CHELTENHAM NH FESTIVAL 2019 -- WEDNESDAY 13th MARCH (QUEEN MUM CHAMPION CHASE DAY)

ALTIOR WINNER OF THE 2018 CHAMPION CHASE

Congratulations to all the connections of ESPOIR D'ALLEN at 16/1 the 2019 Champion Hurdle winner yesterday. Now we move onto Day Two the feature race will be the Queen Mother Champion Chase which was superbly won last season by the fabulous ALTIOR. 

Enjoy your day.

CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL – WEDNESDAY MARCH 13TH 2019
1.30pm 2m 110yds Ballymore Novices Hurdle	Ballymore Novices Hurdle  And they are off for day two of this years festival. We have a 16 runner novices hurdle to start us off today and we look to the Green and Gold colours of owner JP McManus here and CHAMP (2nd 9/2) named after Sir AP McCoy and a winner of four from four over hurdles, clearly well thought of and expected as the sole representative from the strong Nicky Henderson yard.  BATTLEOVERDOYEN represents last years winning yard and jockey and having already won in G1 company in Ireland represents a big danger if the soft ground doesn't dampen his chance. Big price for EASY GAME ridden by Ruby Walsh and he's to be feared even on a 25/1 shot, he's a live outsider. Result -- 1st: CITY ISLAND 8/1.
2.10pm 3m 80y RSA Chase	Royal Sun Alliance Chase This renewal looks quite open for once and would have to be on board SANTINI (2nd 3/1) despite an injury scare earlier this season. Would only run if fully fit surely, and can see off the Irish challenger DELTA WORK.  Also fancy at a decent price the Colin Tizzard trained MISTER MALARKY who looks made for this trip and further and could end up as a Grand National horse in time.  Result -- 1st: TOPOFTHEGAME 4/1.
2.50pm 2m 5f Coral Cup Hurdle	Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle A huge field of 26 (+2 reserves declared) face the starter and about 9/1 bar. Ultra competitive as you'd expect, while Willie Mullins supplies a 1/4 of the field which include last years winner BLEU BERRY. FARCLAS won last years Triumph Hurdle for Gordon Elliot and looks the best of his trio here in a race dominated by the Irish stables. Result -- 1st: WILLIAM HENRY 28/1.
3.30pm 2m  Queen Mother 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. It will be his 18th consecutive win and that would equal the feat of staying hurdler Big Bucks, for me Altior's achievement would be more impressive as the fences are more formidable than the hurdles.  A race to watch and enjoy, although MIN is classy on a going day but is looking at 2nd at best, POLITOLOGUE would be better over 2m 4f so Aintree might be better for him and I fancy GODS OWN to run a cracker and fill the place. Result -- 1st: ALTIOR 4/11F (18 in a row, top class).
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 JOSIES ORDERS (2nd 15/2) is a standing dish around this type of course winning four times and should be backed in the place markets at the least despite his advancing years for a master trainer (Enda Bolger) that has made these contests their speciality.  TIGER ROLL is the strong fancy here, won this event last year and then went onto win the Grand National too and possibly being prepared for a repeat bid. Running in these cross country events is a better test than having top weight in a handicap, should be hard to beat assuming a clear round.  Personally it's a novelty race and not really for me but should be fun and you will see a strong finish. Result -- 1st: TIGER ROLL 5/4F.
4.50pm 2m Juvenile Handicap Hurdle	Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (2m) Another of the big handicap hurdles this week, 22 runners (2 reserves) and about 8/1 the field. Headed by TORPILLO a 25/1 shot for trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies and one that could run a big race although needs to be a bit less careless with his jumping this time.  BAND OF OUTLAWS [Won 7/2] finds himself in a much bigger / stronger field today but was classy on the flat and that speed might help him stay out of trouble. LETHAL STEPS another with good flat experience behind him and could improve in what appears to be a wide open event.  Result -- 1st: BAND OF OUTLAWS 7/2F.
5.30pm 2m Champion Bumper	Weatherbys Champion Bumper (2m) A race that has been dominated by the Irish trainers though it's a little bit of a surprise that this year Willie Mullins has only the one runner in the field of fourteen. It's usually another race that I'd not be that interested in, but would probably have to back the Mullins runner BLUE SARI to have an interest.  Plenty of Irish raiders though in this field, with two from Gordon Elliot sure to be supported but I might look at the pair from Joseph O'Brien METICULOUS and SEMPO against the field at double figure odds. Result -- 1st: ENVOI ALLEN 2/1F. ENJOY YOUR CHELTENHAM EXPERIENCE

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