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It's a Willie Mullins world and we're living in it. Yet again the master trainer delivered the goods on Day 1 of the Cheltenham Festival, pinging in three winners and I'm sure many of you will have had them in a treble or a rolling accumulator with his horses later to run in the week.
The Champion Hurdle was won by State Man, who didn't set the world alight with that performance. With how close Luccia was back in third, surely Lossiemouth would've hosed up is connections put her in that race. But, they can't be too sad as she proved a class above in the Mares' race, putting doubters to bed about her not staying the trip.
All my detailed previews for Day 2 at the Cheltenham Festival can be found below.
- 13:30 – Gallagher Novices' Hurdle
- 14:10 – Brown Advisory Novices' Chase
- 14:50 – Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle
- 15:30 – Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase
- 16:10 – Glenfarclas Chase Cross Country
- 16:50 – Johnny Henderson Grand Annual
- 17:30 – Weatherbys Champion Bumper
13:30 – Gallagher Novices' Hurdle
This is a no bet race for me, as I really can't look past Ballyburn who looks like Willie Mullins' novice stable star for this year. He was beaten on seasonal reappearance by Firefox, but hasn't looked back since that run, winning a maiden hurdle by 25L before winning a Grade 1 at the DRF by 7L, with the form of that race looking rock-solid.
Full race preview:
- 13:30 – Gallagher Novices' Hurdle
14:10 – Brown Advisory Novices' Chase
Arguably the strongest staying horse in the race is Stay Away Fay and fair play to Paul Nicholls for sticking him in this race as I thought the 3m 6f race which ends Day 1 would've been a shoo-in for this horse given that he has stamina for days. Though this is a different race than the Turners, I get the same kind of ride that Harry did on Stage Star last year might be on the cards.
Full race preview:
- 14:10 – Brown Advisory Novices' Chase
14:50 – Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle
Somehow, I've managed to talk myself into backing Franciscan Rock, who is one of the bigger-priced runners in the field. Mouse Morris has tuned down his runners in Ireland in recent years, so it's eye-catching that he sends this horse to Cheltenham. Mouse is 2/3 this year in the UK, so hasn't been wasting his bullets and I think there are far worse each-way players in this race than Franciscan Rock.
Full race preview:
- 14:50 – Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle
15:30 – Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase
Surprise, surprise, the Champion Chase is a no bet race for me. I think 99% of people will think El Fabiolo will romp home to victory for this race, and I am the same.
Full race preview:
16:10 – Glenfarclas Chase Cross Country
Coko Beach is the newcomer for this race for Gordon and given the way he attacked his fences at last year's Grand National it wasn't a surprise to see him relish over the banks at Punchestown last time out as he ran out a very easy winner. He is the highest-rated horse in the race, officially rated 161, he doesn't have the same level of class about him as the others I've mentioned, but he is younger and comes into this with an obvious chance.
Full race preview:
- 16:10 – Glenfarclas Chase Cross Country
16:50 – Johnny Henderson Grand Annual
Libberty Hunter is the first selection for the Grand Annual and is the only runner of the week for Evan Williams. I still believe that this horse is on a good mark and given the way he stayed up the hill, he should be finishing off very strongly as long as he gets a clear round of jumping under his belt.
Unexpected Party is my second play in the race and I think this race has been the plan for a very long time. Dan Skelton seems to be very good at getting his horses back to winning marks, as he has done with Langer Dan and I think that is what he has managed to achieve with Unexpected Party.
Full race preview:
- 16:50 – Johnny Henderson Grand Annual
17:30 – Weatherbys Champion Bumper
I've opted for the Jordan Gainford ride, The Yellow Clay. I am quite keen on his chances coming into this race, as he finished 4th/10 in a race which has produced many winners of this race over the years, with the likes of A Dream To Share, Facile Vega, Envoi Allen and placed horses like Kilcruit and Appreciate It.
Full race preview:
- 17:30 – Weatherbys Champion Bumper
In December 2020 we sadly 
2:50 Cheltenham- jigoro 14/1
🇺🇸
Turf Paradise – Race 5…Moon Shine Time 11/2 ***+
Paddy Power
2nd ⬆️
🇺🇸
Turf paradise -Race 9…Heir 3/1 ***+
There’s a write up on yesterday’s thread, cant find it now?
🇺🇸
Well Heir didn’t win but combination forecast paid £33.67p. 👌
Any thoughts for an each way yanky tomorrow?
CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL DAY 2
1:30 – Ballyburn
2:10- Montys Star
2:50 -Built By Ballymore
3:30 – El Fabiolo – Dbl
4:10 – Minella Indo
4:50 – Madara
5:30 – Argento Boy (each way)
B’ Lucky 🍀🎲🎰
Already put my Day 2 thoughts up a couple of days ago, so just a recap and now we know what the ground is like and also how some stables are running some fresh thoughts too.
Gallagher’s
Waiting on Ballyburn to land a double with Lossiemouth. BB was 10/11 at the time but Lossiemouth was 1/2 so swings and roundabouts but as long as it lands that’s all that matters.
I’ve also thrown my PP free bet on the tricast of
1. Ballyburn
2. Predators Gold
3. Ile Atlantique
BANC
Have F2F (AP) 5/1 and I just can’t see him beaten particularly now that Broadway Boy pulled out there’s no pace angle in the race which will be a big disadvantage to Stay away Fay as he needs a strong pace to bring his stamina into play.
So with that in mind I’ve backed Monty’s Star W/O fav at 9/4.
Coral Cup
I’ve 4 backed in various bets.
Sa Majeste 6/1 ew 5 places
Been left on his mark of 140 even though he beat 152 rated Noble Yeats easily. The question is did NY run up to his mark that day, if he did the SM is thrown in here. He was also entered for the easier Martin Pipe but chose to come here instead.
Built By Ballymore 12/1 ew 5 places
Trainer Martin Brasil has been mugged in this race for the past 2 years and deserves a change of luck. BBB has won his last 2 but would have needed to in order to get into the race but done so with a fair bit up his sleeve and should have more to offer.
Doddiethegreat 10/1 ew 5 places
Very well h’capped and Hendo has won the race more than any other trainer but the yard clearly has its issues so not expecting anything from this now.
First Street 16/1 ew 6 places
Recently added this horse as he only failed on 1 trend and again comes from the most successful stable but again not expecting anything now and is drifting out.
3.30 El Fab should be too good. What Jonbon will we see based on stable form. The market might be the best line to follow closer to the off .I was going to back Captain Guiness to place but he will hate the ground so I’m going to leave it.
X Country
Backed Minella Indo early on but ground has gone against him now. Its also against Galvin.
Delta Work is now 11 so it’s a tough ask imo for him this year so I fancy Coko Beach to win today who took to the XC track at punchestown like a duck to water.
Hopefully Minella Indo can win as it would be a bigger return for me but I’ll settle for Coko.
Grand Annual
I have 2 in the race
Saint Roi 9/1 ew 5 places (AP)
Ticks all the trend boxes, only negative is WM yet to win a chase h’cap at the festival.
Libberty Hunter 10/1 ew 5 places (NRNB)
Only tends to do enough so not sure if the h’capper has caught up with him yet.
Bumper
Wide open race and your guess is as good as mine as to who wins it.
I backed You Outta Know before the DRF (10/1) and he’s still that price. Not sure how he will go but we’ll let it run anyway.
I’ve also had a small ew on C’est Ta Chance (25/1) as he was only beaten a head by William Munny who is arguably the best Bumper horse we’ve seen and is entitled to come on for that.
Romeo Colio has recently had his form boosted with the runner up winning well nto so must also go on the shortlist.
BOL
Ended up having a great wee night last night 😅
Moulin Booj
15/4 won
One More Dream
5/2
10/3 Won
Had a £4 double came in for £82
GIDDY UP! 🏆🏇
YOU HAVE WON £30.00
W
2. Viewing Trail
11/4
12th Mar WILL ROGERS 20:30 EVENT 0m 6f 0y – Win
£8 got £30 back
UP! 🏆🏇
YOU HAVE WON £26.00
Double (x1)
W
9. Suppose You Dream
5/2
12th Mar WILL ROGERS 21:24 EVENT 0m 5f 110y – Win
21:24 12 March 2024
Rule 4: 10p Deduction
W
2. So Cal Memory
3/1
12th Mar TURF PARADISE 21:24 EVENT 0m 5f 0y – Win
21:24 12 March 2024
Stake
£2.00
Returns
£26.00
GIDDY UP! 🏆🏇
YOU HAVE WON £47.00
W
1. Eyes For Gold
9/4
12th Mar TURF PARADISE 23:16 EVENT 0m 5f 110y – Win
23:16 12 March 2024
Rule 4: 40p Deduction
Stake
£20.00
Returns
£47.00
Over all made over £200 and it all started from a free £5 bet on Monday from paddy power
Nice going well done👏
On to today
Doubles (x2) Each Way
14. Built By Ballymore
4/1
13th Mar CHELTENHAM 14:50 HANDICAP HURDLE 2m 5f 0y – Each Way
14:50 Today
Each Way: 1/5 Odds, 6 Places
9. Jasmin De Vaux
5/1
13th Mar CHELTENHAM 17:30 FLAT 2m 0f 87y – Each Way
17:30 Today
Each Way: 1/5 Odds, 4 Places
Stake
£4.00
Potential Returns £67:20
Doubles (x2) Each Way
1. Ballyadam
10/1
13th Mar CHELTENHAM 14:50 HANDICAP HURDLE 2m 5f 0y – Each Way
14:50 Today
Each Way: 1/5 Odds, 6 Places
5. Sa Fureur
8/1
13th Mar CHELTENHAM 16:50 HANDICAP CHASE 1m 7f 199y – Each Way
16:50 Today
Each Way: 1/5 Odds, 5 Places
Stake
£5.00
Inc. £5.00 Free Bet
Potential Returns
£262.00
Aw well £16.40 back on this one from the £5 free bet on paddy power 😅
Double (x1)
2. Pearly Island
11/4
13th Mar HUNTINGDON 16:30 HANDICAP CHASE 2m 3f 189y – Win
16:30 Today
Rule 4: 5p Deduction
2. French Symphony
15/8
13th Mar HUNTINGDON 17:00 FLAT 1m 7f 171y – Win
17:00 Today
Stake
£7.00
Potential Returns
£72.70
Double (x1)
2. Havanarama
7/2
13th Mar NEWCASTLE 17:45 HANDICAP 1m 0f 5y – Win
17:45 Today
2. Cusack
3/1
13th Mar NEWCASTLE 20:15 HANDICAP 1m 0f 5y – Win
20:15 Today
Stake
£3.00
Potential Returns £54
Accumulator (x1)
Bournemouth
4/9
Match Odds – Bournemouth v Luton
19:30 Today
Aberdeen
19/10
Match Odds – Dundee v Aberdeen
19:45 Today
Hibernian
10/11
Match Odds – Ross Co v Hibernian
19:45 Today
Inter
29/20
Match Odds – Atletico Madrid v Inter
20:00 Today
Stake
£5.00
Potential Returns £97:96
X Country race abandoned
£2 Trixie
£8 stake
2. Villainess
9/4
13th Mar HUNTINGDON 13:50 HANDICAP HURDLE 2m 4f 145y – Win
Best odds
13:50 Today
2. Pearly Island
9/4
13th Mar HUNTINGDON 16:30 HANDICAP CHASE 2m 3f 189y – Win
Best odds
16:30 Today
2. French Symphony
15/8
13th Mar HUNTINGDON 17:00 FLAT 1m 7f 171y – Win
Best odds
17:00 Today
£10 stake on the trixie not £8
Returns £119.23
Nice work yesterday mate… Any chance you could ‘condense’ the writing of your bets. Just takes a bit to wade through it all. Cheers mate and good luck with todays bets
Pretty much echo Rizzle today been all over Stay Away Fay for a while .Tony Martin sneaks one in at the bottom of the handicap in the Coral Cup it’s done nothing ,but it stinks of a plot and it’s bring well backed ,they don’t usually leave their money behind ,get 6 places GL
NR Duncan
Yo guy, you not able to type your bets, taking half the page up
Sorry pal
Been in bed all week Ill with covid just on to take my mind off it and share
copy and paste just makes it easier than trying to type it all head is spinning and been very sick with it
Fair enough mate, get well soon.
And well played for yesterday 👍🏼 best of luck you make it 2 for 2 👍🏼👍🏼
Thanks that’s appreciated
Hope you have a good day too Taffi10 And land winners
Might be a bit of a crazy day with how the conditions are sounding at Cheltenham.
JONBON OUT
Do you have your tips for today yet plug?
Looking out for elvis’ as well.
posted them yesterday .will put them up again later
Thank you. Must have missed them sorry, I blame the Guinness 😂
😂 i wouldn’t mind a Guinness myself now. i may wait till Friday
Day 2
1-30 Ballyburn I have him backed at 7/2 can not see this one get beat.
2.10 Monty’s Star 5/1 F2F looks very good but a lot of good things failed in this race before.
2.50 Built by Ballymore backed at 20/1 Saturday now into 3/1 but this race throws up a lot of double figure winners ,Langer Dan back down to last years winning mark have a good chance too 7/1.a lot of horses getting backed in this race now .But i will stick with these 2.
3-30 El Fabiolo 1/3 not worth backing unless you put him in doubles ,trebles ,acc. Must be a Banker .
4-50 I have backed 2 in this .Saint Roi x Solness EW
5.30 Romeo Coolio backed at 10/1 can get him at 14/1 now, ew i am also going to back Fleur Au Fusil ew at 12/1
good luck everyone.
Ballyburn
Bet 365 Boost 1/1 get on .
Giving away money ☘️
Hi All
Bad News , the Country is out : – (
Unlucky yesterday , Trelawne fell early in the Race .
Cheltenham Day 2
Each Way
R . 6 – Maskada
Enjoy the Day 2 & good Luck
Back tomorrow !!
Again unlucky , two bad jumps , I got 6 places ( 7th ) : – (
For the last 2 Days , I will send a Each Way Yankee !!
See you on Day 3
jingko blue 1.30 ew well done all winners yesterday
Thanks plug, good luck!
Sa Fureur being backed for the Grand Annual and I’ll be as sick as a parrot if he wins as I thought he’d go Plate and backed him at 16s for that race.
Just thought he’d be better suited to the longer trip.
few dollars more 11.35 ew greyville
fine admiral 12.15 greyville well done all winners yesterday
Mighty Bandit is declared for the Triumph on Friday and PP have him in at 66/1.
Form received a huge boost yesterday in the Boodles as he had Lark in the Morning 9 1/2L behind and Harsh 17L behind on debut.
Sir Gino drifting looks like he wont be going in the triumph friday,
Definitely something wrong with Hendo” horses
He’d have been pulled already like the rest so expect him to run.
Hey all glad to see a lot of old faces usually post for Cheltenham but wife had surgery on Monday and I’ve been playing butler had the Mullins treble come in though so was nice start.
Today seems slim pickings at best the treble looks almost set in stone again but at 2/1 risk reward isn’t there predators gold without Bally burn and like atinquie at 11/8 though is somthing I’ll take aswell as the Bally burn price boost at evens on 365.
That will do for me today hope everyone’s health is in good order and best of luck for this those having a bet
But I’ll have DC tricast and then a single on predators gold without ballyburn and l
Compiegne 🇫🇷
2-57 Avenue de mesnil 5-2
Beart Athena de luy last time, 5kg better off today.
DC
i think its only a matter of time before he’s pulled ,nothing wrong with jonbon and he is out keep them all for Aintree.
You could be right we shall see. Even more interesting though is Townend has yet to decide what he’s going to ride. Should he pick Salvador Mundi that would be significant
Townend chooses Storm Heart for the Triumph
Worst Cheltenham card I’ve seen in years with so many short price horses sucking the markets dry.
Hard to find anything worth betting on tbh.
Monty’s star 2-10 Cheltenham
11-2 win
6-4 top 2 finish
20-80 stake.
Sa majeste 6-1
Ballyadam 7-1
2-50 Cheltenham
Both ew 8 places SKYBET.
Boothill 3-30 Cheltenham
20-1 bet365 ew extra paying 4 places
Monty’s star came 2nd for profit in yet another poor viewing spectacle.
Was a time when the races here were proper humdingers, with horses going head to head for gold.
Now it’s a procession of walkovers and dare I say it’s getting a bit boring.
About time the bha got their fingers out me thinks.
Have to agree Elvis but there is so much wrong where do they start ?
He’s a machine
Another machine
My god some horses for Ireland
Monty’s Star W/O lands too 👍
2 up in a patent
Chianti Classico 12/1
F2F 5/1
Waiting on Saint Roi at 9/1 for a nice pay day 🙏
nice one DC
I have just noticed the bet I have on built on ballymore was for the Martin pipe and not the coral cup that’s why I got 20/1 🙈 my bet is down now
Boothill now a non runner in the champion.
Switched stakes to
Fabiolio/captain Guinness
Captain Guinness/Fabiolo
Straight forecasts.
80-20 stakes
That’s a tough one to swallow. Makes me sick
I feel your pain.
A sanitary lesson of handicap fiddling.
What’s worse is listening to the bullshit they’re all coming out with on the TV.
Nice shout with Franciscan Rock Rizzle
was 100/1 this morning, didn’t reback it like a plonker.
Get in there langer
elixir de nutz 3.30 ew did beat jonbon bit of a mad bet though
Wow……that race always seems to throw up a shock.
Well done Captain Guiness his first ever Grade 1 🤣
He let my son Inlaw down for €4000🤮
Great tipping Rizzel.
In profit now after much of Day 2. Free Bet on Franciscan Rock just to place.
Agreed with how you set it out so went for it.
Nice one!! Could`nt win a one-ticket raffle me otherwise. Cheers Fella.
Glad you got on Jim!
you ought to now 5.30 ew well done all winners today
Jesus I thought Romeo was going to pull it off drifted out 22/1
Elvis what’s the going like over there for tomorrow
It’s pissing down in north Wales right now, but apparently in Cheltenham it’s not as bad.
We were stuck in the car park yesterday for 2 hours and if that ground is similar to the adjacent racecourse it won’t take much to turn it heavy all the course.
I only go to day 1 every year plug, I would be bankrupt if I did all 4 days 😂.
Hopefully we will get some better competitive racing tomorrow.
I’m an advocate of going back to 3 days festivals then every race is a proper championship race, they want to go to 5 days for financial reasons and that would totally ruin it for me.
blessed boy 6.00 nap
Turned into another great day with a few late winners
GIDDY UP! 🏆🏇
YOU HAVE WON £110.00
W
3. Got A Dream
10/1
13th Mar HUNTINGDON 17:00 FLAT 1m 7f 171y – Win Only BIR
17:00 13 March 2024
Stake
£10.00
Returns
£110.00
YOU GOT IT! 🙂
CASHED OUT £93.97
Trixie (x4)
W
2. Pearly Island
16/5
13th Mar HUNTINGDON 16:30 HANDICAP CHASE 2m 3f 189y – Win
Best odds
16:30 13 March 2024
W
9. Jasmin De Vaux
9/2
13th Mar CHELTENHAM 17:30 FLAT 2m 0f 87y – Win
Best odds
17:30 13 March 2024
2. Zarzyni
11/4
13th Mar NEWCASTLE 19:15 HANDICAP 0m 5f 0y – Win
Best odds
19:15 Today
Stake
£8.00
Total Cashed Out £93.97
CASHED OUT £30.87
Doubles (x2) Each Way
P
4. Jackpot Dainay
9/5
15/8
13th Mar HUNTINGDON 17:00 FLAT 1m 7f 171y – Each Way
Best odds
17:00 13 March 2024
Each Way: 1/5 Odds, 3 Places
W
9. Jasmin De Vaux
4/1
9/2
13th Mar CHELTENHAM 17:30 FLAT 2m 0f 87y – Each Way
Best odds
17:30 13 March 2024
Each Way: 1/5 Odds, 4 Places
Stake
£10.00
Total Cashed Out
£30.87
great gadisn 6.15 nb
These 2 left for tonight
Double (x1)
2. Star Studied
9/5
13th Mar KEMPTON 18:00 EVENT 1m 0f 0y – Win
Best odds
Starting Soon
2. Zarzyni
11/4
13th Mar NEWCASTLE 19:15 HANDICAP 0m 5f 0y – Win
Best odds
19:15 Today
Stake
£10.00
Potential Returns £105
🇬🇧
Some nice shooting today by folk ⬆️ 👍
🇺🇸
Fair Grounds -Race 3….Loyal To The Chief @ 9/4 Place Betting – 2 Place
Race 6…Zoe’s Prime 5/2 ***+
Race 8…Hero Worship 4/5 Skybet boost
Race 7 …Luyv 8/1 Ew **** Coral
Favourites out,still 3 places and Luyv still 8/1 also same price with Paddy Power
Combo forecast Numbers = 1- 7-2 *
Race 9….Gumball Top 2 places @ 5/2
Turfway -Race 5…Phillibin Road 10/3 Win ***
Fair Grounds Race 2 be Lilly’s Crede or Top 2 but few minutes till the off but if you can get it.
Well done to the winners today 👍
Not a great days viewing today unless you are Dan Skelton.
Prestbury cup standings are now 10-3 to Ireland which is better than I thought it could be, thank god for Dan Skelton.
He is proving a dab hand with these handicap stings and he has one in the 2-10 tomorrow.
Los Milos not surprisingly has been backed to 8-1 third favourite of the 24 runners.
This bio I’ve just read reminds of Langer Dan’s today.
” Well beaten back hurdling on both starts this season but THROWN in if judged on best chasing form”
Were his shit hurdle runs this season designed to keep the handicapper at bay ????
8-1 win bet365 (small play)
And single split into 2 bets
13-8 top 5 finish
23-20 top 6 finish
Both at BETFAIR
Of course it will now run like a pig won’t it 😭
********************************************
Hitman 2-50 Cheltenham
4-1 top 4 finish (single) Boyle sports)
And
14-1 bet365 ew extra 6 places.
Nicholls 2nd string, been struggling this season but more like it last time a month ago being outstayed on this ground by shishkin over 3 furlongs further than this race
3rd in this race last year at 22-1 so knows his way round Cheltenham a couple of lengths behind envoi Allen and right up shiskin’s arse in 2nd place.