Cheltenham Selections

Cheltenham Wednesday:

1.30 Gallagher Novices hurdle: Willie Mullins has the first 3 in the betting and I’ll be shocked if the odds on favourite, Ballyburn doesn’t bolt up with relative ease. Firefox beat him on his first start this season, but since that, he’s won his 2 races with comfortable ease. This is surely the banker of the day, he won’t lose. Ballyburn beat Slade Steel by 7 lengths previous, Slade Steel won the opener on Tuesday so it’s next to impossible to oppose Ballyburn. The second favourite, Ile Atlantique is owned by the Brighton owner, Tony Bloom, he`ll run in the colours of last year’s champion chase winner, Energumene. Ile Atlantique is promised to have a good future but could be fighting for second or third. There are only 8 runners in this and it’ll be a shock If Paul Townend isn’t in the winning enclosure at around 1.45. Ballyburn to win by 10 lengths or more is priced at around 3/1. I think it’s very possible he could win with so much in hand, a small wager on 10 lengths or more could be a nice bet.

2.10 Brown Advisory Chase: Only 6 runners in this, race run over 3 miles. The Paul Nicholls`s trained Stay Away Fay is tipped by many considering he’s a good price of 3/1 second fav. He should go off from the front with the added cheekpieces going to help. Tony Mullins was so confident about Fact to File, he said he’d even beat Galopin Des Champs. This horse is no doubt a future Gold Cup horse but still at the same time, he’s highly thought of. I think he will win but it won’t be easy considering Stay Away Fay and Giovinco are in this. The JP owned Fact to file absolutely destroyed Gaelic Warrior in its last race. He won in impressive fashion Tuesday so that gives it a form boost. It could be a very good start for punters with the first 2 favourites tipped to win for the Irish.

2.50 Coral Cup Handicap hurdle: 25 Runners in this. Langer Dan is the third favourite which in my opinion is ridiculous. Although he won this race last year, his 4 runs this season have been very poor. Some could argue that he’s getting his mark down and is ready for this race. This has been a long-term target but it’s a guessing game considering recent form. Shanvally Kid is the one I like for Michael O Leary and Gigginstown. He`s dropping down in trip for this one and Mullins and O Leary is a deadly duo. Young Michael O Sullivan is the jockey who`s going to go on to be one of the greats in Ireland. It’s a wide-open race in which there’s good value to be had.

3.30 Queen Mother Champion Chase: There`s only 8 runners in the main event of day 2. Willie Mullins is looking forward to unleashing the favourite, El Fabiolo. His form is bulletproof but he isn’t the best of jumpers. Jonbon is the second fav here but after his latest run where he made a costly mistake that led to him losing the race, there are question marks over his jumping. The fav should win here but at odds of 7/1, I fancy Edwardstone who blitzed his rivals from the front last time out. If he repeats that style of racing which I hope he does, he will be bang there in the final stages.

4.10 Cross Country Race: Normally there’s a big field in this, there’s only 12 runners this year with the first 7 in the betting being Irish trained. I like Coko Beach at 3/1. Odds in this race are poor with little value in my opinion. I think Coko Beach who likes to race prominently has a good chance. Former Gold Cup winner, Minella Indo is probably going to go off favourite. He’s a classy operator but I think Coko Beach will just edge it. This is the race of the festival which I hate. I won’t be having a bet in this race but Coko Beach is the best bet.

4.50 The second favourite, Madara looked pretty impressive when winning last time out at the DRF. French-based jockey, James Reveley is on board for a small trainer, Sophie Leech. Harpers Brook also won last time out in fortunate fashion. This horse is bonkers, as in a few races he’s just stopped on the spot rather than winning the races. he’s an unknown but this front-runner could back up his run from a few weeks ago. I fancy Madara even though he won’t be far off favouritism in terms of race odds.

5.30 Bumper: This race is a massive unknown with all the runners only having a handful of runs under their belt. Once again, the first 7 in the betting are Irish-trained. Romeo Coolio who was bought for £420 000 looked impressive and held in some high regard for the Gordan Elliot yard. The 5/1 favourite, Jasmine De Vaux won his only race by 15 lengths albeit beating a questionable set of rivals. The Mullins Father and Son combo is deadly in most bumpers this season and it could be the same here. A lot of these horses including the 2 named could be anything. The horse I like at a price of 12/1 is the English-trained Teeshan. He won his Point2Point by a staggering 41 lengths, he was bought for a huge figure after that and has since won his only race at Exeter on heavy ground in easy fashion.

Wednesday Selections:

1.30 Ballyburn

2.10 Fact To File

2.50 Shanvally Kid

3.30 Edwardstone (Each Way)

4.10 Coko Beach

4.50 Madara

5.30 Teeshan