Experts' Best Bets: Cheltenham Festival Day 2 tips with Henry Hardwicke
Content Editor at Free Super Tips, Alex was born in the shadow of Old Trafford and is an avid Man Utd fan. After graduating from university he combined his love of football, writing and betting to join FST and now closely follows goings-on in all of the top European leagues.
The Cheltenham Festival is a race meeting unmatched in terms of widespread popularity with racing and sports enthusiasts alike.
With a few winners on the board on the opening day of the festival, we’re back as Henry Hardwicke gives us his top tips for Wednesday.
All prices quoted are with bet365, where new customers can claim up to £30 in free bets to use on Cheltenham Festival. You can also back our biggest tips of the day below, while the rest of our hand-picked accumulators are available over on our Cheltenham Festival tips page!
Cheltenham Festival 2024 Day 2 Experts’ Best Bets
1:30 – Gallaghers Novices’ Hurdle
Experts’ Best Bet: Handstands at 14/1
Ballyburn is a short-priced favourite in the Gallagher Novices’ Hurdle, and although it’s difficult to see Willie Mullins’ runner getting beat, the race may hold some each-way value.
Handstands is unbeaten in three starts over hurdles, two of those victories came on soft ground and there was a lot to like about the five-year-old’s win in Sidney Banks Memorial Novices’ Hurdle at Huntingdon last time out.
2:10 – Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase
Experts’ Best Bet: Stay Away Fay at 10/3
Fact Or File has been the big talking horse in the build-up to the Cheltenham Festival and Willie Mullins’ charge has the chance to deliver in the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase at 2.10.
There is no doubt that the seven-year-old was extremely impressive when slamming Gaelic Warrior at the Dublin Racing Festival last time out, but there are plenty of reasons to think that performance may not be repeated at Prestbury Park.
Fact Or File has never won, or run, over the three-mile 110-yard trip before and emphasis will very much be on stamina, given the ground conditions.
The seven-year-old has often taken a keen hold in his races and any over-exuberance could leave Mullins’ runner vulnerable over this trip. Stay Away Fay has no such concerns and he is a three-time winner over three miles and twice over the trip on soft ground.
If anything, Stay Away Fay has looked like he needs more of a test in his races and Paul Nicholls’ seven-year-old looks good value to upset the odds-on favourite.
2:50 – Coral Cup
Experts’ Best Bet: Built By Ballymore at 7/1
Built By Ballymore could construct a victory in the competitive Coral Cup. Martin Brassil’s charge looked a seriously progressive horse when a wide-margin scorer at both Limerick and Punchestown and the six-year-old has shown a liking for testing conditions.
Cheekpieces go on, the likely strong pace will suit and a big run is expected from Built By Ballymore.
3:30 – Queen Mother Champion Chase
Experts’ Best Bet: Edwardstone at 15/2
There are enough questions over El Fabiolo and Jonbon to oppose the market leaders, at what look pretty cramped odds, and Edwardstone looks a solid each-way alternative.
Alan King’s star bolted up under aggressive tactics on heavy ground at Newbury last time out and a repeat of that effort surely makes the ten-year-old a huge player here.
Obviously, getting to the lead could prove tricky, but King’s runner is the best jumper in the field and Tom Cannon should be able to secure a prominent position.
4:10 – Cross Country Chase
Experts’ Best Bet: Coko Beach at 10/3
It’s likely to be bottomless ground on the cross country course, if the race gets the go-ahead, and that’s likely to swing things in favour of Delta Work and Coko Beach.
Market rivals Minella Indo and Galvin are far better performers on a sound surface and, at the prices, Coko Beach looks the best bet.
4:50 – Grand Annual Chase
Experts’ Best Bet: Madara at 7/1
Madara looks to have a serious chance in the Grand Annual. The son of Doctor Dino was hugely impressive when winning at Leopardstown last time out and a beating of Path D’oroux looks strong form.
Sophie Leech’s gelding will have no problem with the conditions, he has winning Cheltenham form and it’s hard to see Madara out of the frame.
5:30 – Champion Bumper
Experts’ Best Bet: Teeshan at 10/1
The Champion Bumper is a difficult puzzle to solve, with a host of unexposed horses going to post. However, perhaps Teeshan can provide the answers.
Paul Nicholls’ charge was a seriously impressive soft-ground point winner and he built on that when winning a bumper at Exeter in stylish fashion on his rules debut.
The five-year-old is by Westerner, who relished soft ground, and testing conditions could really suit the five-year-old.
Build better bets with our free betting tips, predictions and accumulators, every day.
More betting news:
View All Today’s Football Tips
Betting Academy: See our complete guide to football betting
Cheltenham Championship race accumulator
Cheltenham Festival daily mega acca
Free Super Tips is the home of Free Football Tips. Make sure to take a look at our most popular betting tips, such as our Accumulator Tips and Both Teams To Score Tips.
