Cheltenham Festival 2024: Day Two Betting Tips

Day Two Races – Ladies Day (Wednesday 15th March)

Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle

Ladies Day kicks off with the Grade 1 Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle, considered a launchpad for top class hurdlers. Everyone’s eyes will be on the SP favourite, Hermes Allen, owned by Sir Alex Ferguson and trained by Paul Nicholls. The six-year-old has won all three of his hurdle races, including the Coral Novices’ Hurdle at Newbury.

Other notable Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle betting tips include Impair Et Passe, ridden by Paul Townend. The five-year-old proved how well he can travel in his most recent win at Punchestown. The Willie Mullins-trained horse has lovely rhythm and has proven he can hold onto a lead.

Inthepocket, trained by Henry de Bromhead and ridden by Rachael Blackmore, is also worth a mention. The six-year-old jumps well but fell off the pace in the last couple of furlongs last time out. Perhaps an each-way bet would be a smarter choice?

Il Etait Temps is also prominent in the latest Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle betting odds. A strong finisher and a smooth jumper, he won his last meeting at Leopardstown. However, he has only raced at 2m, and the extra four furlongs in this race will certainly test his stamina.

SBO Prediction: Hermes Allen to win (4/1 at BetUK)

Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase

The Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase is an ultra-competitive Grade 1 race run over 3m½f. With such a large field, bookmakers often encourage punters to back a horse by offering generous Cheltenham Festival betting offers.

The latest Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase betting odds suggest backing Gerri Colombe.  Big things are expected from the seven-year-old trained by Gordon Elliott. He remains unbeaten having won his last seven races in a row. In his last win, Gerri Colombe showed his class, finishing strong to land the Grade 1 Scilly Isles at Sandown. But the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase will be Gerri Colombe’s toughest test so far.

Last year’s Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle winner, Sir Gerhard, is fancied by many horse racing tipsters. He has a terrific record over fences, and he has recorded eight wins and two third place finishes in his last ten outings.

And who can forget about The Real Whacker? The seven-year-old, trained by Patrick Neville and ridden by Sam Twiston-Davies was five lengths clear before the final turn on his way to winning last time out. Is another dominant performance on the cards?

SBO Prediction: Gerri Colombe to win (7/2 at BetUK)

Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle

One of the most fiercely competitive races of the festival, the Coral Cup has produced many surprises over the years. For example, last year’s winner, Commander of Fleet, shocked everyone by winning at 50/1.

The 2023 Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle will feature 26 horses, with Gaelic Warrior leading the way in the ante post betting odds. A smashing horse with sound rhythm, but jumping is an issue. Keep in mind the weather, as Gaelic Warrior performs better when it’s soft, as proven in February at Leopardstown.

Theatre Glory, trained by Nicky Henderson, also has a chance, especially in the form the six-year-old is in. At Warwick in February, Theatre Glory finished strongly to win the Warwick Mares Hurdle, leaving the rest of the pack with two fences to go.

For a value bet, Langer Dan has proved time and time again he’s able to finish the 2m 5f distance. Each way is favourable, as the six-year-old ran superbly when finishing second at the Aintree Festival last year.

SBO Prediction: Theatre Glory to win (13/1 at 888sport)

Queen Mother Champion Chase

The biggest race of the day, the Queen Mother Champion Chase, is a Grade 1 National Hunt steeplechase run over a distance of about two miles. We have three Queen Mother Champion Chase betting tips for this year, as we expect it to be a race between Energumenene, Editeur Du Gite and Edwardstone.

Energumene won the race last year in style and is the ante post favourite. However, the Willie Mullins-trained nine-year-old struggled at the 2023 Albert Bartlett Clarence House Chase, finishing third behind Edwardstone, and Editeur Du Gite, the surprise 14/1 winner.

Editeur Du Gite also won the Ladbrokes Desert Orchid Chase in Kempton back in December, so 2023 is shaping up to be a promising year for the Gary Moore’s nine-year-old.

Our final tip is Edwardstone. Recent form has not been on his side, but his blistering pace in the final furlongs will undoubtedly ensure he’s there or thereabouts. 

If Edwardstone and Energumene can keep the pace with Editeur Du Gite throughout, the Queen Mother Champion Chase will certainly be one to remember.

SBO Prediction: Editeur Du Gite to win (6/1 at 888sport)

Cross Country Chase

The last ten Cross Country Chase Cheltenham winners had all won a race of at least three miles before their victory, so make sure you back a horse who has proven its stamina.

The odds-on favourite is Delta Work, trained by Gordon Elliott and owned by Michael O’Leary’s Gigginstown Stud. Last year, Delta Work’s Cross Country Chase odds were 5/2, and he edged out Tiger Roll to win the race.

One horse that could very well challenge Delta Work is Galvin, another horse trained by Elliott. The nine-year-old has vast experience in racing over 3m. With Davy Russel as the jockey, Galvin has won two long-distance races in the past year, including one at Punchestown and the other at Down Royal.

For an each way bet, take a look at Chris’s Dream. He won his last two 3m races comfortably at Moig South and Carrigarostig, and the jockey Ms M O’Sullivan has a great affinity with the horse.

SBO Prediction: Delta Work to win (10/11 at 888sport)

Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase

The Grand Annual Chase is the oldest race at the Cheltenham Festival, with the first one held in 1834. It’s a super competitive handicap chase over 2 miles and 110 yards. In fact, only two horses – Top Twenty and Dulwich – have won this race twice.

Looking at Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase trends, champions are almost always previous distance winners aged nine or younger. There are plenty of horses that fit the profile in this wide-open field. The latest Grand Annual Chase betting odds make seven-year-old Aucunrisque the favourite following a surprise win over Filey Bay to win the Betfair Hurdle.

Many horse racing betting tipsters are backing Bass Rock. A winner at Carlisle in November, the six-year-old raced prominently and led easily with three fences out. Trainer Sandy Thomson stated the horse is “hugely exciting” and has potential for a breakthrough year.

Boothill, trained by Harry Fry and ridden by Jonathan Burke, had the race of his life at Kempton in December, defeating Aucunrisque, but we’re backing the Betfair Hurdle hero to prove his class once more.  

SBO Prediction: Aucunrisque to win (8/1 at 888sport)

Champion Bumper

The Champion Bumper brings day two to a close, and it’s the only race in which there are no obstacles or fences to navigate. Early Champion Bumper betting odds favour It’s For Me. The five-year-old showed his class as a 4/9 favourite for trainer Willie Mullins in his first outing.

The Muine Bheag stable has 15 horses confirmed for the Champion Bumper. Fun Fun Fun is fancied by many horse racing betting tipsters. The five-year-old has a perfect record having won his first two races.

Pour Les Filles offers a lot of value. Trained by Gordon Elliott, the five-year-old has a nice rhythm when racing. In his last race at Leopardstown on Boxing Day, he left the favourite, DidIAskYouThat, with a furlong to go, showing great potential to compete for the Champion Bumper.

SBO Prediction: Pour Les Filles to win (12/1 at 888sport)

Day Two Betting Tips Summary

Note – all odds correct at time of publishing but are subject to change. Please join one of our recommended betting sites to view the latest Cheltenham betting odds.