Cheltenham 2019 tips: Matt Chapman looks ahead to Ladies Day at the Festival
The Festival continues on Wednesday, so don't miss out on Chappers' best bets
IT’S Altior day at Cheltenham where the defending champion chaser has the chance to give himself a rating that matches his ability.
Yes, Day 2 is all about the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase, and the extraordinary Altior is out to add a second success in the main event to a CV which already includes Festival wins in a Supreme and Arkle.
Yet, Altior is not the top-rated chaser in training, having be usurped by recent facile Ascot victor Cyrname as the best in the business
For many racing fans, that seems crazy, although ratings have never been a true guide of who is the best horse. Just look at Winx!
Today Nico de Boinville - who was a conditional when he first rode Altior at Market Rasen - will hopefully unleash Altior to show us what he can do, and if he destroys the 167-rated Min and 166-rated Politologue then he could just get his mark into the 180s and start to be thought of in the same breath as a Sprinter Sacre or Badsworth Boy.
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Nicky Henderson has done a great job with Altior, who has notched up eighteen wins from twenty starts Under Rules, and I just hope he puts on a bold show in the champion for the champion trainer. God’s Own might be one for a place at massive odds, with form in this event of 4-5-3 over the last few years.
Next up is the RSA Chase. I’m all over Delta Work here and Davy Russell, who is just a genius in the saddle.
Last season’s Pertemps Final hero has done nothing wrong over fences, and I was at Fairyhouse when he won two outings ago and he did really well despite a mistake in the closing stages. He stays and tries and has talent. Could be one for Gordon Elliott.
There’s a cavalry charge for the Coral Cup after the RSA. I’m guessing here, but William Henry has had a wind operation and is perfectly capable at this level if it has worked. The nine-year-old has run really well in this off the same mark when fourth last year.
After the Queen Mother it's Tiger Roll time, as the Grand National hero goes in the Cross Country Chase.
Tiger Roll will take all the beating, but I’d rather back Josies Orders for a place. He was back to his best at Punchestown last time and loves it here. Should give Mark Walsh a great spin.
The penultimate race on the card is a juvenile handicap hurdle.