Cheltenham Festival ideas for Wednesday March 12 together with two Willie Mullins superstars
Cheltenham Festival continues on Wednesday, March 12, with plenty of punters looking to place their bets on the second day of one of the most-anticipated horse racing events of the year
The second day of Cheltenham Festival offers plenty of thrills and spills plus some great opportunities for punters – here’s our top tips and Daily Star guide to the festival.
Yesterday’s action proved ‘a sure thing’ just doesn’t exist. But in the Turners Novices’ Hurdle run over two miles and five furlongs at Cheltenham, FINAL DEMAND (1.20) can give the great Willie Mullins his fourth victory on the spin in the race.
The six-year-old hacked up by a dozen lengths at Leopardstown on the first day of February, where he looked an equine monster.
BALLYBURN (2.00) showed his liking for a trip to Gloucestershire when bolting up by 13 lengths in the previous race at last year’s Festival, so he is going to take a world of beating in the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase run over three miles.
Willie Mullins’ beast obliged by five lengths over two miles five furlongs at Leopardstown last month and what really impressed me was the way he powered away from his rivals after the last. I’m sure this longer trip will see him in an even better light.
When it comes to amazing plots, only Agatha Christie has bettered Dan Skelton so back BE AWARE (2.40) each-way in the Coral Cup over two miles and five furlongs with a firm paying at least six places.
This strong-travelling creature was a close-up second to Burdett Road – now 17lb higher – off a perch of 130 in the Greatwood at this course in November, so looks very well treated off a mark of 137 over this longer trip.
His trainer has won the last two runnings with Langer Dan and looks set to land the hat-trick.
Keith Donoghue produced the coolest ride of the season when easing STUMPTOWN (3.20) home by a length over course and distance in December, when Gavin Cromwell’s banks specialist was rated 149. The assessor was not fooled by the ease of victory and hiked the horse up to a ledge of 157 for the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase.
Twice a winner over the upturned boats, grassy knolls and cheese wedges at Punchestown, Stumptown is the one they all have to beat at a discipline in which he thrives, and first-time cheekpieces can only help.
At this meeting in 2023, MARINE NATIONAL (4.00) hacked up in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle by over three lengths, so he looks a cracking each-way wager around the 5-1 ledge in the magical eight-runner BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase run over two miles.
Barry Connell’s horse was given a very poor ride when second at Leopardstown 38 days ago, when the winner was given a fence start. Granted a more judicious effort from the saddle, this talented beast can’t be booted out of the frame with the terrain drying out.
Connections of MY MATE MOZZIE (4.40) will also be happy conditions are getting quicker, as their horse was third at Royal Ascot on a fast surface when rated 96 in June. Third in a Galway Hurdle, it’s obvious Gavin Cromwell’s animal enjoys the hurly-burly of a big field and strong gallop, so he must be backed each-way at 7-1 with a firm paying five places in the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Chase over two miles.
Second off a mark of 148 at Leopardstown in early February, the course and distance winner is primed to take this off a perch of 151.
Unbeaten in two bumpers at Navan and Punchestown and his only point, KALYPSO’CHANCE (5.20) will carry my each-way wonga in the Weatherbys Champion Bumper run over two miles.
Word has leaked out from Gordon Elliott’s yard that the five-year-old worked very well last week. The top-rated horse in this race at 130, his brilliant trainer has won this race twice in the last eight years.
