Steve Ryder's Free Tips for Cheltenham Festival Day 2

Steve Ryder's Already Advised Ante Post Tips:

2:00 Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase

Ante Post Tip: Final Demand - 1pt
Price Tipped At: 6/4
Current Best Price: 11/2

4:00 Champion Chase

Ante Post Tip: L’Eau Du Sud - 0.5pt EW
Price Tipped At: 10/1
Current Best Price: 11/2

5:20 Champion Bumper

Ante Post Tip: Keep Him Company - 1pt
Price Tipped At: 16/1
Current Best Price: 13/2

Tips posted today:

Tip 1: Ballyfad - 0.5pt EW

Best odds of 12/1 at PricedUp at the time of publishing.

 Skylight Hustle - 0.5pt EW

Best odds of 16/1 at Unibet at the time of publishing.

Although Talk The Talk somewhat let the Irish novice hurdle form down yesterday in the Supreme, punters are being compensated with bigger prices for both Ballyfad (best priced at 12/1) and Skylight Hustle (best priced at 16/1) as a result. Both are trained by Gordon Elliott who has a good record in this race with Samcro winning in 2018, the 1-2 with Envoi Allen and Easywork in 2020 and both Three Stripe Life and The Yellow Clay finishing 2nd since.

Ballyfad lost his unbeaten record when beaten a short head by Talk The Talk in the Grade 1 Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival but shaped like this step up in trip will suit. The five-year-old was an impressive PTP winner before justifying odds on favouritism in two bumpers in November. He won by 9 ½ lengths at Leopardstown in a maiden hurdle beating Leader d’Allier who has since boosted that form winning by 9 lengths at Punchestown.

Skylight Hustle was another impressive PTP winner and his runner-up effort splitting Thedeviluno and The Passing Wife in a maiden hurdle looks stronger form than at the time. The six-year-old won by 21 lengths at Fairyhouse in November before winning the Grade 1 Future Champions Novice Hurdle at Christmas beating Carrigmoornaspruce by five lengths following a last flight fall of Talk The Talk. He is another who should appreciate the step up in trip and looks overpriced with Danny Gilligan on board.

Tip 2: The Yellow Clay - 0.5pt EW

Best odds of 9/1 at Unibet at the time of publishing.

Jingko Blue - 0.5pt EW

Best odds of 17/2 at Unibet while publishing.

The New Lion did no harm for last year’s Turners Novices’ Hurdle form by finishing 3rd in the Champion Hurdle yesterday and as a result The Yellow Clay (best priced at 8/1) looks overpriced for this contest off a mark of 155. The seven-year-old has been below par on his two starts this season but is now fitted with first-time cheekpieces and gets the assistance of talented 5lb claimer Michael Kenneally.

Nicky Henderson has a good record in this race having won it four times since 2010 as well as Iberico Lord finishing 2nd last year. He runs Jingko Blue (best priced at 17/2) this year who caught the eye behind leading Stayers’ Hurdle contender Kabral Du Mathan in the Grade 2 Relkeel Hurdle last time at this course. James Bowen, who rode him that day, retains the ride and the handicapper appears to have been lenient leaving him on a rating of 144.

Tip 3: Stumptown - 1pt

Best odds of 7/2 at William Hill while publishing.

Last year’s winner STUMPTOWN (best priced at 7/2) faces three well fancied eleven-year-old but he looks the one to beat despite returning from 150 days off the track. The Gavin Cromwell trained nine-year-old should be unbeaten in Cross Country chases in his career and was an impressive seven length winner last season off a mark of 157. He won the Velka Pardubicka in the Czech Republic when last seen and connections now re-fit him with blinkers.

Keith Donoghue has opted to ride Stumptown over Final Orders who won over this course and distance in December which is a huge vote of confidence and I expect the younger rival to retain his crown.

Tip 4: Be Aware - 0.5pt EW

Best odds of 9/2 at BetMGM UK while publishing.

Harry and Dan Skelton combined to win the Plate Handicap Chase yesterday with Madara and I am hoping that BE AWARE (best priced at 9/2) can put in a similar performance in this. The seven-year-old was sent off 3/1 favourite for the Coral Cup last season off a mark of 137 but has bettered his form since novice chasing this season.

He won by four lengths at Stratford before finishing 2nd behind July Flower in the Grade 2 Arkle trial over this course and distance in November. He chased home Lulamba in the Grade 1 Henry VIII Novices’ Chase at Sandown before slightly disappointing when 2nd in a Grade 2 at Windsor last time.

Be Aware now drops back down in class to handicap company in a race which he has a good profile for. Thirteen of the previous seventeen winners of this race were either novices or second season chasers and prominent runners are also suited to this track. He can run well with extra places available.

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