Cheltenham Day 2 Tips: Race rundown for 2025

The Grade 1’s Merely keep on coming with another mouthwatering afternoon ahead at Cheltenham.

The Beginning race on the card the Turners Novices’ Encumbrance is potentially one of the most exciting contests of the week with three unbeaten hurdles Grabbing Every other on.

Ballyburn stretches out beyond three miles for the Primary time in the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase and Jonbon is looking to put his Cheltenham Festival Voodoo to bed in the Queen Mother Champion Chase.

I have looked over Every of the seven races in detail and have brought you some Great value bets which with a bit of luck should see us come away with some profit on Day 2 of the Cheltenham Festival,

Top Cheltenham Day 2 offer

Quick Cheltenham Day 2 tips

Achieve Singles

Achieve Double

🏆 Go for the Achieve double at 3.05/1 with bet365 🏆

Every way Double

• Impose Toi
• Marine Nationale

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Top 5 favourites & odds for Style Wednesday Day Grade 1 races

Turners Novices’ Encumbrance	Brown Advisory Chase	Champion Chase	Champion Bumper
Last Demand 6/4	Ballyburn 8/13	Jonbon 5/6	Copacabana 3.1/1
The New Lion 7/4	Dancing City 11/2	Marine Nationale 5/1	Bambino Fever 9/2
The Yellow Clay 6/1	Better Periods Ahead 11/1	Energumene 8.2/1	Kalypso’chance 5/1
Potters Charm 15.5/1	Gorgeous Tom 11/1	Solness 9/1	Gameofinches 9/2
Sixmilebridge 22/1	Luminous Narrative 14/1	Discovered A Fifty 12/1	Aqua Force 15.5/1

Champion Chase tips

I am sticking to my guns and opposing Jonbon! I Merely can’t have him at that price as I’m confident Cheltenham doesn’t suit him. I was Fortunate enough to chat to Aidan Coleman on Monday and he said Jonbon is definitely not as Great around Cheltenham.

The issue is it does look a Frail renewal and is there anything Great enough to beat him? I am pinning my hopes on MARINE NATIONALE improving again.

He did something Jonbon couldn’t and that was Achieve a Supreme. I know he hasn’t lived up to expectations over fences but he did have a setback and there was a lot more Help in that second to Solness last month.

If they go Tough he could be suited by how this pans out and is worth chancing.

1

Jonbon hammered Energumene at Ascot when last seen but that track wouldn’t suit the latter and the ground was faster than ideal too. I think he is a bit flattered by that Stretch and back at Cheltenham might struggle to Stoppage off the Picking in the closing stages.

Everything has a price and I Merely can’t bring myself to back him at odds-on at a track I know doesn’t suit. Solness will put the pace to the race and has won his last two so deserves respect but it’ll be a lot harder to pull off them tactics here.

Eight horses head to post so that would usually Harsh there is a Great Every way proposition at a bigger price but I’m struggling to see any of them getting involved.

Discovered A Fifty perhaps the only one as he had excuses last time when well backed and he had been progressing nicely before that and is around 16/1 which some would argue is a bit too big.

6 MARINE NATIONALE

• Trainer: Barry Connell
• Jockey: Sean Flanagan
• Form: 1111-1-15-232
• Age: 8yo
• Weight: 11-10

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Turners Novices’ Encumbrance tips

This looks like one of the most exciting races of the week and I can’t wait to see Last DEMAND out again. He hacked up by 15 lengths on hurdles Premiere and then produced an even better performance to follow up in Grade 1 company at the Dublin Racing Festival.

He has such a long stride I can see him relishing the Cheltenham hill and now the rain has come (on watered ground) conditions could prove ideal. I Foresee him to be well backed and he could even end up going off favourite.

The New Lion has gone 3-3 over hurdles but I question his form somewhat. He beat Wendigo to Achieve the Challow and that horse would get lapped here. He has looked visually impressive but I can see him going for home too soon and then getting outstayed in the closing stages.

I actually wouldn’t be surprised to see The Yellow Clay emerge as the danger. I’m a bit annoyed he didn’t go for the Albert Bartlett but the fact Gordon Elliott chucks him in here tells you a lot about how much he rates the horse and I can see him running well.

Potters Charm let backers down on Trials Day but is probably better than he showed there and might be a big price to hit the frame.

Kiss Will has gone under the radar somewhat but lacks experience and might be a longer term prospect. Similar comments apply to Kel Histoire.

1 Last DEMAND

• Trainer: Willie Mullins
• Jockey: Paul Townend
• Form: 11
• Age: 6yo
• Weight: 11-7

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Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase tips

I’m surprised so many are keen to take on BALLYBURN as I have been waiting to see him stretch out beyond 3 miles and I think we could see a big performance.

There was a massive overreaction to him getting beat at Kempton with the drop back in trip, quicker ground, and the fact he bumped into Sir Gino all valid excuses for me. Back up in distance at the Dublin Racing Festival he quickly put things right.

It was briefly race on heading into the last but once he landed he really stayed on strongly and was only pulling Additional clear at the line. I think he’ll Achieve this comfortably and he could be a Gold Cup contender next year.

With only the 6 horses to beat it is Tough to pinpoint an exact danger. Stablemate Dancing City is a Intelligent horse but he’d probably want the ground a lot softer so that would be concerning.

Better Periods Ahead has impressed and has a likeable attitude so might be the value Action to chase the favourite home. I don’t see any of the others including Gorgeous Tom and Luminous Narrative Great enough to get involved.

1 BALLYBURN

• Trainer: Willie Mullins
• Jockey: Paul Townend
• Form: 11-21111-121
• Age: 7yo
• Weight: 11-7

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Coral Cup Handicap Encumbrance tips

Be Aware has been heavily backed now and perhaps it is understandable given Dan and Harry Skelton have won the last two renewals with Langer Dan.

My issue is favourites have a terrible Achievement in this race and I don’t think Be Aware is the most straightforward. I had him at a double-figure price for the Greatwood and he broke my heart that day failing to get up. He has his chance here but I think he is Tough to Achieve with.

I much prefer IMPOSE TOI for Nicky Henderson. He has targeted this race down the years and this lightly raced 7yo looks to have plenty going for him. A mark of 141 could still underestimate his ability and New in Primary-time cheekpieces should Stretch a massive race.

Sa Fureur was Destitute at Leopardstown when last seen but he had excuses that day and might be able to bounce back with a big Stretch.

Comfort Zone takes his chance for Joseph O’Brien and must be a big player if building on that third behind Al Gasparo last time. Jipcot should be suited by this drop back in trip and is another one worth noting and is quite a big price as well.

11 IMPOSE TOI

• Trainer: Nicky Henderson
• Jockey: Nico de Boinville
• Form: 2121-123-1
• Age: 7yo
• Weight: 11-2

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Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase tips

It is Tough to Picking holes in STUMPTOWN for this year’s Cross Country. He is still Merely an 8yo and has taken really well to this Self-control Triumphant twice at Punchestown and then at this track when last seen before Christmas. He was Great value for that Achieve over Mister Coffey so the 8lb rise doesn’t bother me too much.

He has cheekpieces on and is versatile regarding the ground so there really aren’t too many negatives. Obviously this course takes some jumping but I think you could argue 11/4 is on the Charitable side.

Galvin has been a great horse over the years but he is an 11yo now and I’d be surprised if he manages to live with the younger legs of the favourite.

Mister Coffey always seems to Stretch on when it’s all over but he could be a decent place bet again. Vanillier sparked back into life last time and if building on that could definitely enter the reckoning.

1 STUMPTOWN

• Trainer: Gavin Cromwell
• Jockey: Keith Donoghue
• Form: 11146-37537112PU-48PU1-PU3U1-11
• Age: 8yo
• Weight: 11-10

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Grand Annual Competition Cup Handicap Chase tips

Unexpected Party won the race last year and is bidding for a famous double for Dan and Harry Skelton. He definitely has a chance and handles all ground too so I couldn’t put you off. I do prefer SO SCOTTISH though for Emmet Mullins.

He has proved Costly to follow in recent times but there is a big performance in there and he could certainly be capable of his mark having undergone wind surgery.

He has some eye-catching form and I remember him still moving strongly before coming down in the December Gold Cup here a Duo of years ago. He will be trained to the minute for this race and a big Stretch is expected.

The King Of Prs catches the eye for Gavin Cromwell and could be one of the dangers. He won well at Fairyhouse and has quite a progressive profile.

JPR One has top-weight but his Haldon Gold Cup Achieve was impressive earlier in the season and back in handicap company here could be a big player. Jazzy Matty is another one in with a squeak with the headgear re-fitted.

10 SO SCOTTISH

• Trainer: Emmet Mullins
• Jockey: Donagh Meyler
• Form: 3-14495671021112-7U-4F411142452-714
• Age: 8yo
• Weight: 10-11

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Champion Bumper tips

The Champion Bumper is always a tricky puzzle solve with so much potential lining up. The dogs certainly seem to be barking over COPACABANA though and I can see him turning into a bit of a gamble.

He was visually really impressive Triumphant at Navan on Premiere and he is the choice of Patrick Mullins. He is Uncovered to any amount of improvement and could be a really Intelligent horse and is the one I want to side with.

Gameofinches absolutely dotted up at Punchestown but I don’t think he beat much so this will be a much tougher ask. He has size and scope though so don’t underestimate him. Gordon Elliott takes on the Willie Mullins battalion with the unbeaten Kalypso’chance.

He is a Great looking type who has won both Appearances to date and can improve again. Bambino Fever impressed Triumphant at the DRF but there isn’t much of her and she might be up against it here with some exciting horses putting their reputations on the line.

1 COPACABANA

• Trainer: Willie Mullins
• Jockey: Patrick Mullins
• Form: 1
• Age: 5yo
• Weight: 11-7

🏇 Copacabana to Achieve the Champion Bumper at 5/2 with Paddy Power 🏇

Cheltenham Day 2 Race Schedule

TIME	RACE	DISTANCE	TYPE
13:20	The Turners Novices’ Encumbrance Race (Grade 1)	2m abt 5f	Encumbrance
14:00	The Brown Advisory Novices’ Steeple Chase	3m	Chase
14:40	The Coral Cup Encumbrance (A Handicap Encumbrance Race) (Premier Handicap)	2m abt 5f	Encumbrance
15:20	The Glenfarclas Cross Country Steeple Chase	3m abt 5½f	Chase
16:00	The BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Steeple Chase (Grade 1)	Abt 2m	Chase
16:40	The Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Steeple Chase Competition Cup (Premier Handicap)	2m	Chase
17.20	The Weatherbys Champion Bumper (A Standard Uncovered NH Flat Race) (Grade 1)	2m	Bumper

Cheltenham 2025 Hub

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