, considering he fell at the last when 3rd or 4th in an exceptionally good race. He should be prominent and the step up in trip and good ground should bring about some improvement. His first run this year at the DRF was on heavy ground and he got tired late after doing too much early on. That race has no bearing on this due to the ground and it being his first run.

I’m also going to have a small bet on Franciscan Rock at a big price, He has run well twice here and I think the good ground will suit. For a horse that was there at the last in the stayers hurdle last year this mark seems workable enough, He has also been placed in this race on soft ground 2 years ago.

1 point EW Sony Bill 40/1 6 places Various

1 Point EW Franciscan Rock 50/1 365 6 places generally 40/1 6 places

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