Yesterday proved once again how hard it is to win a race at the Festival and how there are no certainties in racing. After the short price defeats for Majborough and Constitution Hill it will be interesting to see if the emboldened bookies try to take on the likes of Ballyburn and Jonbon this afternoon.
Despite snow overnight and this morning, the going at Prestbury Park ahead of day two remains good to soft.
Don't forget to check out the various Cheltenham free bets this week.
TURNERS NOVICES’ HURDLE
The card gets underway with a strong renewal of the Turners Novices' Hurdle, which looks likely to be dominated by those at the head of the market.
Provided the going doesn’t get too soft, and this doesn’t turn into too much of a stamina test, preference is for THE NEW LION, who was so impressive when winning the Challow last time out. He looks to have a real turn of foot that can hopefully be seen to good effect after the last here.
Pick of the outsiders could prove to be KAID d’AUTHIE, who looks sure to be suited by this step up in trip. Get 50/1 with Unibet (or 55/1 with a 'Uniboost').
BROWN ADVISORY NOVICES’ CHASE
Next it is the turn of the novice chasers in the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase, which will take place with no British runner in the contest.
Ballyburn is the potential superstar in the line up and the only question is whether he’ll stay the trip in what is usually an attritional contest.
Given yesterday’s drama, it probably makes sense to take him on at the prices, especially given that you can give a realistic chance to all six of his rivals.
One of the difficult things to weigh up is the form of the Elliott and de Bromhead yards. Both have good claims here, but neither had a very good opening day yesterday.
In the hope that yesterday was just a blip for the Elliott operation a chance is taken on BETTER DAYS AHEAD, who looks to have a potent mix of speed and stamina.
He also has good course form, having won the Martin Pipe Hurdle here last season and can be backed at 10/1 this morning.
CORAL CUP
The Coral Cup is the first big handicap of the day and punters have a monster field of 26 runners to get to grips with.
With bookies offering plenty of extra places it is worth backing a few at big prices and the ones who appeal most are SANDOR CLEGANE, who has good course form and comes from a yard that does well with its runners here, BEAT THE BAT, who looks sure to enjoy the step up in trip, and COLONEL MUSTARD, who should be suited by a fast run race and can hopefully be delivered late by his promising young rider.
Jimmy Du Seuil and Be Aware are others to consider.
CROSS COUNTRY CHASE
The Cross Country Chase reverts to a limited handicap this year and we are likely to have a more competitive race as a result.
Jospeh O’Brien is one of the best target trainers around and BUSSLETON looks to have been laid out for this. He was an eyecatcher when staying on last time out to finish sixth to Stumptown over course and distance in December.
He had a pipe opener over hurdles recently, which should have put him spot on for this.
Veteran chaser ROI MAGE continues to defy his age and run well in staying / cross country races and looks to be the pick of the outsiders at 28/1.
CHAMPION CHASE
Today’s feature is the Queen Mother Champion Chase, where Jonbon looks to cement his place as the best two miler chaser around.
He clearly has the best from coming into the race, but a couple of his more disappointing runs have come here and this race has been a graveyard for short priced favourites over the years.
Solness will ensure a truly run race, which could suit the closers. As a result, Marine Nationale is firmly on the shortlist, but his price looks short enough now, so in the hope that he can bounce back to form after a terrible run last time out a chance is taken on FOUND A FIFTY, who was one of last season’s best two mile novices.
LIBERTY HUNTER is a strong stayer over the trip and can stay on into a place as long as he doesn’t get too far behind early on. At 33/1 he's good value.
GRAND ANNUAL HANDICAP CHASE
The Grand Annual is as competitive as ever and it’s a race where it often pays to look for a horse coming out of novice chases into handicap company rather than an exposed chaser with miles on the clock.
Two that fit the bill are previous Festival winner JAZZY MATTY, who has already shown he can handle jumping around the Old Course when getting beaten a short head in a novice chase over course and distance earlier this term. This looks like a long-term plan for the former Fred Winter winner, and off a lightweight he looks sure to go well for his up-and-coming trainer.
The scopey PRIMOZ looked like a novice going places earlier in the season and got back on track last time at Kelso with a bloodless victory. His slick jumping will be a major asset in this big field, and he’s another with the progressive profile often needed in this race.
An outsider worth noting is Irish raider MIDNIGHT IT IS, who has lots of form around some of the market leaders when finishing third in a Grade 3 Handicap two starts ago and may well start at a value price if a disappointing run last time out is forgiven.
CHAMPION BUMPER
The Champion Bumper will be the usual guessing game, but all you can do when faced with such limited information is trust the eye, and two that caught ours were Gordon Elliott’s KALYPSO’CHANCE who powered up the Navan hill last time out in the manner of a future star. He arrives at Prestbury Park with plenty of stable confidence.
Our other fancy is EL CAIROS, who won a Newbury bumper in some style on his rules debut and looks an interesting contender for his very shrewd trainer, who rarely wastes an entry in this company - at a big price it might be worth taking the hint.