CHELTENHAM NH FESTIVAL 2018 -- DAY TWO WEDNESDAY (CHAMPION CHASE DAY)

2017 CHAMPION CHASE WINNER -- SPECIAL TIARA

Congratulations to all the connections of Buveur D'air the 2018 Champion Hurdle winner yesterday, as we move onto Day Two the feature race will be the Champion Chase which was superbly won last season by Special Tiara. 

Enjoy your day.

CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL – WEDNESDAY MARCH 14TH 2018
1.30pm 2m 110yds Supreme Novices Hurdle	Ballymore Novices Hurdle  And they are off for day two of this years festival. We had a great first day so hopefully that can continue, although the opener here is at the mercy of short price fav and good thing SAMCRO.  In opposition we have the likes of NEXT DESTINATION and VISION DES FLOS the latter should be well suited by the testing conditions and is our EW bet in the opener. Result -- 1st: SAMCRO 8/11F.
2.10pm 3m RSA Chase	Royal Sun Alliance Chase This renewal looks quite open for once and would have to be on board BLACK CORTON who's been expertly ridden by Bryony Frost and she is more than capable of winning here.  Also fancy DOUNIKOS from the Gordon Elliot stable and both selections are about 8/1 so the pair against the field for me here. Result -- 1st: PRESENTING PERCY 5/2F.
2.50pm 2m 5f Coral Cup Hurdle	Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle A huge field of 27 face the starter and about 9/1 bar.  MAX DYNAMITE is a strong fancy here as has been at the head of the ante post markets for at least three of the big handicaps this week and would have to be taken seriously in which ever race he actually lined up for.  Getting plenty of weight from the others BARRA is a decent shout in the win/place markets too. -- 3rd 16/1 Result -- 1st: BLEU BERRY 20/1.
3.30pm 2m  Champion Chase	Queen Mother Champion Chase The feature race of today and it's one for ALTIOR to confirm his class and win this thus securing another leg in our various accumulators for this week.  He should be up to seeing off the classy but vulnerable Willie Mullins pair of DOUVAN and MIN.  While last years winner SPECIAL TIARA is unlikely to repeat that effort this year, it is possible he can place at 33/1 if one of the principles fails to fire. Result -- 1st: ALTIOR   EVENS.
4.10pm 3m 7f XC Chase	Cross Country Steeple Chase (3m 7f) Many regular faces here over this unique course, a real test of jockey and horse and CANTLOW is a standing dish around this type of course and should be backed in the place markets at the least despite his advancing years.  TIGER ROLL is another for Ireland and its difficult to make a case for several of these around the banks, though when JP McManus runs 4 of the 16 there should be plenty of money about so the market can be informative.  Personally it's a novelty race and not really for me Result -- 1st: TIGER ROLL 7/1.
4.50pm 2m Juvenile Handicap Hurdle	Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (2m) Another of the big handicap hurdles this week, 22 runners and about 9/1 the field.  LISP is lightly raced and worth a shout in a wide open contest, and after her wonderful win yesterday will be backing Lizzy Kelly again on ESPRIT DE SOMOZA for the stable that won this event last year.  Big outsider is CASA TALL who makes his UK debut but has been winning over in France and worth a go at 33/1 Result -- 1st: VENEER OF CHARM 33/1.
5.30pm 2m Champion Bumper	Weatherbys Champion Bumper (2m) A race that has been dominated by the Irish trainers though it's no surprise that this year Willie Mullins has five runners in the field.  Blackbow (Mr P Mullins) Carefully Selected (Ruby Walsh) Tornado Flyer (Paul Townend). Colreevy (D J Mullins) Relegate (Ms Katie Walsh) Another race that I'd not be that interested in, but would probably have to back the first two of Mullins quintet to have an interest.  Big outsider with a squeak is MERCY MERCY ME. Result -- 1st: RELEGATE 25/1. ENJOY YOUR CHELTENHAM EXPERIENCE

Results will appear during the afternoon and Thursday's card will be available soon.