NEWS | PREMIUM TIPS | STAKING | RESULTS | PLAY
NEWS | PREMIUM TIPS | STAKING | RESULTS | PLAY
At Romping Home Racing, our daily tips normally go through extensive database stress testing before being released. However, the Cheltenham Festival brings together the very best horses in the sport, where statistical angles alone often struggle to identify value.
For this reason, the selections below are RHR expert fancies for the Festival, based on form, race trends, and experience rather than our usual database model.
RHR Selections: Sober (7/1) & Sortudo (12/1)
Day Two of the Cheltenham Festival begins with the Turners Novices’ Hurdle, a Grade 1 contest over two miles and five furlongs that regularly produces future staying stars. This year’s renewal has attracted a huge field of 22 runners, making it one of the most competitive races on the card. In a contest like this, there is often value to be found just beyond the very front of the market, and the RHR team will be taking two each-way chances.
The first selection is Sober, currently trading around 7/1. Trained by Willie Mullins, Sober has progressed nicely throughout the season and heads to Cheltenham with the look of a horse who may still have more to offer. His standout performance came at Punchestown earlier in the campaign when landing the Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle, where he travelled with real purpose before finishing the race off strongly. That performance underlined both his cruising speed and his ability to see things out well, two qualities that should serve him well in a race likely to be run at a true pace. The move up to this trip looks a positive, and with Mullins holding such a strong recent record in this race, Sober makes plenty of appeal.
The second RHR selection is Sortudo, who looks solid each-way value at around 12/1. Another from the Mullins yard, he has already shown he belongs in high-class novice company and comes here with a notably consistent profile. One of his best efforts came in Grade 1 company at Naas, where he finished second in a competitive field after shaping well throughout. Earlier in the season he also impressed with a win at Cork, showing stamina and fluent hurdling in equal measure. What stands out most with Sortudo is his reliability. He repeatedly runs his race, and his pedigree suggests this step up in distance around Cheltenham should suit him well. In a big-field novice hurdle where stamina and slick jumping often prove decisive, he looks a very sensible each-way play.
With 22 runners declared, this looks the sort of race where doubling up at the prices makes complete sense. Both Sober and Sortudo have the profiles to go well here and give us two solid chances of making a strong start to Day Two of the Festival.
RHR Selections: Wendigo (8/1) & Oscars Brother (11/1)
The Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase is one of the standout contests on Day Two of the Cheltenham Festival. Run over three miles on the Old Course, this Grade 1 has long been viewed as a stepping stone towards future Gold Cup contenders and demands stamina, accurate jumping and the ability to cope with Cheltenham’s relentless uphill finish.
While Romeo Coolio looks the obvious class act in the race and rightly sits near the top of the market, the RHR team will again look a little further down the betting for value. Two runners in particular catch the eye at each-way prices, and both look well suited to the demands of this race.
The first of those is Wendigo, who looks well worth consideration around the 8/1 mark. Trained by Jamie Snowden, Wendigo built a strong reputation over hurdles last season, most notably when finishing fifth in the Albert Bartlett at the Cheltenham Festival despite meeting trouble late on. That run strongly hinted at both his stamina and his suitability for the track. Since going chasing he has continued to move forward, first shaping with promise on debut over fences when narrowly beaten by subsequent Listed winner Wade Out, and then confirming that promise when landing the Grade 2 John Francome Novices’ Chase at Newbury, where his stamina came to the fore.
That Newbury success suggested fences may bring out even more in him, and the step up to three miles at Cheltenham looks right up his street. Wendigo shapes like a thorough stayer who should be well suited by a proper test, and with previous Festival experience already under his belt, he looks the type to give a very good account of himself.
The second RHR selection is Oscars Brother, who brings a highly progressive chasing profile into the race and makes plenty of appeal at around 11/1. Trained by Connor King and owned by JP McManus, the eight-year-old has taken well to fences and boasts an impressive record over the larger obstacles, winning three of his five chase starts. His latest appearance came in the Grade 2 Ten Up Novice Chase at Navan, where he produced a dominant display to score by six lengths.
That was an eye catching performance, not least because the Ten Up has often worked out well as a trial for staying novice chasers heading to Cheltenham. Oscars Brother showed not only that he stays three miles strongly, but also that he can jump accurately while maintaining momentum, which is a major asset in a race of this nature.
With the Brown Advisory placing such emphasis on stamina and jumping over a searching three miles, both of these selections look to have plenty in their favour. Wendigo brings proven staying credentials and previous Festival experience, while Oscars Brother arrives with progressive Grade 2 form and the look of a horse still going the right way.
RHR Selections: Storm Heart (6/1 – Win) & Jingko Blue (11/1 – Each Way)
The 14:40 on Day Two of the Cheltenham Festival is the BetMGM Cup Handicap Hurdle, the race formerly known as the Coral Cup. Run over two miles and five furlongs, it is traditionally one of the most competitive handicaps of the entire week and regularly attracts a tightly matched field. With 26 runners declared this year, it is not an easy puzzle to solve, but after digging into the form, the RHR team have come down on two runners — one as a win selection and the other as an each-way angle.
The main RHR selection is Storm Heart, who heads the market at around 6/1 and is one of the few favourites we have sided with this week. Trained by Willie Mullins, the six-year-old has improved steadily through the season and comes here on the back of an impressive win in the Grade 3 Red Mills Trial Hurdle at Gowran Park, where he beat six rivals with plenty to like about the manner of the performance.
Earlier in the campaign, Storm Heart also advertised his quality when finishing second in a strong Grade 1 at Leopardstown, beaten only narrowly after sticking to his task really well late on. That effort suggested he has both the class and stamina required for this sort of assignment. One of his biggest assets is the way he settles into his races before picking up when it matters, a style that can work particularly well in a race like this where the tempo is usually strong throughout. The move up to 2m5f looks an obvious plus, and with Mullins’ outstanding Festival record taken into account, Storm Heart looks a very solid favourite and the horse we see as the most likely winner.
The second selection is Jingko Blue, who offers strong each-way value at around 11/1. Trained by Nicky Henderson, the seven-year-old has built up a consistent profile and has already shown he can compete to a high standard in graded company. His latest run came in the Grade 2 Relkeel Hurdle at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day, where he finished second in a small but useful field, shaping well over a similar trip to the one he faces here.
Earlier in his career Jingko Blue also advertised his ability when winning novice hurdles at both Newbury and Uttoxeter, showing a good cruising speed and the ability to handle testing ground. That Cheltenham run in the Relkeel is especially interesting because it proves he handles both the course and its demands, which can make a real difference in a big-field handicap. His racing style and pedigree both point towards this trip suiting him, especially if the race turns into a proper test late on.
Handicap hurdles at Cheltenham often go to horses who combine class, stamina and the ability to cope with the track. Storm Heart brings the strongest win credentials to the table, while Jingko Blue looks the value each-way alternative with proven course form already in the book.
RHR Selection: Favori De Champdou (5/2)
The Cross Country Chase is always one of the most distinctive races of the Cheltenham Festival. Run over the specialist cross-country course, it features banks, ditches and a variety of unusual obstacles that place a huge emphasis on rhythm, experience and accurate jumping. With 14 runners declared this year, it still poses all the usual questions, but the RHR team are happy to side firmly with the favourite, with Favori De Champdou standing out as one of our strongest selections of the week.
Trained by Gordon Elliott and ridden by Jack Kennedy, Favori De Champdou brings exactly the sort of profile you want for this specialist discipline. He has built up an excellent record over Cheltenham’s unique cross-country track and comes into the Festival on the back of two consecutive course wins earlier this season.
His most recent success came in December’s Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase, where he delivered a polished display to beat a competitive field. He moved through the race with confidence, jumped accurately throughout and asserted after the final obstacle to win by just under three lengths. It was another performance that highlighted how comfortable he is around this course and how well he sustains his rhythm over these unique fences.
Before that, he had already advertised his liking for the track when winning the November Cross Country Chase at Cheltenham, again jumping soundly and seeing the race out strongly. He took control in the closing stages that day, confirming once more that the unusual demands of this course clearly play to his strengths.
Three runs ago he suffered a fall in another cross-country contest at Cheltenham, but that now looks far more like a blip than a major concern. He had been travelling well before the mistake and, crucially, has since returned with two authoritative wins, which strongly suggests both his confidence and technique remain intact.
Course experience is often everything in this race, and Favori De Champdou already has that in abundance. Add in Gordon Elliott’s excellent record in these contests and Jack Kennedy’s quality in big-race situations, and the case becomes even stronger. With proven course form, recent winning form and the right team behind him, Favori De Champdou looks a very worthy favourite and one of the standout bets of the week.
RHR Selection: Il Etait Temps (5/1)
The Queen Mother Champion Chase is the feature race on Day Two of the Cheltenham Festival and remains the championship test for two-mile chasers. Run at a relentless gallop on the Old Course, it demands electric jumping, tactical speed and the ability to stand up to the pressure of top-level company. This year’s renewal looks particularly strong despite the presence of a short-priced favourite at the head of the market.
That favourite is Majborough, currently around 10/11, and he sets the standard coming into the race. Trained by Willie Mullins, he has looked a top-class prospect throughout the season and his performances over fences have marked him out as one of the most exciting two-mile chasers in training. His jumping has been sharp and efficient, enabling him to travel comfortably in strongly run races, and his finishing effort has backed up the view that he deserves his place at the top of the betting.
One of the main dangers is L’Eau Du Sud, who is around 4/1 in the market. The Dan Skelton-trained chaser has enjoyed an excellent season and comes here with strong form to his name. His Grade 1 Henry VIII Novices’ Chase success at Sandown earlier in the campaign showed both his pace and his ability to jump fluently under pressure, while his subsequent runs have reinforced the idea that he belongs in this company.
However, the RHR team will side with Il Etait Temps at around 5/1, a horse who has already shown he can operate at the very highest level and who may represent the value against the market leader. Also trained by Willie Mullins, Il Etait Temps announced himself as a serious two-mile chaser when landing the Grade 1 Arkle at last year’s Cheltenham Festival, putting in a superb round of jumping before quickening clear after the last.
There have been flashes of that same high-class ability again this season, although his latest run ended in disappointment when he fell late on after shaping well for much of the race. That mistake looks more like an unfortunate lapse than a real reflection of his fencing, especially given the level he had already shown over the larger obstacles.
A major positive for Il Etait Temps is the presence of Paul Townend in the saddle, one of the most successful jockeys in Cheltenham Festival history. As Willie Mullins’ stable jockey, Townend has built a remarkable record at the meeting, repeatedly delivering on the biggest stage and proving especially effective in championship races where positioning and timing matter so much.
With Majborough bringing top-class form and L’Eau Du Sud a serious threat in his own right, this has the makings of one of the races of the week. Even so, Il Etait Temps already has Festival-winning form in the book and, with Townend on board, looks more than capable of bouncing back from his recent fall.
RHR Selections: Vanderpoel (15/2 – Win) & Jasko Des Dames (14/1 – Each Way)
The Grand Annual Challenge Cup Handicap Chase is run over two miles on the Old Course and is traditionally one of the fastest and most competitive handicaps of the Cheltenham Festival. With 22 runners declared this year, it promises to be another fiercely run contest where accurate jumping and the ability to hold a position at pace are absolutely vital.
The main RHR selection is Vanderpoel, who looks a very solid option in the win market at around 15/2. Trained by Ben Pauling and ridden by Ben Jones, the seven-year-old comes into Cheltenham after a steadily progressive campaign over fences that has seen him improve with each outing.
His first start of the season came in a competitive two-mile novice chase at Chepstow, where he finished third in a field of nine. Although still learning over fences, he shaped with promise and kept on steadily after the last, suggesting the run would bring him on. He then took a clear step forward at Ascot over the same trip, finishing a close second in a field of eight after jumping soundly and only being denied late on.
That form was then backed up by a breakthrough success at Newbury over two miles, where he put in a confident round of jumping to win comfortably from a field of ten. He followed that with another impressive success at Kempton, again over two miles, confirming that his confidence and sharpness over fences had continued to build. He raced prominently that day, jumped fluently and found plenty when it mattered.
Vanderpoel now comes into the Festival after a 67-day break, which could prove ideal. He should arrive fresh, but with enough solid form behind him to suggest he is still progressing. With his profile moving the right way and his yard enjoying a strong season, he looks a serious contender.
The second RHR selection is Jasko Des Dames, who offers excellent each-way value at around 14/1. The French-bred runner has shown plenty over fences this season and has been holding his own in strong company, shaping like a horse capable of being very competitive in a race like this.
Earlier in the season he produced a particularly encouraging run when finishing second at Leopardstown, where he travelled well for much of the contest before being denied late on. That effort highlighted both his pace and his ability to cope with a strongly run race against quality opposition. He also caught the eye at the Dublin Racing Festival, where we highlighted him as a selection on the site. Although he did not manage to get the job done that day, he ran with plenty of credit in a competitive field and again showed he has the ability to mix it at this sort of level.
What makes Jasko Des Dames especially interesting for the Grand Annual is his racing style. He moves through his races smoothly and jumps well when the tempo lifts, both of which are important assets in a race that can be unforgiving from flagfall. Vanderpoel arrives as a progressive win selection, while Jasko Des Dames looks the value each-way angle in another typically difficult Festival handicap.
RHR Selections: The Mourne Rambler (9/1 – Each Way) & It’s Only A Game (14/1 – Each Way)
The final race on Day Two of the Cheltenham Festival is the Weatherbys Champion Bumper, the premier National Hunt Flat race of the season. With 22 runners declared, it is always a fascinating contest featuring some of the most exciting young prospects in the sport. At the same time, it is also one of the trickiest races of the week to solve, with lightly raced runners, unexposed profiles and plenty of unknowns throughout the field.
The first RHR selection is The Mourne Rambler, who looks an interesting contender at around 9/1. He has made a pleasing start to his bumper career this season and has shown the type of progression often needed to take a hand in this race. His form suggests he has both tactical pace and the ability to finish off his races strongly, which are valuable assets in a Champion Bumper where positioning and timing can be everything.
The second RHR selection is It’s Only A Game, who offers excellent each-way value at around 14/1. This is a horse we have been following closely after highlighting him at the Dublin Racing Festival, where he put up the sort of performance that marked him down as one to keep on side. He faces another deep field here, but his earlier efforts suggest he has the ability to be competitive against some of the better bumper horses around.
As always, the Champion Bumper is a race full of promise and potential, which makes it difficult to call with complete confidence. Still, The Mourne Rambler and It’s Only A Game both look the type to outrun their prices and give us two each-way plays in the final race of Day Two.