Cheltenham Day Two Preview: Chacun to be new Champion Chase king

After a thrilling first day of action, day two of the Cheltenham Festival sees the two-mile chasers take centre stage with the Champion Chase seeing the likes of Chacun Pour Soi and Politologue do battle.
Robbie Power riding Chacun Pour Soi. Photo: Alan Crowhurst/Getty ImagesRobbie Power riding Chacun Pour Soi. Photo: Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images
Robbie Power riding Chacun Pour Soi. Photo: Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images

We have once again previewed all of the action with our race by race guide.

1.20pm Grade One Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle

A cracking contest to kick things off. Bob Olinger is the name on everyone’s lips having been well-talked up at various preview evenings. Trained by Henry De Bromhead, the six-year-old recorded an emphatic success in G1 company at Naas last time out and looks sure to be suited by conditions at Cheltenham. His main rivals are Bravemansgame who was electric in the Challow Novices’ Hurdle at Paul Nicholls and Gaillard Du Mesnil for Willie Mullins.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

However, Bob Olinger created a striking impression at Naas and makes the most appeal here.

Selection: Bob Olinger 11/4

1.55pm Grade One Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase

This is all about Monkfish for Willie Mullins. Winner of the Albert Bartlett last term, he has sauntered to success in three starts this season over fences. He produced a seismic performance at the Dublin Racing Festival, coming clear in the tyle of a future Gold Cup winner and he makes plenty of appeal with The Big Breakaway a potential each-way possibility.

Selection: Monkfish 8/11

2.30pm Coral Cup

The Willie Mullins-trained Koshari looks attractively handicapped off a mark of 146. He shaped better than the bare results suggests when sixth at Leopardstown last time out over three miles which seemed to stretch his stamina and this drop back in trip looks sure to suit.

Selection: Koshari 9/1

3.05pm Grade One Queen Mother Champion Chase

Chacun Pour Soi is the headline act as he attempts to record a first success on his first visit to the Cheltenham Festival. He has looked magnificent in three starts this term and eased to victory in G1 company at Leopardstown last time out.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He looks the one to beat on paper. Others who warrant a mention are reigning champion Politologue and First Flow who won the Clarence House Chase last time out.

Selection: Chacun Pour Soi 4/5

3.40pm Glenfarclas Chase

Tiger Roll and Easysland look set to meet in this race once again with the latter winning this event in fine fashion last year. Easysland’s main target looks to be the Grand National this season, whilst Tiger Roll could be retired after this event. However, Easysland is still only a seven-year-old and gets the verdict here.

Selection: Easysland 11/10

4.15pm Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase

Sky Pirate would be of serious interest if lining up here. The eight-year-old was a creditable second at Warwick last time out behind Allmankind and also boasts winning form at Cheltenham when scoring at Cheltenham in December. Also worth considering is Embittered who has been well-beaten in G1 company on his last two starts, but looks interesting back in handicap company here.

Selection: Embittered 6/1

4.50pm Weatherbys Champion Bumper

Willie Mullins holds a strong hand in the finale with Kilcruit and Sir Gerhard. Kilcruit looked awesome when scoring at Leopardstown at the Dublin Racing Festival and narrowly shades the verdict over Sir Gerhard who is unbeaten in two starts under Rules.

Selection: Kilcruit 15/8

Tips and analysis via Betting Expert