After a day where the favourites took home the bacon, we are hopeful that some bigger-priced horses will claim the glory on day two of the 2023 Cheltenham Festival.
CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL DAY 2
Race 1 – GOOD LAND – To Win 3/1
The first five in the betting are way stronger than the rest in this contest so our options revolve around an each-way double featuring GOOD LAND, with Energumene in the fourth. Trainer/owner Barry Connell landed the Supreme on day one and is equally confident of following up with the selection, who secured a Grade 1 at Leopardstown last month. GAELIC WARRIOR is definitely to be feared if his jumping behaves itself.
Race 2 – THE REAL WHACKER – To Win 11/2
THE REAL WHACKER is a confident call in this race. He is strongly fancied to defy the hotpot GERRI COLOMBE, having been revitalised for his move to Patrick Neville. Winning course form (twice) is always a significant advantage here and this progressive sort can claim the spoils on the way to better things.
Race 3 – RUN FOR OSCAR – To Win 15/2
OR
LANGER DAN – To Win 10 /1
One of the trickiest handicaps of the whole season so we’ll take two against the field. Neither RUN FOR OSCAR nor LANGER DAN are 50/1 shots but, at 15/2 and 10/1, make each-way appeal. Their shrewd trainers will have targeted this race for some time and they should both be thereabouts. RUN FOR OSCAR won the Cesarewitch on the Flat so has the class, while LANGER DAN looks primed for a return to top form.
Race 4 – ENERGUMENE – To Win 13/8
A similar story to the opener here, with the top three in the market well clear of their rivals. For that reason, we’ll stick ENERGUMENE in our each-way double with Good Land in the first. The defending champion clearly faces two tough opponents in EDITEUR DU GITE EDWARDSTONE, who both finished ahead of him at the track in January, but there were valid excuses that day and a final fence error hardly helped. A fascinating renewal awaits.
Race 5 – BACK ON THE LASH To Win 16/1
AND
SNOW LEOPARDESS – To Win 18/1
Last year’s winner DELTA WORK will be all the rage in the Cross Country Chase and understandably so. However, he’s too short for us and we’ll look to go small stakes on a couple of bigger-priced runners. Our two against the field are BACK ON THE LASH and SNOW LEOPARDESS. The former has won here and has a sporting chance while the latter caught the eye last time out at Haydock.
Race 6 – ELIXIR DU NUTZ – To Win 12/1
We are going forgive a pulled-up effort in this race last year in order to support ELIXIR DU NUTZ in his bid to gain redemption this time. This chap is in cracking form and looks decent value at the 12/1 mark. THE LAST DAY might also outperform his 22/1 odds.
Race 7 – FAVOUR AND FORTUNE – To Win 25/1
The Irish challenge is typically robust in the bumper and Willie Mullins, in particular, throws a number of big darts. This is another event for sensible stakes and, on that basis, we’ll take a chance with FAVOUR AND FORTUNE from the Alan King yard. It is encouraging that the trainer runs him here rather than wait for Aintree following an impressive success at Warwick and therefore he gets the vote.
