12 minutes The feature race on day two is the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase whilst other Wednesday highlights include Grade 1 races, the Gallagher Novices’ Hurdle and Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase
The 2024 Cheltenham Festival got underway in style on Tuesday as three Willie Mullins-trained red-hot favourites lived up to their pre-Festival hype to give the Irish trainer an opening day hat-trick. Gaelic Warrior charged to Arkle victory before State Man landed the Champion Hurdle and Lossiemouth dominated the Mares’ Hurdle. The other Grade 1 race on the day saw Slade Steel land the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle for Henry de Bromhead ahead of the well-backed Mystical Power.. Elsewhere there were wins for Chianti Classico, Lark In The Mornin and Corbetts Cross.
The feature race on day two is the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase whilst other Wednesday highlights include Grade 1 races, the Gallagher Novices’ Hurdle and Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase. Our odds for Wednesday’s races will once again come from popular betting partners, NAGS Bet.
1:30 (due off 1:45)
Gallagher Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1)
Ballyburn was already tipped by many to land Wednesday’s opener but his chances have been further boosted by the manner of Slade Steel’s win in the Supreme. Ballyburn finished 7 lengths ahead of Slade Steel to land a Grade 1 at Leopardstown last month whilst his only previous race over longer than 2m saw him hack up by 25 lengths in a maiden hurdle just after Christmas. On his first run outside of Ireland, Ballyburn is likely to edge trainer, Willie Mullins closer to a landmark 100th Cheltenham Festival win.
Whilst Willie Mullins has the top three in an Irish dominated market, Handstands looks the best of the British challengers for in-form trainer, Ben Pauling. Handstands is 3/3 over hurdles and he turned over previous Grade 1 winner, Jango Baie at Aintree on Boxing Day. Step up in trip should suit and he looks a real player in Wednesday’s opener.
Betting.Bet Prediction: Ballyburn / Handstands e/w
Race odds
| Horse | Form | Trainer | Jockey | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ballyburn | 111-211 | W P Mullins | P Townend | 2/5 |
| Ile Atlantique | 3/122-12 | W P Mullins | Mr P W Mullins | 5/1 |
| Predators Gold | 1-122 | W P Mullins | D E Mullins | 10/1 |
| Handstands | 1111 | B Pauling | H Cobden | 12/1 |
| Jingko Blue | 1-211 | N J Henderson | N de Boinville | 14/1 |
| Mercurey | 13/2-31 | W P Mullins | B Hayes | 20/1 |
| Jimmy De Seuil | 52-21 | W P Mullins | S F O'Keeffe | 25/1 |
| The Grey Man | 522 | H Dickin | Benjamin Poste | 80/1 |
2:10 (due off 2:30)
Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase (Grade 1)
It’s the same old story in the second Grade 1 of the day with a red-hot favourite trained by Willie Mullins at the head of the market. Fact To File heads back to Cheltenham hoping to go one better than last year’s second place finish in the Champion Bumper.
There are only six entries in this year’s Brown Advisory but you could make a strong case for at least four of these. Stay Away Fay leads the British charge for trainer, Paul Nicholls having landed the Albert Bartlett 12 months ago. However, he could only manage third when favourite for the Grade 2 Cotswold Chase here at Cheltenham in January.
American Mike defeated Fact To File in a beginners chase at Navan in November before landing a Grade 2 race at the same course last month. Has a real chance of out-running his odds on Wednesday.
Betting.Bet Prediction: Fact To File
Race odds
| Horse | Form | Trainer | Jockey | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fact To File | 122-211 | W P Mullins | M P Walsh | 4/5 |
| Stay Away Fay | 214-113 | P F Nicholls | H Cobden | 10/3 |
| Monty's Star | 4/21P-31 | H de Bromhead | Rachael Blackmore | 5/1 |
| American Mike | 474-141 | G Elliott | J W Kennedy | 11/1 |
| Sandor Clegane | 331-422 | P Nolan | S F O'Keefe | 20/1 |
| Giovinco | 1-U12P1 | Miss Lucinda V Russell | S Mulqueen | 22/1 |
2:50 (due off 3:15)
Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap)
Only one of the past ten Coral Cup winners have returned a single-figure price, making it an excellent opportunity to unearth some real value. Doddiethegreat looks extremely well handicapped for trainer, Nicky Henderson and would undoubtedly be a lot shorter than his current price if it wasn't for the form of the Seven Barrows team.
Built By Ballymore has always been highly regarded but there were concerns over his pace ahead of this. The conditions will favour him following back-to-back wins on heavy ground at Limerick and Punchestown and he is likely to go off as a relatively short-priced favourite. Langer Dan is on the same mark as he was when winning this race last year and could be due another strong run on Wednesday.
Sa Majeste is lightly raced for a six-year-old with just four runs behind him however his comfortable 4 length win over 2022 Grand National winner, Noble Yeats on heavy ground at Limerick last time out makes him a major player here for trainer, Willie Mullins.
Betting.Bet Prediction: Sa Majeste
Race odds
| Horse | Form | Trainer | Jockey | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Built By Ballymore | 2/05-811 | M Brassil | J J Slevin | 4/1 |
| Sa Majeste | 3/16-1 | W P Mullins | M P Walsh | 9/2 |
| Langer Dan | 81-6P90 | D Skelton | Harry Skelton | 13/2 |
| Doddiethegreat | 111/124 | N J Henderson | N de Boinville | 8/1 |
| Ballyadam | 55-2133 | H de Bromhead | Rachael Blackmore | 9/1 |
| Jigoro | 2123 | G Elliott | J W Kennedy | 11/1 |
| Brazil | 2120-P0 | P Roche | A P Kelly | 11/1 |
| Might I | 24-5213 | H Fry | J J Burke | 14/1 |
| Zanndabad | 745-02 | A J Martin | Daniel King | 16/1 |
| Lucky Place | 22122 | N J Henderson | James Bowen | 18/1 |
| Shanbally Kid | 1/418-48 | W P Mullins | M J M O'Sullivan | 18/1 |
| First Street | 08-3233 | N J Henderson | Paul O'Brien | 18/1 |
| Guard Your Dreams | 323U/54 | N A Twiston-Davies | Sam Twiston-Davies | 25/1 |
| Black Bamboo | 235166 | J J Murphy | S W Flanagan | 25/1 |
| Da Capo Glory | 2-15P13 | Padraig Butler | Mr Darragh Allen | 25/1 |
| Western Fold | 3U15F1 | G Elliott | Sam Ewing | 28/1 |
| Mark Of Gold | 17-54F1 | G L Moore | Rob Hargreaves | 33/1 |
| Maxxum | 145P16 | G Elliott | J Coen | 33/1 |
| Rambo T | 713619 | O Murphy | G Sheehan | 40/1 |
| Benson | P-44140 | A M Thomson | Ryan Mania | 40/1 |
| Beacon Edge | 36-1P42 | G Elliott | D J Gilligan | 40/1 |
| Lombron | 3-147 | W P Mullins | D E Mullins | 50/1 |
| Finest Evermore | 1134/P1- | P Hennessy | B Hayes | 50/1 |
| Franciscan Rock | 133-F47 | M F Morris | R A Doyle | 50/1 |
3:30 (due off 4:00)
Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase (Grade 1)
The feature race on day two of the Festival is the Queen Mother Champion Chase and our enhanced race preview can be found on our Cheltenham Supersite. In a repeat of last year’s Arkle, El Fabiolo is preferred to Jonbon in the betting markets. Unbeaten chaser, El Fabiolo warmed up for the Cheltenham Festival by landing the Grade 1 Dublin Chase at Leopardstown.
Jonbon was turned over in the Clarence House Chase but is a big player on past form. Defeated El Fabiolo in a Grade 1 hurdle race back in 2022 and has also got the better of Edwardstone and Captain Guinness in recent races.
Both Edwardstone and Captain Guinness are solid each-way options with most bookies paying for three places. Edwardstone won the Arkle in 2022 and looked extremely comfortable front-running in the Grade 2 Game Spirit Chase last month. Captain Guinness finished second in this race last year.
Betting.Bet Prediction: El Fabiolo
Race odds
| Horse | Form | Trainer | Jockey | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| El Fabiolo | 1111-11 | W P Mullins | P Townend | 1/2 |
| Jonbon | 211-112 | N J Henderson | N de Boinville | 9/2 |
| Edwardstone | 25-2241 | A King | Tom Cannon | 7/1 |
| Captain Guinness | 222-1P3 | H de Bromhead | Rachael Blackmore | 17/2 |
| Elixir De Nutz | 2-51131 | J Tizzard | Freddie Gingell | 25/1 |
| Gentleman De Mee | 4614-24 | W P Mullins | M P Walsh | 28/1 |
| Boothill | 23-11FF | H Fry | J J Burke | 50/1 |
| Funambule Sivola | 5-66362 | Miss V Williams | Charlie Deutsche | 100/1 |
4:10 (abandoned)
Cross Country Chase CANCELLED Due to Downpour
Glenfarlcas Chase (Cross Country Chase)
There’s some real talent in the Cross Country Chase with 2021 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner, Minella Indo set to go up against Gordon Elliott’s three-strong team of Delta Work, Coko Beach and Galvin. Minella Indo pulled up in last year’s Cheltenham Gold Cup but showed promising signs over C&D in December, not to be ruled out.
Of the three Gordon Elliott entries, Coko Beach is our pick. The nine-year-old has not competed at the Cheltenham Festival since 2020 but has enjoyed a fine few months. His seasonal reappearance at Limerick produced a solid third place finish in a Grade 2 before landing the 20-runner Troytown Handicap in November. Coko Beach finished second in the Becher Handicap Chase in December before returning to the winners enclosure in a cross country chase at Punchestown last month.
Delta Work has won the Cross Country Chase in successive years but has not shown much in four runs since. Delta Work’s most recent run saw him finish 6/8 in the Grade 2 Boyne Hurdle, 16 lengths off the race winner. Last year’s runner-up, Galvin hopes to go one better this year having finished 11 lengths ahead of Delta Work in the Boyne Hurdle. Galvin has an excellent record at Cheltenham and is more than capable of landing this.
Betting.Bet Prediction: Coko Beach
Race odds
| Horse | Form | Trainer | Jockey | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delta Work | 61U-366 | G Elliott | J W Kennedy | 2/1 |
| Coko Beach | 1P-3121 | G Elliott | Sam Ewing | 5/2 |
| Minella Indo | P/1P-144 | H de Bromhead | Rachael Blackmore | 11/4 |
| Galvin | 62U-854 | G Elliott | K M Donoghue | 13/2 |
| Foxy Jacks | 21P314 | M F Morris | G Brouder | 11/1 |
| Stattler | 22P-624 | W P Mullins | Mr P W Mullins | 16/1 |
| Francky Du Berlais | 238425 | P Bowen | James Bowen | 33/1 |
| Fameaftertheglory | 761733 | G P Cromwell | S W Flanagan | 33/1 |
| Diesel D'Allier | 0P-4967 | R Bandey | Brendan Powell | 66/1 |
| Didero Vallis | P-39P2P | Miss V Williams | Charlie Deutsche | 80/1 |
| Streets Of Doyen | 50P-105 | J C McConnell | Mr A Harvey | 100/1 |
| Bodhisattva | 8-1353B | J C McConnell | Ben Harvey | 125/1 |
4:50
Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap)
The Grand Annual was established in 1834, making it the oldest chase on the National Hunt calendar and the oldest in the Cheltenham Festival. Defending champion, Maskada is back again this year and if he repeats the form shown 12 months ago he’ll take some beating on Wednesday.
Libberty Hunter is likely to go off as race favourite on Wednesday and on current form this is very much justified. The unexposed eight-year-old has won back-to-back races including a handicap chase on heavy ground here at Cheltenham in January. Matata was behind Libberty Hunter in January and his strong running in Tuesday’s Arkle further enhances Libberty Hunter’s prospects.
Path D’oroux pulled up in the County Hurdle last year but could be a real dark horse on Wednesday. He’s twice finished second over fences in 2024, latterly behind Madara who is also shortlisted. Hardy Du Seuil has been the subject of plenty of market support this week seeing his odds tumble over the past few days. Back chasing last month with a solid third at Sandown and now with headgear back on, Hardy Du Seuil could be a major player.
Betting.Bet Prediction: Path D’oroux
Race odds
| Horse | Form | Trainer | Jockey | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Libberty Hunter | 315-F11 | Evan Williams | H Cobden | 4/1 |
| Saint Roi | 24-4345 | W P Mullins | M P Walsh | 13/2 |
| Madara | 82U611 | Mrs S Leech | J Reveley | 13/2 |
| Maskada | 101-433 | H de Bromhead | D J O'Keefe | 15/2 |
| Sa Fureur | 11P-F12 | G Elliott | J W Kennedy | 8/1 |
| Hardy Du Seuil | 31722-3 | Jamie Snowden | G Sheehan | 9/1 |
| Path D'oroux | 468F22 | G P Cromwell | K M Donoghue | 10/1 |
| Dancing On My Own | 91-2106 | H de Bromhead | Rachael Blackmore | 10/1 |
| Harper's Brook | 5P2-021 | B Pauling | Kielan Woods | 11/1 |
| Unexpected Party | 3-15549 | D Skelton | Harry Skelton | 12/1 |
| Solness | 1-22513 | J P O'Brien | J J Slevin | 16/1 |
| The King Of Prs | 411136 | G P Cromwell | S W Flanagan | 18/1 |
| Triple Trade | 1-21315 | J Tizzard | Brendan Powell | 22/1 |
| Calico | 21F-242 | D Skelton | Tristan Durrell | 22/1 |
| Gemirande | 12123-5 | Miss V Williams | Charlie Deutsche | 28/1 |
| The Folkes Tiara | 3-21918 | H de Bromhead | J J Burke | 33/1 |
| Frere D'armes | 27-52P6 | D Skelton | C Gethings | 33/1 |
5:30
Weatherbys Champion Bumper (Grade 1)
The Champion Bumper is the most prestigious flat race on the National Hunt calendar and has been won in the past by the likes of Cue Card, Champagne Fever, Envoi Allen, Sir Gerhard and Facile Vega. This year’s renewal is wide-open with the market dominated by a strong Irish contingent. The first seven horses in the betting are trained by either Gordon Elliott or Willie Mullins. The current market leader is Jasmin De Vaux for the Mullins team. Two previous races include a 5 length win in a point-to-point followed by a dominant 15 length win in a bumper. Interestingly, Mullins’ chief jockey, Paul Townend rides Cantico instead, who won comfortably on heavy ground at Navan last month.
The bookies see Jalon D’oudaries as the pick of the Gordon Elliott entries but we feel that The Yellow Clay could be the real danger. Defied a 314-day break to finish a close fourth in a Grade 2 last month and certainly open to improvement.
The solitary British entry in the top ten in the betting is the Paul Nicholls-trained Teeshan and the five-year-old looks an exciting prospect. Cantered to a 41 length point-to-point win in the autumn before landing a maiden bumper by 7 lengths at Exeter last month.
Betting.Bet Prediction: Teeshan
Race odds
| Horse | Form | Trainer | Jockey | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jasmin De Vaux | 1-1 | W P Mullins | Mr P W Mullins | 5/1 |
| Jalon D'oudairies | 1-11 | G Elliott | J W Kennedy | 11/2 |
| The Yellow Clay | 11-4 | G Elliott | J C Gainford | 15/2 |
| Cantico | 1-31 | W P Mullins | P Townend | 17/2 |
| You Oughta Know | 112 | W P Mullins | D E Mullins | 9/1 |
| Romeo Coolio | 1-1 | G Elliott | K M Donoghue | 10/1 |
| Junta Marvel | 11- | W P Mullins | Rachael Blackmore | 11/1 |
| Teeshan | 11 | P F Nicholls | H Cobden | 11/1 |
| Argento Boy | 1 | W P Mullins | B Hayes | 12/1 |
| Fleur Au Fusil | 11 | W P Mullins | Miss J Townend | 12/1 |
| Sixmilebridge | U2-1 | B Pauling | Kielan Woods | 16/1 |
| C'est Ta Chance | 1-2 | W P Mullins | D A Jacob | 20/1 |
| Quebecois | 2-1 | P F Nicholls | Lorcan Williams | 22/1 |
| Kingston Pride | 1-2 | N J Henderson | N de Boinville | 28/1 |
| Royal Infantry | 3U1-11 | D Skelton | Harry Skelton | 33/1 |
| Bill Joyce | 1-11 | Jonjo O'Neill | Jonjo O'Neill Jr. | 33/1 |
| Sounds Victorius | 21 | W P Mullins | S F O'Keefe | 40/1 |
| Stavvy | 831 | Jane Chapple-Hyam | Bryony Frost | 40/1 |
| Fishery Lane | 2 | W P Mullins | M J M O'Sullivan | 40/1 |
| Tripoli Flyer | 51 | F O'Brien | P J Brennan | 50/1 |
| Dirty Den | 1229 | S Hosie | M G Nolan | 66/1 |
| Celtic Dino | 13 | S Thomas | Sam Twiston-Davies | 80/1 |
| Union Avenue | 32-114 | James Moffatt | Danny McMenamin | 100/1 |
