Cheltenham Festival tips: Templegate’s best bets for the Champion Chase and the rest of day 2 of the Festival
The Champion Chase is the feature race of the day so find out who our top tipster is backing
CHELTENHAM WEDNESDAY
1.30
GET ready for Battle in the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle. BATTLEOVERDOYEN looks a right good prospect. He’s going to come into his own when sent chasing but that’s not unusual for winners of this prize.
Everything he has done so far has been good. The form of his Irish point-to-point win worked out well as did his Punchestown bumper success.
He came right away to hit the target on his hurdles debut on easy ground in December and then had little trouble following up by beating Sams Profile in a Naas Grade 1 when upped to 2m4f the following month.
His jumping is safe – if a little too safe on occasions – and he clearly has the right mix of speed and stamina for a race like this.
2.10
SANTINI looks the answer to a tricky RSA Chase. This race wrapped me in knots. I’m willing to trust Nicky Henderson’s skills to solve Santini’s recent foot problems.
Altior suffered something similar before winning last year’s Champion Chase so it’s something that can be solved without affecting his chances.
If he’d have had a clear run at this novices’ chase he would be favourite. He was third behind Kilbricken Storm in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at last year’s Festival before going to land the Grade 1 at Aintree.
3.30
GREATNESS awaits wonderful ALTIOR in the Betway Champion Chase. He can’t be opposed to notch up an astonishing 18th victory since switching from bumpers to hurdles and looks likely to land his fourth straight Festival prize.
His seven-length defeat of Min in this race 12 months ago was one of his less impressive performances. He found the dreadful ground against him but he still toughed it out to come storming clear up the run-in in his usual manner.
Nicky Henderson’s star might lack the brilliance of stablemate Sprinter Sacre – twice winner of this race – but his style is no less effective.
He kicked off this season by seeing off Un De Sceaux in the Tingle Creek and his Desert Orchid Chase success at Kempton over Christmas was little more than an exercise canter.
He strangely jumped out to his left when beating Fox Norton at Ascot in January so going this way round again won’t do him any harm.
This exceptional horse won’t be an exceptional price but sometimes beauty beats betting.
For those who fancy a forecast last year’s runner-up Min looks the obvious answer. He was no match for Altior 12 months ago but he did see the rest off comfortably.
Willie Mullins’ hope was beaten a neck by Politologue in the Melling Chase at Aintree last spring but he shouldn’t have much trouble reversing that form. Paul Nicholls’ grey seems better over further these days and he’s never liked Cheltenham.
Sceau Royal has no worries on that score. He won the Schloer Chase over today’s course and distance in November and the dreadful ground was to blame for his last-of-four finish behind Altior in the Tingle Creek. A hurdles spin should have put him spot on.
God’s Own is the other one with place claims. He might have won this race two years ago but for a shuddering mistake two from home. His third place behind Altior in this last year came on unsuitably soft ground but it won’t be much quicker today.
Templegate's tips for day 2 of Cheltenham
1.30 Cheltenham - BATTLEOVERDOYEN (treble) (Click here to compare prices and place your bet)
2.10 Cheltenham - SANTINI (Click here to compare prices and place your bet)
2.50 Cheltenham - BALLYANDY (nb) (Click here to compare prices and place your bet)
3.30 Cheltenham - ALTIOR (Click here to compare prices and place your bet)
4.10 Cheltenham - TIGER ROLL (nap) (Click here to compare prices and place your bet)
4.50 Cheltenham - FANFAN DU SEUIL (Click here to compare prices and place your bet)
5.30 Cheltenham - ENVOI ALLEN (Click here to compare prices and place your bet)
4.10
PUT a Tiger in your bank for the Glanfarclas Chase. TIGER ROLL is an extraordinary horse and he looks most likely to win this race on the cross country course for the second year running.
Of course, he went on to win the Grand National a month later last season and he arrives at Cheltenham in much better form this time.
In fact, it could be argued his shock Boyne Hurdle victory over 2m5f at Navan last month was a personal best. Most people – me included – thought it was just a sighter for today’s race.
If he had finished out the places it wouldn’t have been a worry so to win it so impressively was quite remarkable.
He did finish behind Josies Orders and Fact Of The Matter over today’s course in November but that was a handicap. It was also his first run since grabbing Aintree glory and he’s weighted to comfortably reverse the form today.
Like Altior, he’s going for his fourth Festival victory. Also like the Champion chaser, he looks to complete the coveted quartet.
French raider Urgent De Gregaine finished second last year beaten just a couple of lengths. He likes it round here and should go well again at an each-way price.
Josies Orders won over Punchestown’s ‘banks’ course last month having swapped results with Fact Of The Matter at this track. The weights favour Enda Bolger’s hope this time but it’s unlikely he’s up to recapturing this crown he won three years ago.
Aintree specialist Ultragold – winner of the last two Topham Chases – has his Grand National prep race after running with credit in good handicaps. His lack of experience around this unique course is not a help but he clearly has no problem with the demands of the big Aintree fences so he should take to it.
Dual Grade 1 winner Tea For Two will interest some but he just doesn’t appear to be loving life. It’s hard to imagine this track will do much for his mood.
4.50
STAY chilled out with FANFAN DU SEUIL in the Boodles Juvenile Hurdle. This is a race that often throws up a big-priced winner. Only one of the last seven horses successive in this devilishly tricky handicap went off shorter than 25-1.