Cheltenham Festival

Cheltenham Day 2 Tips: Back The Irish On Ladies Day At Prestbury Park

4 hours ago

| BY Steve Mullington

On the second day of the Festival, the highlight is the Queen Mother Champion Chase. Competitors in this Grade 1 event jump 12 fences over a two mile course.

Steve Mullington casts his eye over Wednesday’s action at Prestbury Park – if you’re looking for his thoughts on Tuesday’s action, click here for our tipster’s Day 1 preview.

1.20pm The Turners Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 5f

NO DRAMA THIS END took a nosedive in the ante-post betting after registering another victory in the Challow Novices’ Hurdle at Newbury over the festive period.

The Paul Nicholls-trained grey went off at odds-on under Harry Cobden, coming into the Grade One with two-from-two Grade Two victories to his name.

The strong galloper was prominent throughout and was still on the bridle in the closing stages of the race, going on to beat Klimt Madrik by a length and a quarter. A repeat of that performance would see him take this Grade 1.

2.00pm The Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) 3m

The Barry Maloney-owned KOKTAIL DIVIN finished second to subsequent dual Grade 1 winner Romeo Coolio on debut before chasing home Oscar’s Brother in a Grade 2 on his second start, before things fell right into place in a beginners’ chase when his sound jumping led him to run out a 21-length victor.

He’s a solid each-way play in this contest.

2.40pm The Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) 2m 5f

Bective Stud-owned THE YELLOW CLAY was only beaten ¾ of a length by The New Lion at the 2025 Festival, and that horse is now the market leader in the Champion Hurdle, so you have to give this six-year-old some sort of a leading chance in a handicap event such as this.

3.20pm The Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase 3m 6f

Gordon Elliott now has a new star in this division in the shape of FAVORI DE CHAMPDOU who ran out a decisive winner of the Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase here in January. He can put it up to the favourite Stumptown.

4.00pm The Queen Mother Champion Chase (Grade 1) 2m

Following Marine Nationale’s withdrawal, MAJBOROUGH is the clear form choice in our sports betting, and for many he’s the banker bet of the week.

His tactical profile suggests he has the class to dominate this Grade 1 contest and it will take some effort from one of the others to overhaul him.

4.40pm The Johnny Henderson Grand Annual H’cap Chase 2m

One runner who should benefit from a decent clip up front is BALLYSAX HANK for our horse racing ambassador Gavin Cromwell.

Cromwell is very shrewd when it comes to targeting the right races for his handicappers, and if this seven-year-old runs anywhere near to his sterling effort at Far Hills (USA) back in October, he has to be in with a great shout.

5.20pm The Weatherbys Champion Bumper (Grade 1) 2m

As ever, the Champion Bumper is a fairly wide open affair with one to consider at a price being BROADWAY TED.

Gordon Elliott’s charge just pipped stablemate With Nolimit in a closing stage battle in the Grade 2 bumper which concluded the Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown.

That bumper was a decent standard, and the pair of them can be backed in our racing betting markets at odds of 14/1 & 20/1 respectively.