THE Queen Mother Champion Chase is the feature of the second day of The Cheltenham Festival and Edwardstone is Unibet 11/8 to claim another Festival victory after his dominant Arkle success last year, whilst Energumene Unibet 6/4, winner of the Queen Mother Champion Chase in 2022 is looking to retain his crown, with last year’s runner up Funambule Sivola in this renewal too.  Editeur Du Gite Unibet 9/2 has been in fantastic form, taking the Desert Orchid and then winning the rescheduled Clarence House at Cheltenham on Festival Trials day when having the run of the race, with Edwardstone having to make up plenty of ground to challenge, whilst Energumene was a disappointing third. This time Editeur Du Gite will be closely marked by Edwardstone and Energumene and this will be a closely matched race with Edwardstone just favoured to come out on top here. An intriguing renewal which I’m looking forward to watching with the rest of the field Nube Negra, Greaneteen, Funambule Sivola and Captain Guiness all capable of running big races here.

Enjoying whether at The Cheltenham Festival or watching #athome on ITV Racing and Racing TV.

Cheers!

The Wine Tipster

1.30 Cheltenham – Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle Grade 1 (2m 5f)

Gaelic Warrior was marked up in my Unibet Ante Post blog and there has been no reason to change my view here as this is definitely the right race for him.

One of the more impressive winners at the Dublin Racing Festival was Gaelic Warrior, who took the 0-150 handicap with plenty in hand and whilst this is not the conventional preparation ahead of the Ballymore, as you are normally looking at graded form.

In terms of Cheltenham, Gaelic Warrior does have a tendency to jump right at his hurdles, a trait that arguably cost him victory in the Fred Winter last year, however this has been overplayed and the Ballymore gives him more time to sort his feet out than in the Supreme in which he was also entered. He remains unexposed and it really begs the question of how high he could rise, given he’s barely been tested yet.

Unibet 9/2 win

2.10 Cheltenham – Brown Advisory Novices Chase (Grade 1) (3m ½f)

The Real Whacker (nap) is the selection in what is a very closely matched Brown Advisory as he looks very much on the up. After The Real Whacker’s win at Cheltenham over 3m in November, the assumption was he wouldn’t be quick enough back at 2½m last time on New Year’s Day but again his jumping proved a key asset and this likeable type shrugged them off one by one until only Monmiral proved any danger, and then not for long. There is a massive amount to like about his attitude and whilst they have considered the Boodles Cheltenham Cup, he has a great chance of taking this Grade 1 from the front on ground that will suit.

Unibet 5/1 win

Unibet are offering MONEY BACK AS CASH if 2nd or 3rd on this race (from 17:30pm Tuesday)

2.50 Cheltenham – Handicap Hurdle (2m 5f)

HMS Seahorse showed his class on his last appearance in January when winning in the soft on his first start after a gelding operation at Navan, having not raced since September. He moved through very smoothly that day and clearly gets this trip. HMS Seahorse ran in the Boodles last year when he finished fourth, travelling strongly up the hill and will benefit from running over this distance at Cheltenham. He is certainly still improving, and the Paul Nolan yard are in good form.

Unibet 8/1 each way

Unibet are paying EXTRA PLACES in this race

Sa Fureur is having his seventh career start and has only finished out of the first three on one occasion. This six-year-old completed a hat-trick over hurdles in a Grade 3 novice at Thurles last time by a short head beating Buddy One, although he wasn’t given a hard ride. Sa Fureur’s victories have come on a range of going and he gets this trip, with Cheltenham looking sure to suit. The big field won’t be a hindrance and he has strong each way claims for the Gordon Elliott team. Unibet are paying two EXTRA PLACES in this race

Unibet 20/1 each way

4.10 Cheltenham – The Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase (3m 6f)

Franco De Port is the intriguing runner here and could beat his other Irish rivals Delta Work and Galvin, who is also having his first run over the Cross-Country course. Franco De Port hasn’t won since December 2020, whilst running consistently well in graded races, however this looks like a good opportunity as we know he stays and is not short of pace for a stayer. Conditions will be fine, and Patrick Mullins takes the ride. Unibet are paying an EXTRA PLACE in this race

Unibet 15/2 each way

4.50 Cheltenham – Johnny Henderson Challenge Annual Challenge Cup Handicap Chase (2m)

The Last Day is a lightly raced eleven-year-old having only raced over fences nine times and has clearly been difficult to train, however he certainly has the ability, as his won the Grade 3 Red Rum Handicap Chase last year. He didn’t make his next appearance until January this season when fifth to Xcitations at Sandown, when looking like he was going to make a strong challenge coming round the home turn before clearly needing the run. The Last Day certainly retained all his enthusiasm, and the ability definitely looks like it is still there so expect him to come on plenty for the appearance given him each way claims off a low weight of 10st 12lbs in a typically open renewal.

Unibet 22/1 each way

Unibet are paying an EXTRA PLACE in this race