Cheltenham Festival Day Two: Expert Tips and Predictions for Every Race
As the excitement builds for the second day of the Cheltenham Festival, racing enthusiasts are eager to see if Queen Mother Champion Chase favorite Jonbon can live up to expectations. Below, we break down the top contenders for Wednesday’s races.
1.20 TURNERS NOVICES’ HURDLE
Top Picks:
🥇 The New Lion
🥈 Final Demand
🥉 Potters Charm
Unbeaten The New Lion makes his Festival debut with high expectations. Trained by Dan Skelton, who is closing in on a trainers’ title, this talented six-year-old has already proven himself at Grade 1 level. He burst onto the scene with a bumper win at Market Rasen last April and followed up with an impressive hurdles campaign. His latest dominant performance in the Challow Novices’ Hurdle solidified his credentials, prompting his acquisition by JP McManus.
Final Demand, also unbeaten, is a serious contender, while The Yellow Clay and Potters Charm will be in the mix for a top-three finish.
2.00 BROWN ADVISORY NOVICES’ CHASE
Top Picks:
🥇 Ballyburn
🥈 Better Days Ahead
🥉 Dancing City
Ballyburn has been a standout among novice chasers and is well-fancied to secure his second Festival triumph. Trainer Willie Mullins had high hopes for this son of Flemensfirth, and his dominant performance in last year’s Turners Novices’ Hurdle was a testament to his ability. Despite a minor setback in the Wayward Lad Novices’ Chase, his powerful win in the Ladbrokes Novice Chase reaffirmed his class. The extended trip should pose no issue.
Better Days Ahead and Dancing City are expected to offer the stiffest competition.
2.40 CORAL CUP
Top Picks:
🥇 Beat The Bat
🥈 Al Gasparo
🥉 Be Aware
A step up in trip could be just what Beat The Bat needs to return to winning ways. After a solid performance at Ascot last season, he finished second over a longer trip at Haydock before struggling over shorter distances at Windsor and Newbury. Trainer Harry Fry has targeted this race strategically, believing that the uphill finish at Cheltenham will play to his strengths.
With stiff competition, Be Aware, Al Gasparo, and Impose Toi are all horses to watch.
3.20 GLENFARCLAS CROSS COUNTRY CHASE
Top Picks:
🥇 Latenightpass
🥈 Stumptown
🥉 Iwilldoit
Each-way backers may find great value in Latenightpass, a seasoned campaigner with wins at Aintree and Cheltenham to his name. He placed third in a similar event in December and faces familiar rivals on better terms this time. Ignore his last unseated effort at Ascot—he remains a strong contender.
Stumptown is an obvious threat, while Mister Coffey, The Goffer, and Iwilldoit add further depth to this competitive field.
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4.00 BETMGM QUEEN MOTHER CHAMPION CHASE
Top Picks:
🥇 Solness
🥈 Jonbon
🥉 Energumene
This season, Solness has transformed into a top-class two-mile chaser. After an underwhelming Grand Annual run last year, he has since claimed back-to-back Grade 1 wins, including an impressive front-running display in the Paddy’s Rewards Club Chase. With JJ Slevin back in the saddle and a likely aggressive race strategy, he represents solid value.
Hot favorite Jonbon remains a huge danger, especially after his recent win over Energumene in the Clarence House Chase.
4.40 DEBENHAMS JOHNNY HENDERSON GRAND ANNUAL CHALLENGE CUP
Top Picks:
🥇 JPR One
🥈 Unexpected Party
🥉 Traprain Law
Joe Tizzard’s JPR One looks well-handicapped to claim victory. Although he didn’t quite make the top tier last season, he showed promise with a Grade 2 win at Lingfield and an impressive run in the Haldon Gold Cup. A solid third in the Tingle Creek further cemented his ability. Now returning to handicap company off a mark of 156, he holds strong claims.
Last year’s winner Unexpected Party and Traprain Law are major threats in an open contest.
5.20 WEATHERBYS CHAMPION BUMPER
Top Picks:
🥇 Kalypso’Chance
🥈 Copacabana
🥉 No Drama This End
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Kalypso’Chance has made an exceptional start to his career and looks primed for a big run. A dominant winner of his point-to-point, he was snapped up by Gordon Elliott for £85,000 and quickly justified that investment with an easy bumper success at Punchestown. His Listed win at Navan confirmed his raw ability and turn of foot, making him a leading contender.
With Willie Mullins boasting a record 14 wins in this race, his runners Copacabana and Gameofinches demand respect, while No Drama This End represents a solid alternative.