Cheltenham Festival Day 2 Preview

Day 2 of the Cheltenham Festival and we are set for quite possibly the clash of the week as Defi Du Seuil takes on Chacun Por Soi in the Queen Mother Champion Chase.

We’ve previewed every race alongside Betsafe ambassador and the North’s leading Jumps trainer Donald McCain.

1.30pm – Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1)

2m 5f £125,000

A Grade 1 contest, run over 2 miles and 5 furlongs, which has been won by some big names in recent years to include Faugheen in 2014 and Samcro in 2018.

At the 2019 Cheltenham Races, City Island stormed home under the guidance of Mark Walsh for trainer Martin Brassil to win the prize fund of £125,000. Other big-name winners include the famous hurdler Faugheen who won this race in 2014 and Samcro who did all the running in 2018.

Key Trial

The Grade 2 Ballymore Leamington Novices’ Hurdle has been an excellent festival pointer with three of the last 14 winners going on to complete the double (Willoughby Court, The New One and No Refuge).

Donald McCaain Verdict

Sporting John looks the one in here for me, he’s looked very good so far and even though he hasn’t run in the depth of races the others have, there could be more improvement to come from him.

Betsafe Verdict

This race is all about Envoi Allen who’s unbeaten on all seven starts to date including an impressive performance in the Champion Bumper. Gordon and his team have said he’s good enough to win the Champion Hurdle but also have lots of stamina and won’t be beaten.

Best of the English runners is Sporting John who AP M<cCoy holds in very high regard. He’s got lots of improvement and has undoubted ability but I can’t see him being good enough to beat Envoi Allen.

An interesting runner at a huge price is Decor Irlandais from the small Noel Kelly team. The horse that cost €1000 would be one of the best stories of the week was he to win. He ran an absolute belter to finish runner-up in the Leamington and could nick a place.

Selection: Decor Irlandais – E/W

28 of the last 29 winners had run at least three times over hurdles
16 of the last 24 winners were aged six
30 of the last 32 winners were in the top six of the betting. 33 of the last 34 winners finished either first or second in their last start
8 of the last 12 winners were trained in Ireland
12 of the last 14 winners had won at least twice over hurdles
The last 10 winners have all won at least 1 bumper
20 of the last 23 winners won last time out

Ballymore novices’ hurdle

2.10pm – RSA Chase (Grade 1)

3m 80y £175,000

A Grade 1 novice chase for staying chasers, run over 3 miles – this race regularly throws up a future Gold Cup contender. The last horse to win both races was Jim Culloty-trained Lord Windermere who won the RSA in 2013, who went on to win the Gold Cup in 2014.

Key Trials

Prior to entering a horse for the RSA Chase in Cheltenham, for British-trained candidates, the Grade 2 Ladbrokes John Francome Novices’ Chase at Newbury in December is a key first trial, while the Grade 1 Kauto Star Novices’ Chase on Boxing Day at Kempton is usually a good indicator for Cheltenham credentials.

The Grade 2 Sodexo Reynoldstown Novices’ Chase at Ascot is another contest that has been used as a stepping stone for candidates ahead of the RSA Chase.

Donald McCain Verdict

It was a toss up between Minella Indo and Copperhead for me, and I’ve sided with Copperhead.who’s a thorough stayer and that’s the type of horse you need to win an RSA.

Betsafe Verdict

Champ has yet to finish out of the first two in his completed starts and he ran a big race to finish second in the Ballymore last year behind City Island. He was well In command when falling two out in the Dipper here last time but his jumping is too frail to have any great faith in him.

Henry de Bromhead’s Minella Indo was a shock 50/1 winner of the Albert Bartlett last season and followed that up by winning a Grade 1 at Punchestown. He was a fine winner of a beginners chase last time out and is 4-5 over three miles, so should go close.

The one I like at an each-way price is Battleoverdoyen who was a very tired horse when falling at the Dublin racing festival. Prior to that he was a Grade 1 winner over Christmas and shouldn’t be underestimated.

Selection: Battleoverdoyen – E/W

None of the last 14 winners had run more than 13 times in total over hurdles and fences
6 of the last 13 favourites have won
No horse wearing headgear has won in the last 26 years
11 of the last 13 winners were aged 7
All winners this century achieved a top 3 finish on their last time out
All winners since 2002 have made their chasing debut over a distance shorter than 3 miles
11 of the last 13 winners had run at a previous Festival

RSA Chase

2.50pm – Coral Cup (Grade 3)

2m 5f £100,000

The Coral Cup is a very competitive handicap hurdle. Run over 2 miles and 5 furlongs and is traditionally one of the most open races at the Cheltenham Festival. 2019 is an example of this where Nicky Henderson-trained William Henry stormed home at 28/1. This Grade 3 contest offers a prize purse of £75,000 to the winner and is open to horses aged 4 years and older.

Donald McCain Verdict

It’s a speculative selection but I have gone with Thosedaysaregone. I’ve seen this horse turn up at Sedgefield, Wetherby and Carlisle, so it just seems like this has been the plan for some time.

Betsafe Verdict

Birchdale was a bitter disappointment in the Albert Bartlett last season when pulling up and his only run since has been over fences where he was far from fluent. This is not an ideal prep for a race of this nature but he does look feasibly handicapped with Barry in the plate.

Charles Byrnes landed another big pot and punt with Thosedaysaregone at the Dublin racing festival. He’s nineteen-pounds higher now which will make life tough but Charles Brynes could just have that up his sleeve.

Canardier finished fifth in this contest twelve months ago and races off just four-pounds higher than last season. He reverts back to hurdles after two disappointing runs and has since joined Willie Mullins and should hit the frame.

Selection: Canardier

3 of the past 4 runnings have been won by 3 different Irish trainers
11 of the last 15 winners were second-season hurdlers
10 winners were raced over 2 miles and 5 furlongs for the first time
Only 5 winners this century had run at a previous Festival
No first season novice has ever won this race
No horse has won this race more than once

CORAL CUP

3.30pm – Queen Mother Champion Chase (Grade 1)

1m 7f 99yds £400,000

At the Cheltenham Festival, the Queen Mother Champions Chase is always one of the highlights.

Key Trial

Ascot’s Grade 1 Clarence House Chase is one of the leading trials for the Champion Chase. In recent years, Master Minded (2009), Sprinter Sacre (2013), Sire de Grugy (2014) and Dodging Bullets (2015) all won at Ascot before winning at the Cheltenham Festival.

Donald McCain Verdict

It has to be Defi Du Seuil with Altior being out now. He looked like a proper Champion Chase horse when beating Un De Sceaux the last day and he’ll do for me.

Betsafe Verdict

Altior is now out of the race which is a shame so it looks to be between Defi Du Seuil and the Irish-raider Chacun Pour Soi.

The one to beat for me is Defi Du Seuil who is a dual festival winner and looked the real deal when bating the now-retired Un De Sceaux in the Clarence House when last seen. He’s one of the most consistent horses in training and will be tough to beat.

The very lightly-raced Chacun Pour Soi was a very impressive winner at Punchestown last season when easily bearing the re-opposing Defi Du Seuil. He looked back to his best when winning a Grade 1 at the Dublin racing festival and still has untapped potential.

Selection: Defi Du Seuil

Only 4 winners this century have gone off bigger than 5/1
Nicky Henderson has trained 5 of the last 8 winners
Only 3 winners this century were making their Festival debut – 12 being previous Festival winners
16 of the last 18 winners had already won a Grade 1 race and had a BHA rating of 159
10 of the last 12 winners were aged between 7 and 10
This century 49 horses aged 10 and older have run. Only 3 won, including Sprinter Scare and Moscow Flyer who were reclaiming their titles
At the 2019 Festival, the Queen Mother Champions Chase is always one of the highlights.

Queen Mother Champion Chase

4.10pm – Cross Country Chase (Class 2)

3m, 6f 37yds £65,000

The Cross Country Chase is often used as a warm-up for the Grand National at Aintree in April. The small horse with the big heart is hero Tiger Roll who has won this Cross Country Chase on the previous two seasons before heading to Aintree to win the National on both occasions.

This race has been run for the last 15 years and used to be a handicap but for the last 4 years has been run as a conditions race.

Donald McCain Verdict

It’s one of the races I would get rid of at the festival but I was impressed with the French horse Easyland at Cheltenham and he can turnover Tiger Roll.

Betsafe Verdict

The star attraction here is obviously the dual Grand National winner Tiger Roll who’s chasing a hat-trick of victories in this contest. He was the easiest winner of the week last year and there was plenty encouragement in his recent comeback run to suggest he’ll be gracing the winner’s enclosure again.

The fact that JP has snapped up Easyland tells it’s own story and that came on the back of his smooth course and distance victory in December. He won well again in February and could pose the biggest problem to Tiger Roll.

Might Bite who finished runner-up in the 2018 Gold Cup is of obvious interest here but it’s been a while since he’s shown that level of form. He wasn’t beaten too far behind Native River in the Denman Chase and if these fences spark a revival then he could feature heavily.

Selection: Might Bite – E/W

Gordon Elliott has trained the last 3 winners
No 7-year-old horse has ever won this race
11 of the last 13 winners were in the 8 to 10 age bracket
All 15 winners had previously won over at least 3 miles

Cross Country Chase

4.50pm – Boodles Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 3)

Seen as a consolation race for those not quite good enough for Friday’s Triumph Hurdle this has been won by some smart 4-year-olds in recent years.

Trial Races

A good education for younger horses however as Cheltenham is one of the biggest National Hunt racing stages in the world trials races are of utmost importance. In Britain typical trials include the Finale Juvenile Hurdle at Chepstow in December and the Finesse Juvenile Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham in January. In February, races like the Adonis Juvenile Novices’ Hurdle at Kempton and Victor Ludorum Juvenile Hurdle at Haydock could also be considered trials.

In Ireland, the Fred Winter Juvenile Novices’ Handicap Hurdle trials start with the Fishery Lane Hurdle at Naas, normally run in November, and the Royal Bond Novice Hurdle, run at Fairyhouse in December. After the turn of the year there are races such as the Spring Juvenile Hurdle, part of the Dublin Racing Festival, and the Winning Fair Juvenile Hurdle at Fairyhouse.

Donald McCain Verdict

I like Nigel Hawke’s Repetito who’s been to plenty of big races and never seems to run a bad race. He’s got course form and has to have a solid each-way chance.

Betsafe Verdict

Aramax has been the talking horse for this race since he won the same race as last year’s winner Band Of Outlaws at Naas back in February. He could be anything and is the right favourite.

Another JP McManus horse to the fore of the betting is Mick Pastor who left a disappointing stable debut well behind when winning easily at Ludlow in January. He’s since had a wind-op and could be well handicapped.

One of the bigger-priced runners that catches my eye is Theatre Of War from the Gavin Cromwell yard. He was a decent sort on the flat and although he’s yet to win over hurdles, he ran very well at Leopardstown over Christmas and this has very much been the plan since then.

Selection: Aramax

No winner of this race has previously won at Cheltenham
13 of 15 winners had raced within the last 37 days
3 of the last 4 winners had a BHA rating of at least 133
10 of the 15 winners raced in this have competed in the minimum 3 hurdle races
None of the last 7 winners of this contest were a filly
Since 2009 Paul Nicholls has had 3 winners

Boodles juvenile Hurdle

5.30pm – Champion Bumper (Grade 1)

The Champion Bumper does not have many clear trials, although all but two of the winners won on their previous start.

Key Trial

The bumper at Leopardstown’s four-day Christmas meeting is often worth keeping an eye on with a view to the Cheltenham Festival. Irish horses are always to the for in the market and Appreciate It may be the answer this year given how well he took a Garde 2 at Leopardstown recently.

Donald McCain Verdict

One at a big price that could run well is Good Time Jonny who beat Chuvelo at Musselburgh where he looked like a flying machine. The talk before the race was that defeat was out of the question and he looks like a smart type.

Betsafe Verdict

Appreciate It has the best form on offer here having won a Grade 2 very easily in February and is the one they all need to beat. He’s now too short to get involved with for me but looks like the best horse in the race.

The pick of the Gordon Elliot runners looks to be Queens Brook who has the assistance of Jamie Codd in the plate. She cost £160,000 after winning her point to point and couldn’t have been any more impressive at Gowran Park when destroying her rivals by 21 lengths. This is obviously a massive step up but she’s an improver.

Good Time Jonny represents the shrewd Tony Martin here and was a snug winner over the smart Chuvelo when winning his bumper at Musselburgh. Like so many others, this will be much tougher but he looks like a smart type and Tony knows what it takes to win at the festival.

Selection: Good Time Jonny – E/W