Cheltenham Day 2
There were some exciting winners from the opening day of the festival with Ruby Walsh and Willie Mullins taking a first day treble thanks to Douvan, Un De Sceaux and Faugheen. However the duo couldn’t land the four fold with Annie Power falling at the last in the Mares Hurdle. With Mullins now leading the charge to be top trainer and Walsh looking to see off all challengers to be top jockey, there is certainly some exciting racing days ahead.
We had 20/1 Bitofapuzzle placed yesterday so we hope for more luck in today’s column
Can Challengers Dodge A Bullet in the Queen Mother
First run in 1959, The Queen Mother Champion Chase is the leading minimum-distance chase in the National Hunt calendar. Won by legendary horses such as Moscow Flyer and Master Minded, it is a favourite race of jockey Barry Geraghty who has won on five occasions.
Trainer Paul Nicholls has two runners in the race and his standout choice is Dodging Bullets.
Winning the Clarence House Chase and the Tingle Creek Chase on his last two outings at Ascot and Sandown, he looks the one to beat.
Ridden by Sam Twiston-Davies Dodging Bullets is our top tip priced at 9/2.
Henderson to Roc the Neptune
The Neptune Investment Management Novice’s Hurdle is the opening race on the second day of the Cheltenham Festival. Won by Istabraq, and more recently The New One and Faugheen who have gone on to contest the Stan James Champion Hurdle.
Trainer Nicky Henderson will be looking for a big festival and his challenger for this contest is six-year-old Vyta Du Roc.
Winning four out of his five life time runs, he record was tainted in December where he was narrowly beaten by Parlour Games at Newbury.
Ridden by Barry Geraghty, Vyta Du Roc is good value at 8/1.
Today’s Tip Of The Day
Cheltenham 14:05 The Young Master
The RSA Chase has been won by horses with the calibre of Lord Windermere and Bobs Worth, two horses who have both gone on to feature in the Gold Cup.
Neil Mulholland goes into the race looking for another winner following the Druids Nephew in the Ultima Business Solutions Handicap Chase and his horse of choice for this race is six-year-old The Young Master.
Winning his last outing at Ascot in the hands of Barry Geraghty, he had an impressive 2014 passing the post first on six occasions.
Ridden by Barry Geraghty The Young Master is good value at 5/1.