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Cheltenham day two tips: Who can capitalise on Altior absence?

Two of our expert Syndicate Captains and blog contributors David Young (Cheltmental) and Steven Dowler (Architect Tips) are joining forces at Cheltenham. They will be previewing each of the four days of the festival in a bid to take down the Boosted £20,000 Place 6. Read on for the Cheltenham day two Tips and, if you agree with their selections, join their Syndicate here.

 

13.30 – Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle

SD – The more I look at this race the more I can’t see past ENVOI ALLEN who looks a superstar in the making and could be one of the bankers of the festival. His form is rock solid and he is yet to taste defeat. I think it will take a very high-class performance to beat him and he is definitely one of my top Cheltenham day two tips.

I do like finding value and feel as though LONGHOUSE POET is underrated. He doesn’t have loads to find with Envoi Allen although does need to improve. However, he is almost certain to run here which will suit him perfectly. He ran a good race over 2m6f last time in a grade one to finish third which was a great effort. He gave himself every chance jumping the last hurdle despite jumping terribly for most of the race.

He is a big horse with a long stride and I don’t think we have seen his true ability yet. I think Cheltenham will suit him very well and, if he jump fluently here I don’t think he will be far away under Mark Walsh.

 

DY – A seriously exciting race to kick us off with plenty of nice horses running. That is testament to ENVOI ALLEN and there’s no doubt he is the one to beat. Really I’d only be able to suggest LONGHOUSE POET as a value pick at this stage although the market has this about right.

Cheltenham day two tips – ENVOI ALLEN, LONGHOUSE POET

 

14.10 – RSA Chase

SD – This should be a cracking race and CHAMP has an outstanding chance. He’s has so much natural ability and would be even more fancied had he not fallen last time when on course to win easily. His form is rock solid and he ran well at this meeting last year to be second. He’s yet to finish out of the top two when completing. With a clear round, I can’t see Champ being out of the frame.

However, as mentioned previously, I’m all over ALLAHO and connections have decided he goes for the RSA rather than the Marsh. Allaho was high-class over hurdles, has Cheltenham Festival form and won with his head in his chest last time out on his second start over fences. He’s a huge horse with a massive engine and has so much more to come. I am fairly confident he will go close as the race looks tailor made for him.

It’s surprising that MINELLA INDO isn’t more fancied, another horse with rock solid form. He was 2-1 up on Allaho over hurdles and has never finished out of the frame in all starts.

Minella Indo competed the Cheltenham and Punchestown grade one double, which is a rare feat an proves how classy he is. He was second behind Laurina on chase debut but that was over 2m4f before stepping back up to three miles last time out and winning comfortably.

Still being only 7, he will definitely improve from his latest success and I think he has a massive chance in the RSA.

 

DY – I do still think CHAMP is the one to beat and I’m sticking to my guns that ALLAHO wouldn’t have been better at the middle trip this year, although this race might be better for his future. He’s clearly a very good horse but him and COPPERHEAD are two I’d be keen to take on towards the head of the market. MINELLA INDO clearly has a chance but I haven’t seen any spark in him this season but he was very similar last term and of course has won round here.

EASY GAME should run well not up in trip and if the real BATTLEOVERDOYEN turns up he could certainly play a part. SLATE HOUSE I’m not sold on in this Grade despite winning the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase and if I was looking for one at a price I’d suggest AYE RIGHT is big.

Cheltenham day two tips – CHAMP, ALLAHO, MINELLA INDO, AYE RIGHT

 

14.50 – Coral Cup

SD – FAGAN, trained by Alex Hales, looks a proper plot job by connections. This 10yo was a high-class horse with Gordon Elliott, managing second in the grade one Albert Bartlett back in 2016. He is fragile and lightly raced for his age but is a horse with so much ability.

Fagan returned from a near two year absence with his new stable off a mark of 140 last time at Haydock and travelled really well into the race before fitness took its toll late on. The Pertemps is his only entry at the Cheltenham Festival and he’s been dropped down 2lbs from last time. Fagan will have come on loads for that latest run and with a nice low weight, nice mark, Cheltenham and graded form to his name I think he has a cracking each way bet.

FRANCO DE PORT would be interesting if running here for Willie Mullins. He won well on stable debut and was last seen finishing a strong second behind Stormy Ireland in a grade three event. He could go well with the step up in trip likely to suit.

BACHASSON is a class act who ran in last years Cheltenham gold cup but didn’t get as far as the second fence. Has held his form well since most notably when a good third behind Penhill and Cracking Smart last time when tiger roll was back in fifth. I think he’s more than good enough to hit the frame despite off a mark 148.

My final pick is EGLANTINE DU SEUIL, who represents Willie Mullins and has really strong form to her name. She was placed twice in grade one company last season having won the grade two mares race here last year, coming up the hill strongly.

She was last seen finishing a close-up fourth in a big handicap at Leopardstown off a mark 140 and was unlucky not to win because she had to circle the whole field and looked to be travelling all over the opposition before being headed late on. Rachael Blackmore is booked to ride and this very classy mare has an outstanding each way chance as she has proven herself at the track and has top level form to her name.

 

DY – Plenty of interest in here as you would expect for a handicap of this nature but a couple of JP runners deserves a second look in both DAME DE COMPAGNIE & ALFA MIX. The former was challenged after a new 2lb rise which was overturned and the latter looks well handicapped and has been bought since his last run.

Away from those I think FRANCO DE PORT will love the extra distance but the British Handicapper hasn’t been the kindest to him. BACHASSON, also for Mullins, is a classy horse but he’s had his issues although I think he has a chance here. At bigger prices I’m not sold on much but I would have to give another mention to FAGAN who is a horse I’ve always liked but you’re guessing as to his wellbeing these days.

Cheltenham day two tips – FRANCO DE PORT, BACHASSON, DAME DE COMPAGNIE, ALFA MIX, FAGAN, EGLANTINE DU SEUIL

 

15.30 – Queen Mother Champion Chase

SD – The defending champion ALTIOR, who has won this for last two years, has unfortunately been declared lame so won’t be competing.

I do like CHACUN POUR SOI. He would have had to be the best 2 mile chaser we have seen in many years to get the better of a Altior on his Cheltenham debut, however that window has now opened up for him so I’ll include him in here. He already holds Defi on previous form and that shouldn’t change here.

 

DY – So much hinged on the fitness of ALTIOR and it’s such a shame that he won’t be appearing. In his place DEFI DU SEUIL has to be the percentage call as he’s in the best form this season and has the course form.

CHACUN POUR SOI clearly is talented so this remains a tough looking race. The fact that Richard Johnson thought he was going to pick this lad up at Punchestown shows how good he must be so clearly has a chance. DYNAMITE DOLLARS is the least exposed away from CHACUN and I do think he could go well if gets an easy lead.

Cheltenham day two tips – CHACUN POUR SOI, DYNAMITE DOLLARS, DEFI DU SEUIL

 

16.10 – Cross Country

SD – If the TIGER ROLL of the last two years turns up then there is surely only one winner. He is way clear of Easysland on ratings and the remainder of the field. Perhaps he isn’t the bravest of the Cheltenham day two tips but he’s certainly one of the safest.

 

DY – Tiger roll is just so superior on ratings that he should bolt up here unless he’s now past his best. He would need to be well past it to not even place but EASYSLAND would be the only realistic threat.

Cheltenham day two tips – TIGER ROLL, EASYSLAND

 

16.50 – Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle

SD – Alan King does well at Cheltenham and BLACKO is a nice horse for him. He’s won both starts impressively, especially last time despite racing keenly. He is a slick jumper, who travels well and he ticks a lot of boxes for this race to be honest. I like him a lot.

NIGHT EDITION has improved with each run and, following a promising second in a grade two over 2 miles here two runs ago, he then won easily at Ludlow where Tom Scudamore rode him really confidently. He could be a horse to follow for next year too and he’s not without a chance here.

SAINT D’OROUX could be value representing Gordon Elliott. He got off the mark at the fourth time of asking last time out and even though he needs improvement, he does look the type who will kick on now he has got his head in front.

Paul Nicholls does well in this race and MICK PASTOR has a nice chance. He was too keen here a couple of starts ago on debut in a grade two but seemed to learn a lot from that when winning smoothly next time out and Barry Geraghty has chosen to ride him over Aramax, which is worth noting. Also, a recent wind-op and the first time hood applied will definitely help him and he could prove a cut above this field if settling better back here.

 

DY – Typically a tough race to gauge with no previous season form to go by but I do think a couple have been mapped out for this and the first has to be TRONADOR. I’m annoyed the price is going but I think there’s still some value and he should be on any shortlist.

JP has few well found chances and there are some with Cheltenham form that looked underrated but I do think Nicky Henderson has landed on his feet this year with both PALLADIUM & FRASER ISLAND. The fact Nico has picked the former isn’t much of a clue as the pair look to be in with massive chances so those would the trio I’d want to go to war with.

Cheltenham day two tips – TRONADOR, PALLADIUM, FRASER ISLAND, MICK PASTOR, SAINT D’OROUX, NIGHT EDITION, BLACKO

 


 

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